Goal   While the different faith traditions have taken great strides over the last decades to increase religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue, there remains a critical lacuna of knowledge among members of the different religions, limiting the extent of understanding and acceptance. Christians and Muslims rarely have the chance to learn about Judaism or experience Israel firsthand, and are largely unaware of the underlying ideologies, nuances and diversities of the Jewish world today.   Shalom Hartman Institute and American Jewish Committee have pioneered a new program beginning Summer 2008 called Christian Leadership Initiative to provide Christian leaders with an opportunity to gain a more profound understanding of Judaism and the Jewish people. Christian Leadership Initiative is a comprehensive program that grounds its participants in the central ideas of Jewish ethics and faith, the diverse ideologies and practices of contemporary world Jewry, and the intellectual foundations of religious pluralism and interreligious studies.   Structure   Christian Leadership Initiative provides a rare opportunity to learn about Judaism from renowned Jewish studies scholars. The curriculum, uniquely shaped for Christian leaders, includes: Central ideas of Judaism in the areas of ethics, faith and politics; Canonical Jewish texts; The challenges of modernity and the State of Israel; Diverse ideologies and religious practices of contemporary world Jewry; Intellectual foundations of religious pluralism and inter-religious studies; Practical methods for Christian engagement with Jews. The program, conducted over 13 months, comprises yearround long-distance learning and two 10-day seminars held in Jerusalem in consecutive summers. The Jerusalem seminars enable fellows to encounter Jewish life in Israel and facilitates encounters with Israelis of different backgrounds who represent diversity and challenges inherent in modern Judaism.   The long-distance component consists of weekly interactive study sessions facilitated by Shalom Hartman Institute scholars via videoconference, which allows participants to continue their learning about Judaism and Israel in a sustained manner while pursuing their ministries and studies in their home communities. Participants selected for Christian Leadership Initiative receive a full fellowship that covers travel, lodging and instructional costs related to participation. 2008 Participants   CLI’s first cohort consists of prominent religious and academic figures, an ecumenical cross-section of Christian denominational and institutional leadership in North America (including United Church of Christ, African Methodist Episcopal, Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic): Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, Conference Minister and President, Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ Dr. Michael A. Battle, President, Interdenominational Theological Center Rev. Dr. James Butler, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary Rev. Dr. Cynthia Campbell, President, McCormick Theological Seminary Rev. Dr. John Deckenback, Conference Minister and President, Central Atlantic Conference, United Church of Christ Rev. Peter Eaton, Rector and Dean, St. John's Cathedral Dr. J. Frederick Holper, Professor of Preaching and Worship, McCormick Theological Seminary Rev. Dr. William Madges, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, St. Joseph's University Rev. Dr. Esther Menn, Professor of Old Testament, Lutheran School of Theology Rev. Dr. W. Douglas Mills, Associate General Secretary, General Conference on Christian Laity and Inter-religious Concerns, United Methodist Church Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Siker, Chair, Department of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University. Rev. Dr. Judy Yates Siker, Dean of Faculty, American Baptists Seminary of the West and Vice President, San Francisco Theological Seminary Target Population Christian Leadership Initiative fellows come from an ecumenical cross-section of Christian denominational and institutional leadership in North America and Europe. Fellows include clergy and laity; they come from academic institutions and religious organizations, parishes, dioceses and national offices. Fellows need not have a strong background in Jewish thought, but must be committed to the rigorous educational goals of the program. Faculty  Christian Leadership Initiative fellows study with Shalom Hartman Institute’s world class faculty of Jewish studies scholars, including Rabbi Prof. David Hartman, Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman, Prof. Moshe Halbertal, Prof. Menachem Fisch, Prof. Israel Knohl and Dr. Melila Hellner-Eshed. In addition, fellows enjoy guidance from premier experts in Jewish-Christian relations including Rabbi David Rosen and Rabbi Gary Greenebaum. The faculty also includes distinguished guest lecturers from the ranks of Israel’s finest writers, thinkers and artists.