On Sunday, April 30, 16 representatives from Hebrew College demonstrated at the Save Darfur Rally in Washington, D.C., clad in bright blue T-shirts that announced "Jewish Seminarians for Justice" (JSJ). Over 100 students from other institutions joined them for the first meeting of this burgeoning group, among them HC's Rabbi Or Rose, who played a pivotal role in the group's formation.

As a scholar-in-residence for the American Jewish World Service (AJWS) rabbinical student delegation to El Salvador in January, Rose was inspired by the level of cooperation among the seminarians with whom he worked. To extend the experience, he and several students from the trip created JSJ, a group of socially conscious seminary students from across the country and the Jewish denominational spectrum.

The group identified a compelling issue on which to focus—the genocide in Darfur—agreeing that, as Jews, they have a unique responsibility to help end the bloodshed in western Sudan. The Save Darfur Rally seemed a perfect first gathering.

Director of Informal Education at the Rabbinical School, Rose motivated his students to join in his efforts to bring a delegation of seminary students to the rally. He raised funds and worked with Margie Klein, a Mekhinah student going into year one of rabbinical school and an experienced activist, to organize recruitment, programming and public relations committees.

"In an age of religious fundamentalism and violence, we must train a generation of religious leaders who are bridge builders—both within and beyond the Jewish community—leaders who understand the need to work with others to heal our fractured world," Rose says.

As a result of his and Klein's efforts, students from ten seminary campuses—including Hebrew College; Hebrew Union College; The Jewish Theological Seminary; The University of Judaism, L.A.; Drisha Institute for Jewish Education; and Yeshiva University—joined with JSJ.

Over 150 students and allies demonstrated with them. Following the rally, they hosted a dinner at which Ruth Messinger, President of AJWS, and Rabbi David Saperstein of the Religious Action Center (RAC)—founders of the Save Darfur Coalition—addressed the students.

At this year's Hebrew College Commencement, Rose received the Rabbi Murray I. Rothman Award of Andover Newton Theological School for outstanding interreligious leadership, along with Dr. Gregory Mobley, associate professor of Old Testament at ANTS. Rose and Mobley co-taught a spring 2006 course for rabbinical and ministerial students from HC and ANTS. The two are faculty advisors to HC and ANTS students who lead the Journeys on the Hill interfaith student group. Rose and Mobley have begun writing articles about their shared interfaith work experiences.



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