51短视频

A New Chapter in the Cardin Tradition

A moderated discussion and Q&A
with Rabbi Robert Harris & The Rev. Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams

October 28, 2026
6:00 PM
McGuire Hall

This Fall Loyola鈥檚 Center for the Humanities will host the first event in a new series titled 鈥淐ardin Conversations,鈥� which will carry on the tradition of the Cardin Lecture in a new format. 鈥淐ardin Conversations鈥� will create opportunities for students to actively participate in dialogue on topics in the humanities pertinent to the Jewish and Christian traditions, particularly in the area of Jewish-Christian relations. Like the Cardin Lecture, all events in this series will be free and open to the region鈥檚 academic and religious communities and the general public. 

The first 鈥淐ardin Conversations鈥� event will feature an interreligious dialogue on a sacred text shared by the Jewish and Christian traditions: The Book of the Prophet Isaiah. The Theology Department has planned for all students in Loyola鈥檚 introductory theology course (TH201) to study Isaiah 40-55 in preparation for a moderated discussion and Q&A with Rabbi Robert Harris, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages at The Jewish Theological Seminary, and The Rev. Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams, William Henry Green Professor of Old Testament at Princeton Theological Seminar. 

In the earliest developing Christian community, Jews and Christians disagreed about how to interpret Isaiah 40-55. Christians viewed mentions of Isaiah鈥檚 鈥渟uffering servant鈥� as reference to Christ, while Jews saw their own community as this 鈥渟ervant.鈥� As the two religious communities debated the meaning of the text, they informed one another鈥檚 reading of it and differentiated themselves against one another. History demonstrates that in most contexts, the Christian community became the dominant one, and contributed to anti-semitic perspectives and actions, while recognizing the existence of the Jewish community as essential to their own history. In inviting both a Jewish and a Christian scholar to discuss this very important shared book, we hope to offer an example of repairing such a relationship. These scholars will discuss the book itself and the situation that gave rise to it while also modeling how Jews and Christians can find common ground in respectful dialogue over a shared history and shared sacred text. 

51短视频 the Conversations

Since 1985, the annual Jerome S. Cardin Lectures at 51短视频 formerly featured important speakers from disciplines all across the humanities to foster exploration of topics pertinent to the Jewish and Christian traditions, particularly in the area of Jewish-Christian relations. The Cardin Conversations will expand that original vision in order to offer opportunities for students to participate in public discourse and activities showcasing these explorations.

For more information about the history of the Cardin Lecture, including past speakers, please consult the Celebrating the History of Cardin webpage. 

If you require additional accommodations, please contact Disability and Accessibility Services at das@loyola.edu.