Marshall University will host retired Rabbi Victor Urecki for the Charles Hill Moffat Lecture on March 30, according to a March 23 announcement from the Department of History. The event is scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Shawkey Dining Room of the Memorial Student Center and is open to the public at no cost.
The lecture, titled “The Journey of Life Through Dialogue and Encounter,” highlights Urecki’s longstanding work in interfaith dialogue and community engagement. The event aims to foster understanding among diverse faith groups, reflecting Marshall University’s commitment to inclusive excellence and service throughout West Virginia and beyond through education, according to the official website.
Urecki served as spiritual leader of B’nai Jacob Synagogue in Charleston from 1986 until his retirement in 2025. Born in Argentina, he has advocated for the Jewish diaspora and worked extensively with Latin American migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border and in Central America. He co-founded Root and Branch, an initiative that promotes interfaith dialogue among Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities in the Kanawha Valley.
“I’ve known Rabbi Urecki for six years, and in that time, I have grown as a professor, a friend and a human being,” said Dr. Chris White, professor of history at Marshall University and a Drinko Fellow. “It’s through his example as an interfaith promoter that I have become more open to learning about and spending time with people of all religious backgrounds. He is the definition of a true public servant, and I am proud to call him my friend.”
Urecki has received several honors recognizing his efforts toward building bridges among faith communities—including the 2011 “Living the Dream Award” and the 2014 West Virginia Civil Rights Award—and serves as contributing editor at Charleston Gazette where he writes about religious tolerance.
“For nearly four decades, Victor Urecki has been far more than the rabbi of B’nai Jacob Synagogue — he has been one of the moral voices of West Virginia,” White said. “Through his leadership, empathy, openness and public engagement, he has reminded our state that faith should unite communities rather than divide them.”
Marshall University offers undergraduate through professional programs across its colleges; it is recognized as an accredited institution providing innovative educational opportunities aimed at promoting public good through research and global engagement according to its official website. Brad D. Smith currently serves as its president according to Marshall University.
