Jack D. Spiro holds the Harry Lyons Distinguished Chair of Judaic Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University; directs the university’s Center for Judaic Studies and edits its international online publication, Menorah Review; and serves as faculty adviser to VCU’s Hillel Foundation.

Among his books are “A Time to Mourn"; "The Living Bible”; “To Learn and to Teach”; “Dialogue: In Search of Jewish-Christian Understanding”; “Focus on Judaism, Science, and Technology”; “Persistent Prejudice: Perspectives on Anti-Semitism”; “Out of the Whirlwind Discussion Guide”; and “The Living Bible Teacher’s Guide.”

He was editor-in-chief of Religious Education, journal of the Religious Education Association of North America; founding editor of Compass, national education magazine of Reform Judaism; editorial director of The Torah: A Modern Commentary; and executive editor of Reform Judaism.

Spiro has two earned doctorates, one from the Hebrew Union College and one from the University of Virginia. He has received honorary doctorates from the Hebrew Union College and the University of Richmond. He is a member of the Phi Alpha Theta National Honorary History Fraternity and served in the U.S. Air Force European Command with the rank of captain. Spiro also served as chair of the Richmond Human Relations Commission.

Among other honors, he received a citation from the Liberal and Progressive Synagogues of Great Britain for “outstanding service,” VCU’s Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award, the Humanitarian Award of the National Council of Community and Justice, a Mayoral Proclamation for contributions to the City of Richmond and the Liberty Bell Award from the Richmond Bar Association. He was recognized by Style Weekly as one of the most influential Richmonders of the 20th century. Spiro can be reached by e-mail: jspiro@vcu.edu.