TCU’s Brite Divinity honors Jewish leader for building interfaith relationships

When Daniel J. “Red” Goldstein shares his life story with someone new, more often than not he includes one key detail: He never earned a college degree. 

The Fort Worth native, 71, jokes he graduated from R.L. Paschal High School “sine laude,” or without honors. He persisted in his education endeavors across various Texas universities but never had enough credit hours, time or money to finish.

In May, Brite Divinity School changed his story. 

Goldstein was bestowed an honorary Doctor of Divinity diploma during the school’s hooding ceremony. The recognition punctuated the 12 years he served on the school’s board of trustees. 

“I was completely blown away,” Goldstein said. 

Leaders of TCU’s divinity school praised Goldstein’s dedication, which they said led to the expansion of the Jewish Studies Program and to strengthening the school’s relationship with the city’s Jewish community, said Rev. Virzola Law, chair of Brite’s board of trustees. 

“Because of you, they are,” Law said to Goldstein during the spring ceremony. 

Being honored at University Christian Church’s pulpit was a full-circle moment for Goldstein who deepened his own Jewish faith as a young man thanks to a former minister at the church.

He became familiar with the church near the Texas Christian University campus when he was a kid because a childhood friend was of the Disciples of Christ denomination. 

Growing up, Goldstein was familiar with the cultural aspects of his own faith: He knew a little Yiddish and lit candles on Friday nights to mark the beginning of Shabbat. Then his parents split when he was in middle school, around the same time his Jewish identity became a target of his classmates.

By 15, Goldstein was wavering in his faith. 

That’s when he met Rev. Dr. Granville T. Walker, the former longtime University Christian Church minister and Brite Divinity School professor. Instead of seeing Goldstein as an opportunity to “ win another convert,” Walker encouraged him to deepen his understanding of his Jewish religion, Brite Divinity School President Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady told attendees during the ceremony. 

“If you ever heard him tell this story, it’s a lesson he has never forgotten,” Cady said. 

Goldstein’s appreciation to Walker led to his involvement on the Brite Divinity School’s Board of Visitors. He was then appointed to the school’s board of trustees in 2013.

The board, which sets school policy and provides oversight, includes members of the Disciples of Christ and other denominations. However, when he was appointed, bringing a Jewish person onto a leadership board for the Christian seminary was a “huge step,” Goldstein recalled.

“I trusted Brite to have made a decision they thought was right,” Goldstein said. “And when they made a decision they thought was right, I chose to honor that decision and give it my all.”

Law credited his work as chair of the school’s investment committee that helped Brite Divinity School cover tuition and fees for all master’s students since summer 2023. 

Now, Goldstein passes the torch to another Fort Worth Jewish man on the board. 

Robert Simon was appointed to Brite’s board in June. The Fort Worth lawyer hopes his experiences in organizations such as the Multicultural Alliance and the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth & Tarrant County bring the school different perspectives. 

As he prepares for his first trustee meeting in October, he’s proud to carry on the torch Goldstein handed off, Simon said. 

“It shows not only an ecumenical spirit and open-mindedness but also the wisdom to invite in other viewpoints,” Simon said.

Goldstein hopes that institutions such as Brite continue working toward building bridges between different faiths. 

“I feel like I’ve had a small part in that,” Goldstein said. “But it was because of what someone from Brite did for me.” 

Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org.

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