Hebrew Theological College, a Chicago-based Jewish institution, will be affiliating with the Touro College and University System, it was announced last week. The partnership is expected to be finalized at the end of June.
Former Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, CEO and senior provost of Touro’s Western Division, told J. that the affiliation with Hebrew Theological College will have no direct impact on Touro’s Bay Area campus, located on Mare Island near Vallejo.
Established in 1997, Touro University California — the only Jewish-owned university in Northern California — offers graduate degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, nursing, public health and education. The school serves kosher food and observes Jewish holidays, but most of its 1,400 students are not Jewish.
The Touro system has more than 18,000 students across 29 schools in five countries, with fields of study ranging from law and psychology to technology and Jewish studies.
Rabbi Zev Eleff has been appointed chief academic officer of the Hebrew Theological College, a nearly 100-year-old institution that offers advanced Jewish studies. Eleff most recently taught at Brandeis University, where he earned a doctorate in Jewish history.
“The fundamental principles on which HTC and Touro were founded are closely aligned — strengthening the Jewish community and a commitment to academic excellence,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, president and CEO of Touro College and University System.
As part of the new partnership, a pathway will be created for qualified HTC graduates to gain early acceptance into Touro graduate and professional schools, according to a Touro press release. Additionally, HTC students will gain access to online Touro learning courses. — dan pine