Spotlight on CLAL
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CLAL Appoints New Chairman -- Fern K. Hurst to Lead CLAL in Bringing Jewish Wisdom to the Public Square
By Judy Epstein, Director of Public Affairs
Fern K. Hurst, a Jewish leader and champion for pluralism, was recently
named the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of CLAL-The National
Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. Ms. Hurst succeeds Thomas O.
Katz, Esq. as Chairman of the organization.
“Fern is fearless in her belief in pluralism and in bringing Jewish wisdom
to a broad audience,” says Rabbi Irwin Kula, CLAL President. “She is
committed to making the world a better place and has a real sense of
tikkun olam, which comes from her Jewish identity. She brings great
leadership, vitality, and creativity to CLAL, and will help take CLAL to
the next level in making Jewish insight a resource in the American
marketplace of ideas.”
Active in CLAL since the late 1980’s, Ms. Hurst has been a member of the
Board for many years, most recently in the position of Associate
Chair/Secretary. Long active in the work of the organization, she was a
member of the delegation that went to the 2004 Parliament of the World’s
Religions in Barcelona, the pre-eminent interfaith forum, and has been a
key participant in CLAL’s annual workshops in Aspen, Colorado.
“It is time for CLAL to be a voice for pluralism in the wider world,” says
Ms. Hurst. “When religion is as toxic and dividing a force in the world as
it is today, we must be a voice for something beyond hatred or even
tolerance.” One of her goals is to expand CLAL’s rabbinic programs to
better promote pluralism in Jewish communities. “Rabbis and rabbinic
students are the front line in this endeavor,” she says.
At the same time, Ms. Hurst says, “You cannot build a better world by
talking only within your community; we must talk to the larger community
and connect to others. We must take Jewish into the public square.”
In addition to her participation at CLAL, Ms. Hurst is a member of the
Executive Committee of AIPAC, and was the founding president of The Jewish
Women’s Foundation of New York. She is a member of the Business Council of
the Democratic National Committee, and a member of the Democratic
Leadership Council. She is also on the board of Goucher College, from
which she holds a B.A, and is an overseer of the School of Design of the
University of Pennsylvania, from which she holds a Masters of City
Planning.
“Fern brings tremendous talent, skill and experience during a time of
great transition in Jewish and American life,” says Donna M. Rosenthal,
Executive Vice Chairman of CLAL. “With so many challenges in our world, we
are fortunate to have her leadership.”
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