As fall semester approaches, we are eager to introduce our new esteemed teaching faculty, Professor Cass Fisher and Rabbi Igael Gurin-Malous. You can read more about each of them below.
Professor Cass Fisher
Cass Fisher is a Professor in Religious Studies at the University of South Florida. A graduate of University of Chicago’s Divinity School, where he worked with Micahel Fishbane and David Tracy, he is a philosopher of religion working to restore the place of theology in Judaism. Dr. Fisher’s research focuses on rabbinic theology and modern Jewish thought to which he brings resources from both continental and analytic philosophy. His first book, Contemplative Nation: A Philosophical Account of Jewish Theological Language (Stanford, 2012), presents a new model for understanding Jewish theology that grounds theological reflection in religious practice. His second book is titled Jewish Theological Realism: Recovering Reference to God in Rabbinic and Modern Thought (Cambridge University Press, 2025). Inspired by the passion for study in classical Jewish texts and the dialogical nature of modern Jewish thought. Dr. Fisher is also deeply interested in matters of pedagogy. His research related to Jewish Theological Realism has appeared in Harvard Theological Review, AJS Review, Religions, and the Cambridge Companion to Jewish Theology. His interest in teaching emerging clergy brings him to the Academy, and we are so excited to welcome him as a visiting professor.
Dr. Cass Fisher teaching Medieval Jewish Thought.
Rabbi Igael Gurin-Malous
Rabbi Igael Gurin-Malous serves as a rabbi in residence at Beit T’shuvah in Los Angeles, as well as a board member for AJRCA and The Torah Studio. He is a teacher of Talmud, a spiritual counselor, and a much sought after speaker and writer on subjects blending the Talmud and other Jewish texts, spirituality, addiction, recovery, fatherhood and LGBTQIA+ issues. Through combining ancient texts with practical spirituality, he offers modes of healing that look at an individual’s actions, beliefs and values.
His aim in providing spiritual counseling is to guide individuals toward developing a life of meaning, joy, and purpose, powered by spiritual practices and Talmudic wisdom. We are thrilled to welcome him to our teaching faculty this fall.
Rabbi Igael Malous is teaching Talmud II.