In 2010 the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America (SHI NA) was launched. The three pillars of the Shalom Hartman Institute – the Kogod Research Center for Contemporary Jewish Thought, the Center for Israeli-Jewish Identity, and now the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America – together constitute a center of transformative thinking and teaching that addresses the major challenges facing the Jewish people and elevates the quality of Jewish life in Israel and around the world.

Our efforts in North America focus on increasing and improving educational and leadership initiatives for lay leaders, rabbis, educators, and other change agents, as well as expanding and diversifying the range of our programming. Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute North America, discussed what he calls “a hopeful Judaism of ideas” on the pages of the New York Jewish Week, in a piece which outlines in greater detail the ideology behind the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America.

Our North American activity is being implemented by a talented team under the leadership of Yehuda Kurtzer and guided by the dedicated and committed Hartman Institute board, led by Chair Robert Kogod, and the newly instated Shalom Hartman Institute of North America Chair, Angelica Berrie.

We believe that at this very time – one of the most important and challenging moments in Jewish life – the North American Jewish community cannot afford to put its educational needs on hold. Our obligation is to work together to enable this community to create a strong and vibrant future.