0201 - Summer Scholars
Course Description
Morning Sessions 10 am-noon
Jewish & Christian History, Art, And Scripture
Christopher Bellitto, PhD and Brooks Susman, rabbi emeritus
How have Jews and Christians viewed each other through scripture and the arts over time? Join us as we explore a shared heritage – first of conflict and recently of reconciliation – by considering Jewish and Christian history, art, and scriptural interpretation through the centuries. Rabbi Susman and Dr. Bellitto have lectured together for two decades, offering talks on what is shared and distinct in Christmas and Chanukah, Passover and Easter, scripture and traditions. Their goal is to bridge the presumptive polarizing gap between Judaism and Christianity by using an open-eyed view of history to promote understanding and good faith moving forward.
Impacts Of The Revolutionary War In Monmouth County
Rick Geffken, MA
Join Rick for an in-depth examination of the Revolutionary War in Monmouth County, the people on both sides, Tories and Rebels; battles and skirmishes; religions; the economy and more. We’ll highlight the conflicts between Militia Captain Joshua Huddy and the British Loyalist and a runaway slave Colonel Tye. Discover the role religious organizations played during the Revolution: Dutch Church leader Dominie Benjamin DuBois; Church of England’s Rev. Samuel Cooke; Presbyterian Tennent Church’s Rev. John Tennent Woodhull; and Quakers such as the Grover and Hartshorne families. Embark on virtual visits to the many 1776-1782 Revolutionary war sites in Monmouth County. Besides the famous Battle of Monmouth Court House in 1778, many other skirmishes, raids, murders, and incidents happened during what has been called the Civil War in Monmouth County. We’ll look at the places where these events happened comparing how they looked then and now.
Afternoon Sessions 1-3 pm
In The Time Of The Tudors: The Pole Family
Lyndell O’Hara, PhD
Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, was the niece of the last two Plantagenet kings of England and elder sister of the “Princes in the Tower.” She held a stronger claim to the English throne than the Tudors, yet she served with loyalty in the courts of both Henry VII and Henry VIII. As Henry VIII’s marriage to Katherine unraveled, the allegiance of the Pole family came under suspicion and Lady Margaret, with her sons Reginald, Geoffrey and Henry, attempted to ride out the rising storm of Henry VIII’s wrath.
Checks and Balances:
The Durability Of A Constitutional Principle
Bruce Brickman, Esq.
The U.S. Constitution’s design hinges on two fundamental ideas: the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances that gives it life. Explore how that operational core of governance continues to function amid shifting political dynamics and institutional change. Examine the evolving role of Congress, the expanding scope of presidential power, and the legal and constitutional implications of executive orders and judicial review. Historical context and precedent will guide our exploration of recent Supreme Court decisions on immigration, federal civil service, and the authority of independent agencies. Participants are encouraged to bring their insights and questions to what promises to be a timely, thoughtful, and engaging dialogue on the resilience of one of our nation’s most essential principles.
Includes lunch
Breakfast provided by The Friends of Lifelong Learning