Encountering Judaism

About the Encountering Judaism Initiative

The Encountering Judaism Initiative at the University of St. Thomas fosters understanding and appreciation between Jewish communities and all those seeking interfaith understanding through educational opportunities, theological dialogue, and public programming. We promote interfaith engagement by offering learning opportunities about Judaism and facilitating dialogue between theologians and practitioners of diverse backgrounds.

The Encountering Judaism Initiative exemplifies the University of St. Thomas's commitment to fostering respectful dialogue, scholarly exchange, and mutual understanding between religious traditions.

Get Involved

Attend our public events and lectures
Enroll in our courses on Judaism and interfaith dialogue
Partner with us for community programming
Support the initiative through donations

Contact

Rabbi Ryan Dulkin, Ph.D.

dulk2810@stthomas.edu

Phone Number

651-962-5320

Our Mission

Encountering Judaism serves the University of St. Thomas community and the broader public by:

Providing educational resources and programming about Jewish theology, history, and contemporary life
Facilitating meaningful dialogue between Jewish scholars and scholars from diverse religious and philosophical traditions
Integrating Jewish perspectives into theological education and ethics
Building bridges between academic study and community practice

Programs and Events

Public Lectures and Dialogues

Annual distinguished speaker series featuring prominent Jewish scholars and thought leaders
Community conversations on Jewish-Christian relations and shared values
Special programming commemorating significant interfaith milestones

Educational Workshops

Practical sessions on Jewish approaches to pastoral care for healthcare and ministry professionals
Student engagement through guest lectures in comparative religion courses
International study programs exploring interfaith dialogue in global contexts

Recent Highlights

"The Way of Abraham" - Exploring Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel's legacy (150 attendees)
Jewish Approaches to Pastoral Care - Workshop for lay pastoral chaplains
Dr. Marla Stone Visiting Scholar Program - Examining historical and contemporary antisemitism

Academic Integration

Course Offerings

THEO 100: Foundations - Bible and Community
THEO 228: Comparative Religions - Judaism
THEO 228: Anti-Judaism in the West (HGST Minor)
THEO 228: Norway & Minnesota - Interreligious Dialogue (J-Term)

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Judaism curriculum for Graduate Certificate in Interfaith Literacy for Health Professionals
Guest lectures across theology and humanities departments
Faculty fellowship with the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Studies

Community Partnerships

Encountering Judaism works closely with:

The Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies
Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas
Local synagogues and Jewish organizations
Healthcare and pastoral care networks

Recent Initiative: Notre Aetate at 60

In Fall 2025, we launched a major collaborative program commemorating the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the landmark Vatican II declaration on Catholic-Jewish relations. This initiative will feature campus and community-wide programming reflecting on progress made and future directions in interfaith dialogue.

Phone: 651-962-5320

Email: dulk2810@stthomas.edu

Mailing Address

University of St. Thomas: Encountering Judaism Program
Mail #JRC 109
2115 Summit Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55105

Campus Location

Our offices are located on the first floor of the John Roach Center for the Liberal Arts.