Arnold Eisen

Arnold M. Eisen (born 1951) is an American Judaic scholar who was Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.

[1] Prior to this appointment, he served as the Koshland Professor of Jewish Culture and Religion and chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Stanford University.

[2] In 2006, Eisen was appointed as the seventh chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary, replacing Ismar Schorsch.

Since his appointment in 2007, he has increased JTS's impact on the communities it serves by transforming the education of religious leadership for Conservative Judaism; articulating a new vision for JTS; guiding the formulation of a strategic plan to implement that vision; and developing innovative programs in synagogue arts and practices, adult education, pastoral care, Jewish thought, inter-religious dialogue, and the arts.

He believes that American Jews feel connected to Jewish ritual but maintain autonomy to decide what to practice and thus many do not attend synagogue regularly.