Barry Cytron
Barry D. Cytron, Associate Professor of Theology, holds the Jay
Phillips Chair in Jewish Studies and directs its Center for
Jewish-Christian Learning, a partnership of Saint John’s University and
the University of St. Thomas. From 1972 until he assumed his current post
in 1996, he served as a congregational rabbi, first at Tifereth Israel
Synagogue in Des Moines, Iowa (1972-1983) and then with Adath Jeshurun
Congregation in Minneapolis, Minnesota (1983-1996). Rabbi Cytron received
his B.S. and M.A. degrees from Columbia University, ordination from the
Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and a Ph.D. from Iowa State
University. In 1996, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from his
rabbinic alma mater. Active in both communal and interfaith activities, he
serves on the National Council of Synagogues and participates in its
regular consultations with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. He
has delivered papers twice at the National Workshop on Jewish-Christian
Relations (Boston, 1985 and Minneapolis, 1991) and at the Lilly/ADL
Interfaith Symposium at Indiana University. Locally, he is a member of the
Bio-ethics Committee of Methodist Hospital and the advisory committee of
the Center for Bio-Ethics at the University of Minnesota. A regular
contributor to the commentary section of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, he
is co-author, with Earl Schwartz, of two books published by United
Synagogue of Conservative Judaism: When Life is in the Balance: Life and
Death Decisions in Light of the Jewish Tradition (1986; 2nd
ed., 1994) and Who Renews Creation (1995). In 1989, his retelling of the
disastrous fire at the famed Seminary library, published as Fire! The
Library is Burning [Lerner Books] was cited as one of the best children’s
books of the year. In 1993, he and his wife collaborated in writing a
young person’s biography, Myriam Mendilow: Mother of Jerusalem, [Lerner
Books] that tells the story of the founder of Israel’s renowned
"Lifeline for the Aged." He is now completing Whose death is
it, anyway? to be published in the Lerner Books Pro/Con series. It
explores ethical questions at the end of life.
Representing: Jay Phillips Center for Jewish-Christian Learning
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Avenue
Mail #SOD
St. Paul, MN 55105