Looking back, in the midst of all the catastrophic and troubling developments in the world, one of the first things that come to mind, in the here and now, is gratefulness. Gratefulness for being and working among colleagues in the true sense of that word; both new and old. Your work is impressive, for sure, in terms of research, teaching, and administrative excellence, but it is the sense of being part of a team in constant formative movement that makes TF stand out as both a friendly and an exciting place to be.
Thank you for everything you have done over the past year
Thank you for everything you have done over the past year, all the extra miles you have walked, not only to make things work, but to make teaching, learning, research, and administration at our faculty stand out. Thank you for all the hours you put in to give our students creative and inspiring learning experiences that can move their thinking and skills beyond their own expectations. Congratulations to all on the books and articles you’ve published, moving theological research forward both nationally and internationally. And a toast to you who have been awarded externally funded research projects; thank-you to you and the administrative support staff for all the time and energy you put into the application process.
Many challenges ahead
We have many challenges ahead as we are about to transform our teaching programs, reform our PhD education, and push for administrative changes that will facilitate the everyday experience of being part of the TF-team. I’m positive, though, that we will be able to overcome obstacles and differences of opinion and reach the goals we have set together. We have prepared for these processes in several ways, including establishing ‘stabsm?ten’ for academic staff, and meetings between the dekanat and the administrative staff, in order to have everyone involved. We now also have the Emeriti Council, ERTF, making sure that the wisdom of those who have served the longest doesn’t get lost as we move forward.
The past year has seen several new positions both advertised and filled, and we will continue in 2024 to advertise still more in order to make possible our shared vision for the faculty. We can do this only because our finances are kept in such good order: an extra thank-you for all the excellent work in that area.
Still, in the midst of everything that has happened in 2023, there is one story of how an important part of our Strategy2030 has been implemented that stands out, as it ties together in close collaboration new external partners, the leadership group, and administrative and academic staff, all in a coordinated push forward that succeeded in overcoming seemingly unsurmountable problems and reach a common goal – a goal that has now been realized.
The story of the Jewish Pathfinder Program
This is the story of the Jewish Pathfinder Program. Here’s the short version:
The first thing that landed on our desks as the new dekanat began its work back in January was the task of launching our new, externally funded program, the Jewish Pathfinders, together with our partners in the Jewish community, DMT. The program is now in full swing after a tremendous effort by Brynjulv and Heidi C. to find the right administrative paths making it all possible. Gunnar, Serena, and Helena have, in turn, done a remarkable job planning the courses and teaching the students.
But developments that nobody could have foreseen, but which would affect us all, unfolded in the fall.
The Hamas terror attack on Israel on October seven and the war between Israel and Hamas that followed have changed the region forever. There will not be a ‘normal’ to go back to after the war is over; there will have to be significant changes in the deep structures of how politics is done and conflicts approached. For our students, the attack happened while they were studying in Upper Galilee. We are grateful that they are all well and safe, even as we mourn with them the friends they lost, just as we mourn with all the Palestinian civilians who have lost their loved ones and are, as these words are written, suffering unspeakable horrors.
But the war has had and continues to have devastating effects far beyond the Middle East; it is transforming not only the Southern Levant but also large parts of the rest of the world, including Norway. Anti-Semitism has increased at a terrifying rate since October seven, and Islamophobia is on the rise too. Seen in the context of the global anti-democratic developments over the last few years, fueled by religious and political polarization, which in turn feeds on information flows hijacked by those seeking disruption and social fragmentarization – seen in this context, the consequences of these developments combined have the potential of undermining the core values on which we have built our societies. Our determination to oppose these forces of mass destruction must, as a response, grow stronger and involve more initiatives.
S?NSTEBYPRISEN 2024
Against this background, it is gratifying to note that TF is not the only institution to see the importance for Norwegian society of educating Jewish Pathfinders. A few weeks ago we received the news that the Jewish Pathfinders and the Pathfinder program have been awarded S?nstebypriset for their work in Norwegian high-schools against racism and anti-Semitism.
Since the program began in 2016, the Pathfinders have met and talked to ca. 40 000 young Norwegians; last year only, they visited 224 schools. The Pathfinders received the prize for their educational efforts (“folkeopplysning og holdningskamp”) and for their courage. Quoting NTB:
“Dessuten er de j?diske veiviserne et eksempel p? sivilt mot. Dette er unge mennesker som reiser rundt med en viktig oppgave, men som ogs? m?ter fordommer og uvitenhet. S?nstebyprisen 2024 hedrer en gruppe unge mennesker som med kunnskapsbasert opplysning om j?disk liv, kultur og religion bidrar til at antisemittisme ikke f?r feste seg hos stadig nye generasjoner. Slik g?r de j?diske veiviserne inn i en meget viktig tradisjon.”
Congratulations to DMT and all the Jewish Pathfinders
We congratulate DMT and all the Jewish Pathfinders on receiving this important and prestigious award. We are very pleased to have the privilege of implementing the academic part of the program; we learn new things and go deeper as we expand our teaching. This is precisely the type of widening of our research and teaching that Strategy2030 envisions:
“Due to the increase in religious pluralisation, the Faculty must introduce a more offensive policy for research development and communication. This will require strategic development of resources. With a focus on sustainability in research, education and society, the Faculty aims – over the strategy period – to boost multi-religious competence in history and present-day status related to Christianity, Islam and Judaism.”
This effort, focusing also on Judaism is, in turn, intertwined with our larger vision as captured by our motto: “Understand Religion – Change the world”:
“Imparting knowledge that brings about change, a knowledge-based foundation for communication and close collaboration with key partners in church and society, strengthening competence in the areas of theology and religion.” […]
“With its expertise in the fields of theology, ethics, and religion, the Faculty has a responsibility to make provisions for producing knowledge that will better enable society to deal with the challenges such changes represent. Issues include how the community is developed as a bulwark to counter polarisation, how candidates are educated to contribute in enlightened and critical discussions on religion, ethics, human dignity, justice, and sustainability. It also involves engagement in research that sustains both the knowledge produced and the candidates themselves. Research comes first and lays the foundations upon which the Faculty of Theology can help to change the world for the better.”
The story of the Jewish Pathfinders at TF shows, even as only the first chapter has been written, how important it is and how much we can do when we keep research, teaching, and contributing to society closely together in a mutually enriching and dynamic relationship.
Educating students to become agents of positive change
The world is more unstable at the end of 2023 than it was at its beginning. This state of things, though, has only clarified all the more our mission as a Faculty of Theology, to provide research-based knowledge, educating students to become agents of positive change. In 2023 we wrote the first chapter in this narrative. In 2024, we will take the next steps on this important, inspiring, and meaningful journey.
In gratitude and with all good wishes for a peaceful and relaxing holiday season,
Anders