UCC-related Chicago Theological Seminary has established the Rabbi Herman E. Schaalman Chair in Jewish Studies with a $2 million endowment led by Chicago's Pritzker family. The chair, America's first endowed professorship in Jewish studies at a freestanding Protestant seminary, honors the co-founder of the school's Center for Jewish-Christian Studies.

"The Schaalman Chair will carry forward and expand on the center's pioneering work in bringing to the Christian community the treasures of Judaic thought and scripture," said CTS President Susan B. Thistlethwaite. "By establishing this chair in perpetuity, we are promoting the continuation of an honest and authentic dialogue between the Christian and Jewish faith traditions."

Since the 1940s, Rabbi Schaalman has played a key role in that dialogue. A native of Munich, Germany, he was ordained at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati in 1941. Schaalman is rabbi emeritus of Emanuel Congregation of Chicago and past president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago. The Catholic Theological Union conferred on him an honorary doctorate in ministry, and CTS presented him with its Graham Taylor Award in recognition of his impact during his many years of teaching. Rabbi Schaalman remains an active member of the CTS faculty.

The Pritzkers launched the chair endowment with a $1 million challenge grant. "We are grateful for the Pritzkers' gift and generous spirit," said Donald C. Clark Jr., chair of the CTS board of trustees. "The benefits of their leadership will extend beyond our campus, our city and our time."

This fall, CTS will begin a search for a scholar to hold the Schaalman chair. Additionally, the school is seeking funding for programs at the Center for Jewish-Christian Studies. These include the Schaalman Lectures, recently inaugurated with a presentation by Paula Frederickson, Aurelio Professor of Scripture at Boston University.

Chicago Theological Seminary, founded in 1855, prepares women and men for religious leadership and ministry to individuals, churches and society. One of seven seminaries of the United Church of Christ, CTS seeks to be an international force in the development of religious leadership to transform society toward greater justice and mercy. Students from more than 20 denominations and faith traditions attend CTS, based in Chicago's Hyde Park community.