After a year-and-a-half hiatus, Interfaith Roundtable returns! Rabbi Mark shares why this show matters now more than ever, creating space for curiosity, compassion, and connection across faiths without preaching or trying to convince anyone to believe a certain way.

In this comeback episode, Rabbi Mark welcomes his first guest back: Pastor Anna Ressler of Hebron Mennonite Church (Hagerstown). Together, they explore what drew Anna into ministry, what "discipleship" looks like in real life, and how Mennonite values like peace, simplicity, and community shape her work today. They also talk about navigating the religion/politics line, why interfaith relationships are so important, and how Anna uses theater and storytelling to make scripture more accessible, sometimes even writing short dramatic sketches for worship.

Rabbi Mark also reintroduces core themes of the show, including reflections on creation, free will, Tikkun Olam, and the purpose of prayer, plus a look at Jewish spiritual tradition through the lens of Abraham Joshua Heschel and a wordless nigun melody.

Sponsor: This episode of Interfaith Roundtable is sponsored by Andrew K. Coffman Funeral Home, Inc. Located at 40 East Antietam Street in Hagerstown, Maryland, the Coffman Funeral Home has served the community since 1925 as a full-service establishment committed to quality, dignity, and compassion, offering services including traditional funeral services, cremation, and coordination with other funeral homes for forwarding or receiving remains.

Want to connect with the show? Email Rabbi Mark at [email protected].

Rabbi Mark speaks with Angela Moore who is a leader at UNHCR, and important U.N. Refugee Agency that is helping persecuted and displaced people find help and support as they struggle to build new lives free of terror, oppression, and, in some cases, exploitation.

Mark also interviews Cantor Barbara Ostfeld, who is the first woman ever to be ordained as a cantor in the Jewish faith. She talks about being a pioneer in a field that was for centuries exclusively male.

Rabbi Mark speaks with Matthew Thiessesn PhD., biblical scholar and teacher, about Jesus' Jewish roots and he welcomes Pastor James Brooks who is a new minister in Hagerstown, MD at First Christian Church.

Rabbi mark talks with Dr. Nehemia Gordon, who was one of the translators of The Dead Sea Scrolls, about his take on scripture from both a Jewish and Christian perspective.

Rabbi Mark speaks about his trip to Israel and what he experienced there as opposed to what is generally seen on cable news. Mark then spoke to spiritual guide, teacher, and grief counselor Mitch Cohen who helps clarify the distinctions between being religious and embracing spirituality.

In this episode Rabbi Mark is joined by award winning composer and flutist Mattan Klein. Mattan Klein shares his account of how life in Israel has changed in the past weeks. He gives the historical perspective of the Israel-Palestine and the decades of transgressions that led to the recent events. He also shares his music and his hope that it could lead to harmony and love.

On the second half of the episode Mark is joined by former President of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau Thomas Riford. On the show he shares the history of Thomas Kennedy, a man from Hagerstown who championed Religious Freedom for all. Born in 1776, Thomas Kennedy fought against discrimination and was the leading force to pass the "Jew Bill" which allowed people of Jewish decent or belief to hold public office.

Listen to Mattan's 2023 Album

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Hagerstown Convention and Visitor's Bureau

Thomas Kennedy Center

Amy Jaffy serves as the Senior Vice President at Vista Del Mar. Amy explains, they have the capacities to oversee a number of child refugees from various countries. Amy has background and a private practice in psychotherapy which she uses to help stablize and support the children from varying countries that come in. She talks how far Vista Del Mar has come in the past 100 years and how they continue to serve families and the community to this day.

Rabbi Jackie Redner served as the resident pastor for 17 years. Director of spiritual enrichment and a certified, mind, and medicine practitioner. Rabbi Jackie explains how her upbringing and roots led her to want to work in a place like Vista Del Mar. Despite the low amount of jewish children coming through Vista Del Mar she works with people of all faiths to support their spiritual journey. Judism and Interfaith practices are seen throughout Vista Del Mar as all holidays including Jewish holidays are celebrated.

Vista Del Mar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VistaDelMarOrg/

Website: https://vistadelmar.org/

Next Mark is joined by poet, author, and proud vegan Vivian Chinelli to talk about her veganism and why others could think before consuming animals. Like others she ate meat until she was challenged one day and she began to stop consuming it. She now makes conversation in the streets of Los Angeles about why people eat meat and how they can look into some alternatives. She also incorporates her poetry into undertaking to educate. She's written a number of books on the topic of veganism.

I'm not Vegan but My Cousin is: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Vegan-But-Cousin-Respecting/dp/B0B7QJ8HN7

Website: http://www.vivianchinelli.com

Our first guest is a motivational speaker, trainer, teacher, author, and a certified life coach. She is The FOCUS Trainer which stands for Fun, Opprotunity, Concentration, Unwavering, and Sucess. Rabbi Mark and Cherish break down her offerings and skills and how she uses her services to contribute to her local community. Cherish explains how her upbringing brought her to where she is today. How she started behind in class in reading and writing and gradually learned and overcame to eventually graduate with honors. The second guess is Ryan Berger who is the Funeral Director for the Andrew K. Coffman Funeral Home. He unpacks his role at the funeral home and how he helps families get through their time at the funeral home. They discuss the specific burial ceremonies guests need depending on the religion of the deceased. Ryan also explains the stigma around funeral directors in the general public and how others typically feel strange or weary around him.

The first half of the today's episode Rabi Mark shares the origins of his faith and how he found his spirituality in Judaism. He speaks on how science and religion aren't necessarily in conflict. We see that science speaks to the how but religion speaks to the why. Rabi Mark gives a thorough break down of the history of the faith and some of their practices. Well known figures of the faith like Moses and Abraham are discussed and insight is given to how they guided and affected the religion.

The second half focuses on the Muslim faith. Mark is joined by the president of the Islamic Center of Hagerstown Basheer Azizi. Their focus is at the Center is on connecting the local community and to give people a place to practice the faith. Azizi speaks on what it looks like to serve as a Muslim in Hagerstown and how that has changed over the decades. He explains how his faith has given a purpose in his life and how growing up during 9-11 shaped his adult life. Mark and Basheer break stereotypes within Islam and Judaism as well as speaking on the extremists in both of their groups.

Religion and faith isn't the only thing discussed on The Interfaith Roundtable. This week the discussion is focused on community work and how the ideals of helping and aiding those around us coincides with faith or is an off-shoot of it

Sommer Gilliam combined her love of community with her love of creating. The owner of Kreeative Kreations in Hagerstown, Maryland, Sommer creates not only beautiful hairstyles, but also soulfull and delicious treats. As a director of The Washington County Black Professionals Network, Sommer lives a life of uplifting those around her, while also chasing her own dreams. She tells her story and why she does what she does.

In the second half, Rabbi Mark is joined by Kathleen Prest, a social worker who works to train foster families with San Mar Treatment Foster Care, as well as Jennifer Lewis, a fellow congregate and clinical social worker as well as the Director of Treatment Foster Care for San Mar Family and Community Services. These two ladies discuss the importance of stability and love for foster children, as well as detail the work they do in helping in transitions and guiding them in life.