The Jewish Public Forum at CLAL

Established in 1998, the Jewish Public Forum is a think tank that convenes interdisciplinary groups of academics, business leaders, cultural figures and policymakers to broaden the conversation about the Jewish and American futures. It generates fresh thinking about how community, civic engagement, religion, spirituality, ethnicity, and other forms of “meaning-making” are changing in the face of broad societal and technological shifts.

"Long overdue, the Jewish Public Forum will expand the 'brain trust' of talented Jews thinking about the Jewish future."

—Stuart M. Eizenstat, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, DC

At the same time, participants imagine new Jewish contributions to the wider public conversation on such diverse issues as leadership, ethics, the environment and technology. CLAL's connections to extensive networks of established and emerging Jewish leaders make it possible for the Jewish Public Forum to disseminate proceedings, publications and methods to a broad and influential audience of analysts, policymakers, practitioners and community leaders. This project reflects CLAL’s unique commitment to include important new voices in the conversation about American Jewish life, voices that are rarely heard within Jewish institutions.

"What we are missing in our society are the people and organizations that provide the glue that allows conversations across the usual boundaries. In doing this, the Jewish Public Forum will enrich and improve the Jewish community."

—Saul Perlmutter, Astrophysicist, Supernova Cosmology Project, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA

 

Meetings and Conferences (click on the titles to follow the links)

"The Future Of Social Change" (May 20-21, 2002)

"The Future of Education and Cultural Transmission" (March 18-19, 2002)

"The Future of Family and Tribe" (January 28-29, 2002)

"What is Religion For?" (November 19, 2001)

"Playing the Jewish Futures: Scenarios on Religion, Ethnicity and Civic Engagement" (January 14-16, 2001)

"New Media, New Bodies, New Institutions” (November 15, 2000)

"Can Religion Save Politics? Can Politics Save Religion?” (November 1, 2000)

"The Virtual, the Real, and the Not-Yet-Imagined” (June 4-6, 2000)

 

Publications (click on the titles to follow the links)

Link to Jewish Public Forum Archive in eCLAL (ongoing)

Exploring the Jewish Futures (essay series, ongoing)

What is Religion For? (essay series)

Jewish Public Forum Interviews on Identity, Work, and Ideas

"Can Religion Save Politics? Can Politics Save Religion?"

"How is Leadership Changing?"