Dr. Edward Beck, a Huntingdon Valley resident and former professor of psychology, was featured by the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent for coming out of retirement to teach at Gratz College (which relocated to Jenkintown in 2025).
Dr. Beck, 80, told the Exponent that the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel coupled with Academic Engagement Network, a group that fights antisemitism on college campuses, were motivating factors in his decision to return to the classroom.
He encourages his students to “carefully seek out information from across the political spectrum and apply critical thinking skills to arrive at the truth”, the Exponent wrote.
“Get your heads out of TikTok,” he said. “Start reading balanced, vetted reports. If you don’t know what critical thinking is, learn about it and use it. And if you do it successfully, you’ll end up on the right side of what’s going on, and you may have to change your position — and it may not be popular.”
Dr. Beck has served as a presenter for the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center (HAMEC) in Elkins Park. He previously served teaching and Counseling positions in the City University of New York, New York University, Rutgers University, Penn State-Harrisburg and the University of Pennsylvania.
In 2025, selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. An excerpt:
Throughout his career, Dr. Beck has contributed to numerous publications and projects that reflect his commitment to mental health and Jewish advocacy. He was an associate editor for the Journal of Mental Health Counseling and presented at the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Educational Center. His passion for sharing information led him to create “All the News, Views, and Schmooze World Jews and Our Friends Can Use,” a growing social media platform that continues his legacy of digital communication.
Dr. Beck’s dedication to community service has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Top Leadership Award from the Harrisburg Jewish Community. As he looks toward the future, he is focused on his role with Gratz College’s advisory board for new Master’s and Doctoral Programs in Antisemitism Studies, the first of its kind in the U.S., aiming to make a lasting impact on combating antisemitism alongside talented young faculty members.
More details about his life and career here.
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Photo: HAMEC