Are Jewish Families Chasing Prestige Over Education? | Boston Jewish Now #15

Many Jewish parents are looking at college differently right now. Dr. Greg Weiner offers a perspective few others can. He is the 17th president of Assumption University, the first Jewish president of a Catholic university in the United States, and a scholar of American political thought. In this episode, Jeremy Burton speaks with Dr. Weiner about why Catholic education may offer Jewish students something many families are looking for now: a serious educational environment where faith is taken seriously, difference is treated with respect, and students are formed to think, question, listen, and live responsibly with others. Dr. Weiner makes clear that Catholic universities are not trying to evangelize Jewish students. They take faith, reason, learning, and human dignity seriously. For Jewish students, that can mean entering a community where difference is understood, where conviction is respected, where education is about more than ivy-league prestige — and where there are no encampments. Together, JCRC CEO Jeremy Burton and Dr. Greg Weiner unpack what a college education is, at its best: a place to produce the kinds of people a healthy civic society depends on. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 02:34 A Background in Politics 07:00 The Power of the Constitution and Debate 10:02 Barney Frank and the Pace of Social Change 12:28 How Does a Jewish Kid from Texas Become the Leader of a Catholic University in Worcester? 13:47 The Commonalities of Jewish and Catholic Tradition in Education 16:27 Navigating Christian Language in Teaching 21:57 Catholic University Tradition Informs the Modern Discourse on Higher Education 27:27 Civic Friendship in Large Society Across Faiths and Parties 30:25 The Line Between Alternative Historical Narratives and Civic Friendship 32:03 Bringing Vibrancy Back to the Founding Fathers 34:58 Flaws in the Current State of Higher Education 43:53 Is There a Danger to Jewish Students in Attending Catholic Institutions? 49:16 The Jewish Community's Interests in Higher Education 51:41 Hope in the Project of Civic Space 53:05 Future Projects from Dr. Weiner --- Boston Jewish Now A podcast about the issues shaping Jewish life in Greater Boston. Boston Jewish Now helps Boston’s Jewish community make sense of the issues, events, and public conversations shaping Jewish life here. Each episode breaks down what is happening in the news, local government, and community in our region — and, when relevant, the national or global dynamics that affect Jewish life here at home. The podcast is designed for engaged members of Boston’s Jewish community who want to better understand the landscape around them, follow the issues shaping our community’s place in Massachusetts, and understand what deserves their attention. JCRC of Greater Boston JCRC has created a legacy of building community relations in support of Jewish and communal interests. We are at the forefront of shaping a world where our Jewish voice matters, our community thrives, and future generations find strength in our enduring legacy. Learn more at https://www.jcrcboston.org Follow Us   / bostonjcrc     / bostonjcrc     / bostonjcrc     / jcrcboston