The Rabbi's Husband

Tim Mackie, Chief Education Officer at the Bible Project, joins Mark to discuss his Oregonian origins, talking Leviticus at the skate park, and the Biblical sex scandal that reveals how the outsider can shape insider culture. 

Here is the link to the verse on Sefaria.com: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.38

Rabbi Sherre Hirsch, Chief Innovation Officer at American Jewish University in LA, joins Mark to discuss what is Jewish spirituality, the experience of a 2000 person, non-Zoom Shivah, and the power of silence in the darkest moments.

Here is the link to the verse on Sefaria.com: https://www.sefaria.org/Leviticus.10.2-7

Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman joins Mark to talk about being inspired by the Bible on a daily basis, what he learned about mankind from living in Israel, and how a nation’s greatest weakness can also be its source of strength. 

Here is the link to the verse on Sefaria.com: https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.9.9-21

Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey joins Mark to talk about politics, Black-Jewish relations, and how Abraham's idea of hospitality continues to inspire us.  

Here is the link to the verse on Sefaria.com: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.18.1-10

Shane Williamson, the president and CEO of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, joins Mark to talk about faith, football, and the prophet Micah's vision of what God wants us to do.

Here is the link to the verse on Sefaria.com: https://www.sefaria.org/Micah.6.8 and https://www.sefaria.org/Proverbs.3.5-6 

Rabbi Sharon Brous of LA's popular IKAR joins Mark to talk about nearly missing out on the rabbinate, making people feel welcome at synagogue, and what the Ten Commandments still have to teach us today. 

Here is the link to the verse on Sefaria.com: https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.20.9-10

Rabbi Jason Rubenstein, Jewish chaplain at Yale University, joins Mark for a very special episode this week. Jason’s uniquely well-rounded education includes attending reformed Temple Micah in Washington DC as a child, spending his formative years studying at orthodox Yeshivat Ma’ale Gilboa in northern Israel, and receiving his rabbinic ordination from the conservative Jewish Theological Seminary. He has taught on the faculty of the Hadar Institute for a decade, and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Wexner Graduate Fellowship and the Covenant Foundation’s 2015 Pomegranate Prize for Emerging Educators. The passage he has chosen to discuss is Pesikta de-Rav Kahana (Mandelbaum) 19.

Jason begins by sharing the passage, the notion of God’s marriage to the Jewish people illustrated within it, and the power of the Torah to sustain the Jewish people during God’s perceived absence. He and Mark then set off on a fascinating discussion of a number of related concepts including the rebirth of Hebrew and the Jewish State, the purpose of rituals, the Jewish commitment to Israel, and the nature of Zionism. The function and nature of prayer, the contrast between faith and belief, and the reason this passage holds such significance for Jason are also explored. As the episode draws to a close, Jason shares the lessons regarding humankind which he has learned, which leads to a discussion regarding the function of intellectual endeavor. In this remarkably dynamic conversation, the sheer amount of enthusiasm, knowledge, and insight of both host and guest entertains and informs as they clearly demonstrate yet again that the ‘wisdom in our tradition is boundless’ and the lessons eternal.

Episode Highlights:

· Jason’s telling of the parable · God’s marriage with the Jewish people · God’s return to the Jewish people in 1948 · The rebirth of Hebrew and the Jewish State · The purpose of rituals · The Jewish commitment to Israel · A baseball analogy for sacrifice · The nature of Zionism · The nature and function of prayer · The reason this text is so important to Jason · Faith and belief · The lessons about humankind that Jason has learned · The function of the intellectual endeavor

Quotes:

“I can’t believe you waited for me.”

“Were it not for those letters that I kept, I would have left you a long time ago.”

“God doesn’t promise us an easy time.”

“God was absent.”

“The portable homeland of the Jews.”

“This text is, in a profound sense, atheistic.”

“In 1911, the conclusion that Hebrew would not be revived was correct.”

“The only way that she can keep him present in her life is by preserving the absence that he left…a hopeless romantic.”

“Sacrifice is a game.”

“There is absolutely no consensus for Zionism among Jews in the early 20th century.”

“Religious institutions only take on their meaning in the context of the total absence of God’s presence.”

“Unless you have that kind of doubt, you can’t have that kind of religious life that’s described in this text.”

“The human soul is like a great wild animal.”

“Your hard work as a mother is finally starting to pay off.”

“Can I distill this and translate it in a way that touches someone’s heart?”

“The Torah’s our great guidebook.”

Pesikta de-Rav Kahana (Mandelbaum) 19: https://www.sefaria.org/Pesikta_D'Rav_Kahanna.19?lang=bi

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: The Rabbi's Husband

Mark’s Twitter: Mark Gerson - The Rabbi's Husband (@markgerson)

The Rabbi’s Husband Newsletter contact: [email protected] Rabbi Rubenstein’s Lecture on Miracles

Mark is delighted to welcome Russ Roberts, possibly America’s premier popular economist, to the podcast today. A host of his own remarkably successful podcast, ‘EconTalk’, Russ is also a prolific writer in many forms, including rap, on a variety of topics such as economics and liberty. A three-time ‘Teacher of the Year’ at George Mason University, Russ currently teaches at Stanford. The passage he has chosen to discuss with Mark today is Genesis 44. Russ begins by sharing his summary of this passage and its backstory before joining Mark in an analysis of the use of the word ‘approach’ and their differing interpretations of both Judah’s words and the notion of forgiveness within the passage. They go on to review Judah’s heroic nature, the actual definition of forgiveness, and the advisability of starting new years without bearing grudges/anti-grudges or ‘keeping score’ within marriages. Russ draws the episode to a close by sharing the lessons he has learned about humankind, highlighting the power of being present for others and simply listening to them. Today’s conversation, with its insightful back and forth of differing interpretations, demonstrates the great tradition of debating the Torah and the expansion of ideas that is inherent to this practice, revealing the lessons and guidance so applicable, and so very necessary, for our current times. Episode Highlights:  · Russ’ summary of the passage and its backstory · The use of the word ‘approach’ in the passage · Differing interpretations of Judah’s words to Joseph · Perspectives on Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers and himself · Judah’s extraordinary qualities · Defining forgiveness · Starting new years by ‘burning them both’ · Bearing grudges and anti-grudges · ‘Keeping score’ in marriages · The lessons that Russ has learned about humankind Quotes:   “Every single time there’s polygamy in the Bible, it’s a catastrophe.” “One of the most dramatic moments in all the Bible.” “It’s ripping his heart open.” “I don’t think he really forgave them.” “He doesn’t do the basics of forgiving.” “I’m not sure Joseph ever forgives himself.” “Maybe he said to himself, ‘I kind of deserve this’.” “Judah…he’s like the forgotten hero of the Book of Genesis.” “It’s quite complicated, the psychology and emotion of this.” “If you give most people the opportunity, they will disappoint you.” “Everyone’s in a battle so be kind.” “We go through life with this ‘Imposter Syndrome’.” “The world’s a lot more complicated than it appears on the outside.” “We look for causation everywhere.” “A lot of what comfort is, is just being there and allowing the other person to be heard.”  

Genesis 44 - https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.44.1-34?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en  Links: The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: The Rabbi's Husband Mark’s Twitter: Mark Gerson - The Rabbi's Husband (@markgerson) The Rabbi’s Husband Newsletter contact: [email protected]

Mark is delighted to welcome Pastor Will Ford to the podcast today. Currently the Director of the Marketplace Leadership Major at Christ For The Nations Institute, in Dallas, Texas, Pastor Ford is also the founder of Hilkiah Ministries. He has been interviewed by CBS, featured on The 700 Club and also in Charisma and many other media outlets, and is known internationally for his family heirloom which he brings with him to the interview today to show and discuss with Mark, pictures of which you can find by visiting The Rabbi’s Husband homepage and Twitter page. The passages Pastor Ford has chosen for today are Joshua 4:20-24 and 1 Kings 18:31-32. Pastor Ford begins by describing his very special family heirloom, the role it has played in his life and the lives of his ancestors, some examples of the cruelty suffered by slaves, and the connection between Black Christians and the Jewish people. He then shares the fascinating story of a dream he had involving Dr. King, the impact that dream has had upon his life, and how these stories relate to today’s selected passages. Pastor Ford and Mark then explore the notion of God as a collector of memories, what God is saying to America right now, the inspirational story of Robert Russa Moton, and the development of the Pastor’s love of all things Jewish. As is the tradition, our guest concludes with the lessons he has learned about humankind. A highly engaging storyteller, Pastor Will Ford brings to life his family’s history as well as his own journey in the context of the Bible, unearthing the many profound insights to be found within these powerful passages and their very real application to current times in today’s fascinating episode. 

Quotes: “Secretly, it was used for prayer.” “This is what you stand for.” “They prayed for the freedom of their children and the next generation.” “They didn’t want him to have a slave last name.” “William, get rid of your white baggage. You’ve been carrying it for way too long.” “What color is your baggage?” “We need each other right now more than ever before.” “I’ve been thinking about God being the collector.” “God, please don’t let the Jheri curl come back.” “Come near to me.” “He used the memories to be the building block for prayer, for intercession and…to remind God of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” “What storyline do you want to be a part of, the healing or the hurting, the blessing or the curse?” “I need to know more about this amazing Jewish faith.” “We have these artifacts that show our shared history.” “The word ‘coincidence’ is not in the Hebrew language.” “We’re just a small snapshot, a microcosm, of what God is doing to heal a lot of the division that is going on right now.” “The providential hand of God is moving behind the scenes.” “God loves us more than we can fathom.” “No one is a mistake.”  

Joshua 4:20-24 - https://www.sefaria.org/Joshua.4.20-24?lang=bi 

1 Kings 18:31-32 - https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.18.31-32?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en  

Links: The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: The Rabbi's Husband Mark’s Twitter: Mark Gerson - The Rabbi's Husband (@markgerson) The Rabbi’s Husband Newsletter contact: [email protected]

Pastor Will Ford's Story in Words and Pictures

Newly elected Congressman, Ritchie Torres, is Mark’s very special guest this week. A product of public housing, public schools, and public hospitals in the Bronx, Ritchie went on to become the youngest elected official in New York City in 2013, and he now serves as the Congressman for New York's 15th Congressional District. The passage he has chosen to discuss with Mark today is Proverbs 18:24. Their conversation begins with Ritchie reciting the selected passage and exploring the need for, and nature of, friendship which it conveys. From there, he and Mark discuss many aspects of friendship including its role in politics, Aristotle’s categories of friendship, Ritchie’s greatest mentor and friend, and choosing a good friend. They also look at social media’s impact upon friendships, the resulting generational differences, the polarization of politics these days, and living with magnanimity. Ritchie draws the episode to a close by sharing the reasons behind his great friendship with the Jewish people and, of course, the lessons about humankind which he has learned. Intelligent, thoughtful, and intellectually honest, Ritchie Torres demonstrates a courageous and profoundly decent approach to politics, clearly inspired by this instructive text’s lessons regarding acquiring devoted friends, and provides some sorely needed hope for the American people he has so proudly committed to serve. Episode Highlights:  · Ritchie’s reading of the passage and its significance for him · The need for, and nature of, friendship · His experience with friendship in politics · Aristotle’s 3 categories of friendship · The impact that Ritchie’s mentor, Jimmy Vacca, had upon his life · Choosing a good friend · Judah and Hiram · Friendship and social media · Generational differences in friendships · The polarization of politics · Living by an ethic of magnanimity · His Congress orientation experience · Ritchie’s friendship with the Jewish people and his trips to Israel · The lessons about humankind which Ritchie has learned Quotes:  “We all need friendship.” “Prepare yourself emotionally to be bitterly disappointed, burned and betrayed.” “You can often forge relationships in the places you would least expect.” “The beauty of friendship is the voluntary nature.” “The best kind of friendship that I’ve seen in my life are my mentors.” “There were moments when I even though of committing suicide because I felt as if the world around me had collapsed, and…today I’m about to become a United States Congressman.” “He believed in me more than I believed in myself at times.” “Two people who shared the same soul.” “Social media creates the illusion of friendship.” “In the age of social media…we all manufacture a synthetic version of ourselves.” “We never give up on any human being.” “Friendship stems from the experience of recognizing divinity in others.” “When I treat a mother, I’m treating God.” “As a decent person, I have an obligation to speak out against hatred in every form, including anti-Semitism.” “It’s important for all of us to open our minds and open our hearts to new experiences.” “Friendship is the key to a great career in Congress.”  Proverbs 18:24 There are companions to keep one company, And there is a friend more devoted than a brother. https://www.sefaria.org/Proverbs.18.24?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en  Links: The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: The Rabbi's Husband Mark’s Twitter: Mark Gerson - The Rabbi's Husband (@markgerson) The Rabbi’s Husband Newsletter contact: [email protected]