This book presents a group of distinguished scholars who examine key themes in Jewish religious life. Their essays revolve around the dimensions of rabbinic, intellectual, cultural, communal, educational, political, and social leadership, as well as a reflective look at one of the most tragic events in Jewish experience, towards the hope of repairing the world and not repeating such evil. The scholarship reproduced in this volume captures the essence of Touro University: remembering the past, perpetuating the rich historic Jewish tradition of tolerance and dignity, and managing the delicate ballet of serving humanity and the Jewish community at the same time. These papers are expressive of the Jewish commitment to intellectual inquiry, the transmission of knowledge, and the pursuit of social justice.

Simcha Fishbane is a professor at the Touro University Graduate School of Jewish Studies. He has been a rabbi, scholar, and educator for many years. Fishbane is the author of numerous books and articles, is co-editor of Touro University Press, co-editor of Studies in Judaism, Humanities and the Social Sciences, and serves as the executive assistant to the president of Touro College.

Simcha Fishbane's profile page

Eric M. Levine is a faculty member and Director, Social Work Alumni Engagement, Continuing Education, Licensing & Financial Resource Development for the Touro Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) in New York City. He has held senior management positions in the Jewish and general not-for-profit sectors, and displayed significant leadership and expertise in leadership development, program planning and management, policy analysis, grants writing, resource development, organizational management, strategy and change. He has co-edited four books and his article, "Toward a Critical Social Work Ethics of Immigration, Migration, and Human Rights," will appear in 2024. He has served as the Managing Editor of the journal Studies in Judaism, Humanities and the Social Sciences and is a member of Board of Copy Editors for the International Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics. His recent research interests have focused on immigration, racism, inequality, civil rights, and democracy.

Eric M. Levine's profile page

Yosef Robinson is an independent scholar living in Montreal, Quebec. His most recent scholarly project is translating Chaim Kruger’s Der Rambam: Zayn leben un shafn from Yiddish to English.

Yosef Dov Robinson's profile page

“This volume celebrates a half century of the fulfillment of Touro University founder Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander’s vision for an institution of higher education that would be dedicated to academic excellence, social responsibility and the community at large, accompanied by a major commitment to the needs of the Jewish community. In its first fifty years, Touro University has done much to make Rabbi Dr. Lander’s vision a reality. It is thus most appropriate that this book presents the proceedings of two Touro University conferences, one held in New York on the subject of ‘Jewish leadership,’ which Rabbi Dr. Lander exemplified, and the other, on an important aspect of Holocaust studies, held at Touro University’s Berlin campus, which symbolizes Rabbi Dr. Lander’s worldwide aspirations for the institution he founded.”

— Ira Robinson, Distinguished Professor Emeritus/ Department of Religions and Cultures/ Concordia University.

“Ha-Tov v’ha Meitiv: Contemporary Scholarship in Jewish Studies. Essays in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of Touro University, edited by Simcha Fishbane and Eric M. Levine, is a collection of outstanding essays by noted scholars, professors, rabbis, and writers, eminent experts on their subjects who are devoted to preserving and maintaining Jewish history and culture. Students of all ages will find a wealth of interesting material here on such topics as Holocaust studies, Jewish, Polish, Ukrainian history, the expulsion from Spain, the Dreyfus Affair, leadership, rabbinical authority, and finding meaning in work. Touro University has done a true mitzvah by publishing this excellent anthology, dedicated to the memory of Dr. Bernard Lander, Touro’s Founding President. This volume deserves a place of honor in university, public, and private libraries throughout the English-speaking world.

A reading knowledge of Hebrew is not essential for persons interested in the subject, as most quotations have been translated. A comprehensive introduction by Dr. Alan Kadish prepares readers for the wide variety of articles included here, and the material has been arranged both chronologically and by subject, beautifully edited to assist the reader in going through this volume.”

— Dr. Lynn Visson, United Nations, Retired