Skirball Center

Specialties

We offer Jewish learning opportunities for adults interested in an intellectual, open-​minded, and relevant approach to Judaism. We offer semester-​long courses, one-​day classes, and other events. The subjects we cover include Jewish history, philosophy, art and culture, archaeology, Bible, and everything in between.

As one of our students wrote in a Skirball course evaluation, «If you can’t find what you are looking for at Skirball — a class that meets your needs and desires for Adult Jewish Education — then it doesn’t exist.»

History

Established in 2001.

Skirball opened its doors in 2001, and has grown by leaps and bounds in the past 14 years. We now offer 4 semesters of study each academic year (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer), and our programs are constantly growing and expanding. We are now recognized as the hub for liberal Jewish study on the Upper East Side.

Meet the Manager

Dr. Mark W.

Manager

Dr. Mark W. Wiesstuch is The Skirball Center’s Interim Executive Director. Mark has been on the faculty of The Skirball Center since its inception. He has taught courses on general Jewish history, the history of the Jews in Poland and Eastern Europe, and various subjects related to the Holocaust. Over the last several years he has focused on the Second Temple period, leading classes on the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Jewish origins of Christianity, the early roots of Jewish mysticism, and the composition of the Bible. He received his doctorate in Theater History from the City University of New York. Mark serves as Administrative Vice President of Congregation Emanu-​El of the City of New York.