[Dr. Arnold Eisen]
April 10, 2006

I am delighted to announce that Professor Arnold M. Eisen has been
elected to serve as the seventh Chancellor of The Jewish Theological
Seminary.

He is an extraordinary individual and, I believe, uniquely qualified
to lead JTS at this important time in the history of Conservative
Judaism and the American Jewish community.

Prof. Eisen is Chair of the Department of Religious Studies and
Koshland Professor of Jewish Culture and Religion at Stanford
University. He is one of the world's foremost experts in
American Judaism. For the past twenty years, he has worked closely
with synagogue and federation leadership around the country in
analyzing and addressing the challenging issues of Jewish identity,
the revitalization of Jewish tradition and the redefinition of the
American Jewish community.

He is a strong advocate of JTS as the premier center of scholarship in
the Jewish world and hopes to bring that scholarship to bear on the
pressing issues of the day. He is also passionate about making Israel
a greater part of American Jewish life.

He received a PhD in the History of Jewish Thought from The Hebrew
University of Jerusalem; a BPhil in the Sociology of Religion at
Oxford University; and a BA in Religious Thought from the University
of Pennsylvania. His many publications include a personal essay,
Taking Hold of Torah: Jewish Commitment and Community in America
(1997), Rethinking Modern Judaism: Ritual, Commandment, Community
(1998), and The Jew Within: Self, Family and Community in America
(2000), co-authored with sociologist Steven M. Cohen (2000). Previous
positions include Senior Lecturer in the Department of Jewish
Philosophy at Tel Aviv University, and Assistant Professor in the
Department of Religion at Columbia University.

He will serve as Chancellor-Designate effective July 1. As he
fulfills his commitments to Stanford during the coming year of
transition, he will engage with JTS students, faculty, staff and
donors to fully understand our opportunities and challenges.

There is no doubt that the days and years ahead will be exciting,
demanding and inspiring. I am confident that Prof. Eisen is the right
person at the right time. His vision and energetic leadership
will help to assure the vibrancy of JTS, the Conservative Movement and
the Jewish people.

I look forward to your having the opportunity to meet him. In the mean
time, my best to you and your loved ones for a Chag Kasher
V'Sameach.