Seeking the Hiding God

20 February, 2025

We are deeply honoured to welcome Professor Arnold Eisen in conversation with Revd Prof Serena Jones, and Prof Sam Shonkoff, about his new book Seeking the Hiding God: A Personal Theological Essay.

About the book: In Seeking the Hiding God, Prof Eisen delves into the profound mystery of divine hiddenness, presenting a compelling exploration of how this central theological dilemma resonates within modern Jewish life. Through rigorous analysis and heartfelt reflection, Eisen tackles the poignant questions that arise when God seems absent, drawing on classical Jewish texts and contemporary thought. His insightful examination reveals how these ancient narratives continue to influence and illuminate the struggles and commitments of faith in today’s world.
Seeking the Hiding God invites readers to join the author in asking, perhaps for the first time, what they actually believe about ultimate matters of faith and doubt – and rewards fellow searchers for ultimate meaning with reassurance that the search itself can be a source of personal fulfillment, vibrant community, and great joy.

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Prof Arnold Eisen, Chancellor Emeritus and Professor of Jewish Thought at the Jewish Theological Seminary, USA, is one of the world’s leading experts on modern Judaism. During his 13-year term as Chancellor, he transformed the education of religious, pedagogical, professional, and lay leaders for North American Jewry, with a focus on graduating highly skilled, innovative leaders who bring Judaism alive in ways that speak authentically to Jews at a time of rapid and far-reaching change.
Prof Eisen is the author of numerous scholarly and popular books and articles on the subjects of modern Jewish thought and practice. Before coming to JTS he served on the faculties of Columbia, Tel Aviv and Stanford universities.

Revd Prof Serene Jones is the first woman President of the 186-year-old Union Theological Seminary, USA. She occupies the Johnston Family Chair for Religion and Democracy. Revd Prof Jones is a Past President of the American Academy of Religion, which annually hosts the world’s largest gathering of scholars of religion. Before coming to UTS, Prof Jones was Titus Street Professor of Theology at the Yale University Divinity School for seventeen years. She is the author of several books including Trauma and Grace and, most recently, her memoir Call It Grace: Finding Meaning in a Fractured World. Prof Jones, a popular public speaker, is sought by media to comment on major issues impacting society because of her deep grounding in theology, politics, women’s studies, economics, race studies, history, and ethics.

Prof Sam Shonkoff is the Taube Family Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, USA, and Senior Fellow at the Oxford Interfaith Forum. He received his PhD degree from the University of Chicago. His scholarship and teaching focus on modern Jewish theology and culture, particularly in German-Jewish and Hasidic contexts. He is the author of many articles, and he is co-editor with Ariel Mayse of Hasidism: Writings on Devotion, Community and Life in the Modern World (Brandeis University Press, 2020). His current book project, Embodied Theology: Reading Buber Reading Hasidism, examines Martin Buber’s interpretations of Hasidic sources.

Chair: Professor Aaron Koller, Senior Fellow, Oxford Interfaith Forum

Date: 20 February, 2025

Time: 18:00-19:00 GMT | 10:00-11:00 PT | 13:00-14:00 ET

Venue: Online

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