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Student Profile: Stuart Weiss, Master of Arts in Jewish Studies
Stuart Weiss lives and breathes social justice. So it’s not surprising that his valedictory address at Gratz College in May, 2006 began with these words: “My purpose in life is Tikkun Olam or Repair of the World. My Tikkun Olam activities include spending time with my family, my professional work in public health; my Jewish activities, and my studies at Gratz.” Stuart, who turned 50 a few days after receiving the MA in Jewish Studies from Gratz College, does not just “talk the talk.” By day, he is Coordinator of Health Careers for Kids for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Careers, Diversity and Development, in Rockville Maryland. He is a also a dedicated volunteer: at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in Rockville, Maryland and at two retirement homes in northern Virginia where he leads Shabbat and holiday services, using skills he acquired after completing the Union for Reform Judaism’s Rabbinic Aide program in 1994. Stuart is grateful to Gratz College for raising his consciousness, giving him the “opportunity to take continuing education as a human being” and providing him with greater knowledge and insight of Torah. “This [Torah l’shma or study for its own sake] has been a revelation and enables me to be a better human being and a better Jew,” he says. “I have a greater understanding of our religion, history, values and people. I have a framework for understanding and analyzing problems that we face living in today's world. I understand more of how we came to be where we are in the world today.” Stuart studied on both of Gratz College’s campuses: on campus in suburban Philadelphia, as well as at Gratz Online, the school’s virtual campus. He was able to build on the passion for Jewish learning instilled in him by his parents and the strong foundation he acquired at Akiba Hebrew Academy and Gratz College High School in Philadelphia where he grew up during the 60’s and 70’s. “Although I learned a lot, and met and studied with a lot of great people, the main thing I learned is how little I know and how much more I have to learn,” says Stuart who also holds a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Economics from Virginia Tech. Gratz College has provided Stuart with new perspectives on Judaism and Jewish texts. He especially enjoyed studying with Dr. Ruth Sandberg, Leonard and Ethel Landau Associate Professor of Rabbinics, from whom he learned to analyze texts, using proof texts. Particularly memorable is his first class at Gratz College – “Writing and Rewriting the Shtetl” with Dr. Michael Steinlauf, Associate Professor of History at Gratz. Through this course, Stuart was able to connect on a different level with his family that came to America from Europe. He understood the context of their journey in a much more comprehensive way than he had ever known before. As for the future, the following is certain: Stuart plans to further his chaplaincy studies by taking a clinical pastoral education unit this year related to the work of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. Even though Stuart earned his Master of Arts in Jewish Studies degree in May of 2006, Gratz will still play a major role in his pursuit of lifelong Jewish learning through continued study with Dr. Sandberg and perhaps by taking other courses in the future either on campus or through Gratz Online. For now, he looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Tanya, and their young daughter, Jasmine. |
Name: Stuart Weiss