STMA Students Attend Prestigious Lecture Series
On Tuesday, October 12, sixteen students from St. Thomas More Academy had the privilege of attending a lunch seminar with Dr. Joseph Davis, hosted at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture (IASC), and a distinguished lecture in the UVA Rotunda by Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
Dr. Davis’ lunch seminar was entitled “The Performing Self – On Being Successful.” In advance of the trip, students were given a paper to read in preparation for the seminar, written by Dr. Davis. Over a wonderful lunch, provided by the IASC, students and faculty engaged in a thought provoking discussion with Dr. Davis about contemporary culture and our understanding of “success.”
Following this seminar students walked across UVA’s beautiful campus to the historic Rotunda (1826) designed by Thomas Jefferson as the heart of his “Academic Village.”
The conclusion of the visit was the highlight of the day. Students attended a prestigious lecture given by the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Rabbi Sacks spoke on the theme: “Difference and Democracy in the Post-Secular Word: Losing Civil Space.” His talk focused on the significant differences between “covenant” and “contract” in political and civil institutions.
At a dinner later that evening, Rabbi Sacks was given an opportunity to speak extemporaneously on any subject of his choosing, whatever topic or issue he wanted to address. Several of the faculty from STMA in attendance at the dinner were most humbled when he began to speak about how impressed he was with the high school students from our school. He recognized that forming leaders, requires great leadership, and in our students he expressed great hope for the effect they will have in positively shaping the future of our culture. +AMDG