Dan Cohn-Sherbok
Encyclopedia
Dan Cohn-Sherbok is a rabbi
of Reform Judaism
, a Jewish theologian and a prolific author on religion. He is Professor Emeritus of Judaism at the University of Wales
, Honorary Professor at the University of Abersystwyth, Visiting Professor at St Mary's University College, London, York St John University
and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David
, and Visiting Research Fellow at Heythrop College, University of London.
, he was a student at Williams College
, Massachusetts
,
spending a junior year abroad in Athens, Greece. He was ordained a Reform rabbi
at the Hebrew Union College
at Cincinnati. He served as Chaplain of the Colorado House of Representatives. He has served as a rabbi in the United States, England, Australia and South Africa.He was a student at Wolfson College, Cambridge
, and rowed in the 1st college boat. He received a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Cambridge
in England
. Later, he received a doctorate in divinity from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
, New York
. He taught theology at the University of Kent and served as Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Society, and was Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales
. He has served as Visiting Professor at the Universities of Essex
, Middlesex
, St. Andrews, Durham
, Vilnius, Trinity University College, St Mary's University College and Charles University, Prague. He has been a Visiting Fellow at Wolfson College, Cambridge
, and Harris Manchester College, Oxford
, a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, a Corresponding Fellow of the Academy of Jewish Philosophy, a Visiting Research Fellow of Heythrop College, University of London, a Life Member of Wolfson College, Cambridge, an Honorary Senior Member of Darwin College, University of Kent, an Associate Member of the SCR and Honorary Member of High Table Christ Church, Oxford
and a Member of the Arts and Humanities Peer Review College . He has also served as a Visiting Scholar of Mansfield College, Oxford
, the Oxford Centre for Postgraduate Studies and Sarum College
. He is married to Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok.
, Cohn-Sherbok is sympathetic to Messianic Judaism
and Secular Humanistic Judaism
, as well as the Order of the Lotus (which purports to be a Jewish-Buddhist synthesis). In his view, Judaism today is pluriform in nature: no longer is there an overarching authority which can determine correct belief and practice. As a consequence, the Jewish community has splintered into a variety of subgroups, ranging from the strictly Orthodox to the most liberal; in addition, some groups have syncretistically borrowed from other religious traditions.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
of Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
, a Jewish theologian and a prolific author on religion. He is Professor Emeritus of Judaism at the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
, Honorary Professor at the University of Abersystwyth, Visiting Professor at St Mary's University College, London, York St John University
York St John University
York St John University York St John University York St John University (formerly known variously as York St John University College (2004), York St John College (2001), Ripon and York St John: a College of the University of Leeds (c. 1996), University College of Ripon and York St John...
and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
The University of Wales, Trinity Saint David is a collegiate university in South West Wales, comprising the Lampeter campus and the Carmarthen campus....
, and Visiting Research Fellow at Heythrop College, University of London.
Biography
Born 1945 in Denver, ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, he was a student at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
,
spending a junior year abroad in Athens, Greece. He was ordained a Reform rabbi
at the Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
at Cincinnati. He served as Chaplain of the Colorado House of Representatives. He has served as a rabbi in the United States, England, Australia and South Africa.He was a student at Wolfson College, Cambridge
Wolfson College, Cambridge
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Wolfson is one of a small number of Cambridge colleges which admit only students over the age of 21. The majority of students at the college are postgraduates, with around 15% studying undergraduate...
, and rowed in the 1st college boat. He received a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Later, he received a doctorate in divinity from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He taught theology at the University of Kent and served as Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Society, and was Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
. He has served as Visiting Professor at the Universities of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
, Middlesex
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
, St. Andrews, Durham
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
, Vilnius, Trinity University College, St Mary's University College and Charles University, Prague. He has been a Visiting Fellow at Wolfson College, Cambridge
Wolfson College, Cambridge
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Wolfson is one of a small number of Cambridge colleges which admit only students over the age of 21. The majority of students at the college are postgraduates, with around 15% studying undergraduate...
, and Harris Manchester College, Oxford
Harris Manchester College, Oxford
Harris Manchester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Formerly known as Manchester College, it is listed in the University Statutes as Manchester Academy and Harris College, and at University ceremonies it is called Collegium de Harris et...
, a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, a Corresponding Fellow of the Academy of Jewish Philosophy, a Visiting Research Fellow of Heythrop College, University of London, a Life Member of Wolfson College, Cambridge, an Honorary Senior Member of Darwin College, University of Kent, an Associate Member of the SCR and Honorary Member of High Table Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
and a Member of the Arts and Humanities Peer Review College . He has also served as a Visiting Scholar of Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
, the Oxford Centre for Postgraduate Studies and Sarum College
Sarum College
Sarum College is an ecumenical Christian institution in Salisbury, England. The College was established in 1995, and occupies the buildings formerly home to the Salisbury and Wells Theological College...
. He is married to Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok.
Views
Contrary to the official position of Reform JudaismReform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
, Cohn-Sherbok is sympathetic to Messianic Judaism
Messianic Judaism
Messianic Judaism is a syncretic religious movement that arose in the 1960s and 70s. It blends evangelical Christian theology with elements of Jewish terminology and ritual....
and Secular Humanistic Judaism
Humanistic Judaism
Humanistic Judaism is a movement in Judaism that offers a nontheistic alternative in contemporary Jewish life. It defines Judaism as the cultural and historical experience of the Jewish people and encourages humanistic and secular Jews to celebrate their Jewish identity by participating in Jewish...
, as well as the Order of the Lotus (which purports to be a Jewish-Buddhist synthesis). In his view, Judaism today is pluriform in nature: no longer is there an overarching authority which can determine correct belief and practice. As a consequence, the Jewish community has splintered into a variety of subgroups, ranging from the strictly Orthodox to the most liberal; in addition, some groups have syncretistically borrowed from other religious traditions.