Although it's somewhat difficult to believe, we are rapidly approaching the first anniversary of Hebrew College's beautiful new campus in Newton Centre. Much has changed since last December when we moved into the Friedman and Cutler-Chafetz buildings and then, in April, opened the Gann Library and Gould-Florence Campus Center.

The echoes of hammers and power saws and the smell of fresh paint have long since faded. Young oaks and a locust overlook the Campus Commons, now lush with grass and shrubbery. And our classrooms, barely finished on that first day, hum with the sounds of study. The excitement of our arrival lingers, and it is still a thrill to welcome first-time visitors, who are overwhelmed by what they see.

This surge of activity has exceeded our expectations and created a challenging dilemma: Despite the fact that the new campus tripled the size of our Hawes Street home, we are already out of space.

We are proud of our striking new home. But what goes on inside our classrooms is, of course, the most important aspect of the College's transformation. Our expanding programs and related space needs drove the decision to build, and we had high expectations of our new environment. Yet, none of us foresaw the campus's extraordinary, energizing impact on the institution itself. Some assumed we would need at least a few months to settle in, consolidate and adjust to our surroundings. But we never "plateaued." Instead, our work has gained momentum. Deeply committed to furthering Jewish literacy, we continue to expand at a truly remarkable pace, and the high energy level at Hebrew College is palpable and visible to all.

Academic and adult learning programs that were being planned and developed as we built our new home are now in full operation, attracting an increasing number of highly motivated students, including the first four Hebrew College Fellows, featured in this issue's cover story. Classes in our cantorial arts certificate program are crammed with students, expanded and intensified Hebrew language courses are drawing record enrollments, and the Prozdor high school continues its exponential growth with over 700 students this fall.

Lecture series and courses offered by the Center for Adult Jewish Learning in the Bible, Jewish spirituality and Jewish Women's Studies have packed Berenson Hall. Our first residential Summer Institutes this year filled the halls with energy, as day school educators, Hebrew language teachers and Online MA students engaged in weeklong intensive courses. The campus has come alive.

Other major initiatives take us beyond our campus walls. MyJewishLearning.com, the most extensive and sophisticated Jewish learning website ever developed, inaugurated its beta-test site this September to enthusiastic responses from users around the world. This outstanding interactive educational resource, developed by Hebrew College and Jewish Family & Life! Media, with lead funding by Edgar M. Bronfman, is scheduled for a full launch by the year's end.

In addition, Hebrew College's Center for Day School Education and NETA, a Jerusalem-based team of Hebrew language curriculum specialists, have received major funding from The AVI CHAI Foundation to expand this AVI CHAI initiative, which is redefining how Hebrew language is taught in Jewish day middle and high schools across the U.S. and Canada. In South Florida, Hebrew College programs have developed rapidly, and we are about to begin construction of a building on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, one of our institutional partners in bringing quality Jewish educational opportunities to the region.

Even as we grow and expand in exciting and creative ways to fulfill our mandate of promoting Jewish literacy to broad segments of the Jewish community, our highest priority remains our academic programs. To that end, in a historic step for Hebrew College, the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education is preparing to begin a doctoral program in Jewish education in Fall 2003. The College is also in the early planning stages of creating a transdenominational rabbinic program, drawing on the talents of our faculty and involving distinguished scholars from other academic institutions and the outstanding rabbinic leadership of Greater Boston.

This surge of growth and activity has enlivened the College and community in ways exceeding our most optimistic expectations—and, in the process, has created a challenging dilemma: Despite the fact that the new campus tripled the size of our Hawes Street home, we are already out of space. As a result, College leadership are embarking on a major Campaign for Hebrew College to support not only the second phase of campus construction—including another academic building, an auditorium, additional parking and student housing—but also the continued development of programs that have made the campus such an overwhelming success.

In realizing this vision, we will secure Hebrew College's future as it assumes its leadership role among the nation's elite Jewish educational institutions. I invite you to join in celebrating our achievements and to participate in the excitement of our dynamic and growing Hebrew College.

Dr. David M. Gordis, President

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