The Rabbi's Husband

Rabbi Marc Schneier, Founder of The Hampton Synagogue, one of the most dynamic synagogues in the United States, is Mark’s very special guest this week. Rabbi Schneier is also the founder of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, whose mission began as rebuilding the historic Black-Jewish alliance in the United States, and, for nearly the past 15 years, has grown to also build Muslim-Jewish relations globally. The passage he has chosen to discuss today is Genesis 21:9-20.

Rabbi Schneier begins the conversation by sharing his summary of the passage and its context, comparing the treatment of Isaac and Ishmael by the Qur’an and the Torah, and looking at differing definitions of ‘a great nation’. He and Mark then delve into the messages of gratitude and opening our eyes to our blessings when seeking salvation that are found in the passage, highlighting how they are pertinent to everyday life and in the counseling which he provides. The episode concludes with the lessons about humankind that the Rabbi has learned, the need for leadership, empathy and understanding in our world, and some exciting breaking news regarding his synagogue and JBS. As you will undoubtedly agree, this is both an ‘extraordinary and very difficult passage’ providing a wealth of wisdom and advice for our modern times through the ‘powerful, powerful lessons’ it offers us all, and which are revealed here today.

Episode Highlights:

· Rabbi Schneier’s summary of the passage and its context · Comparing the Qur’an and the Torah’s treatment of Isaac and Ishmael · Differing definitions of a great nation · How Ishmael was saved in the desert · Overlooking the obvious · The resonance between this passage and the story of Balaam · The message of this passage for everyday, especially during the pandemic, and in the counseling which the Rabbi provides · The definition of Judah · Looking in front of you, behind you, and inside of you · The lessons that Rabbi Schneier has learned about humankind · The need for leadership, empathy, and understanding · Breaking news about the Hampton Synagogue and the Jewish Broadcasting Service (JBS)

Quotes:

“Abraham is asked to sacrifice both his sons.”

“There’s no creature whom God does not test.”

“Abraham is really the embodiment of being tested.”

“Often, all we have to do is open our eyes and the source of our salvation is right in front of us.”

“This has been one of the most powerful, powerful lessons in the Torah, in the Bible.”

“Gratitude exists before I do.”

“We thank before we think.”

“The very essence of being Jew means to give thanks.”

“In life, we have to learn how to maximize our blessings, and not to exaggerate our troubles.”

“You don’t need any divine intervention.”

“It’s easy to overlook the obvious.”

“Let me help you open your eyes and see the opportunities and see the blessings and maybe your salvation is right there.”

“People need to be led. People need to be challenged. People need inspiration. They need to be galvanized.”

“Where there is hope, nothing is impossible.”

“It’s all about balance.”

“When it comes to synagogues, there’s no business like shul business.”

Genesis 21:9-20 - https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.21.9-20?lang=bi&aliyot=0

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Mark is absolutely delighted to welcome Rabbi Sergio Bergman to the podcast today. Currently the President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, Rabbi Bergman oversees 1,275 synagogues with 1.8 million members in more than 50 countries. He is an Argentinian-born pharmacist, politician, social activist, and community leader who is well known for many accomplishments, including his innovative and inspirational socio-educational and religious projects. The passage he has chosen to discuss today is Genesis 1:1-5.

Rabbi Bergman begins by sharing his summary of the passage, his admiration for Martin Buber’s perspective on it, and the notion of the first light of Creation. He and Mark then discuss the contrast between physical and spiritual light, and the connection between light and so many sacred moments of Jewish life, particularly Hanukkah. The Rabbi concludes the episode with the lessons he has learned about humankind and his call to respect and take care of each other and of nature as well. You will undoubtedly be swept up in the passion and enthusiasm which Rabbi Bergman brings to today’s examination of the light of God and its infusion into our world and everyday lives, demonstrating once more the timeless relevance and guidance inherent in the Torah.

Episode Highlights: · Rabbi Bergman’s summary of the passage and its significance for him · Martin Buber · The first light · Physical and spiritual light · The circle of light · The universal challenge · The connection between this passage and Hanukkah · Respecting and taking care of nature · The lessons about humankind that Rabbi Bergman has learned · Noah’s wife’s sacred work

Quotes:

“We have the beginning of the beginning of humankind.”

“This is not a history book.”

“The Torah tries to teach us the meaning of our lives.”

“What is the light of the first day?”

“I think that this light is God’s presence.”

“I will put Myself in the physical world.”

“Discover the difference between physical and spiritual.”

“Where is the hidden light where we can bring more light to the world?”

“This is the story of humankind.”

“The light is the spirit.”

“In your small table, with your close friends and family, you recreate the miracle of the light.”

“Life is the light of God.”

“We need to be there with our brothers.”

“In every generation, in every time, the flood is coming.”

“We need to rebuild balance inside and outside.”

“Peace is in us.”

“Everyday we have a miracle to celebrate.”

Genesis 1:1-5 When God began to create heaven and earth— the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water— God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day. https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.1.1-5?lang=bi&aliyot=0

Links:

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

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

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Notes go here

Mark’s delight is palpable as he welcomes Rabbi Rick Jacobs to the podcast today. As President of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Jacobs currently leads the largest and most diverse Jewish movement in North America. He is a longtime and devoted creative change agent who has served as Rabbi of the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, where he created the first homeless shelter in a New York City synagogue, before spending 20 years as a visionary spiritual leader at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, New York. The passage he has chosen to discuss today is Isaiah 58:1-8. Rabbi Jacobs begins the conversation by summarizing the passage and sharing its significance for him, particularly in its commentary upon moving beyond the foundation of ritual and study toward acting for social justice. He and Mark engage in an extensive exploration of other related Torah passages, the call to be righteously indignant for justice, and experiencing empathy for others. They also discuss the examples set by social justice activists throughout history, the story behind this passage’s placement within Yom Kippur, as well as the Rabbi’s perspective on important Jewish holidays and the global Jewish people. He draws the episode to a close with a particularly powerful example of one of the lessons he has learned about humankind. Rest assured, you will not only be educated by Rabbi Jacobs today, but you will be inspired and moved to action through his wisdom, his passion, and, above all, his integrity, in today’s utterly fascinating discussion. Episode Highlights: · Rabbi Jacobs’ summary of the passage and its significance for him · The powerful grounding in ritual and study · The requirement of living ethically rigorous, disciplined, impactful lives · Other passages in the Torah that echo the message of today’s passage · Being righteously indignant for the sake of justice · Experiencing empathy for others · What it means to be a person of faith · Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Rabbi Maurice Eisendrath · The story behind the placement of this passage as part of Yom Kippur · The Rabbi’s perspective on the two most important Jewish holidays · Rabbi David Hartman and how he inspired Rabbi Jacobs · Rabbi Jacob’s vision of a global Jewish people · The lessons that he has learned about humankind  Quotes: “The section is very agitational.” “It literally is a counterbalance to the most intense ritual moment in the Jewish calendar.” “It’s a corrective to a Judaism that would be only obsessed with ritual details.” “I’m literally in love with this passage.” “At our most intense ritual, we read a passage that challenges the conventional notion of ritual.” “Commitment to social justice, to righting the wrongs of society, are fundamental to what it means to be a person of Jewish commitment and faith.” “Religious life is built on the details.” “This is not about checking the box.” “This is a time when everybody’s stomachs are growling.” “Use the experience of this Holy Day to fuel a greater sensitivity and awareness…the experience is supposed to get inside not only our heads, but our hearts.” “It was as if my feet were praying.” “The Torah isn’t just for our sanctuary, for our ritual moment. It’s a beacon of light in the world.” “I want them to take on something and really do it.” “For the Jewish tradition, social justice isn’t ‘community service’.” “We’ve got to stretch ourselves.” “There is within each of us a common bond to the people who are the most different.” “We find a bedrock upon which we can build a world of hope and possibility.”

Isaiah 58;1-8- https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.58.1-8?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 his good friend and fellow cigar aficionado, Rabbi Steven Weil, to the podcast this week. Currently the National Director and CEO of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), Rabbi Weil previously held the position of Senior Managing Director of the Orthodox Union (OU) for 11 years, and his Torah commentary - some of the most incisive Mark has heard – can still be found on some of their fairly obscure websites. The passage he has chosen to discuss with Mark is Genesis 23. They begin by summarizing the passage and go on to explore its significance for the Rabbi based on a large part in Rabbi Soloveitchik’s reading of it, including the notion of Abraham being both an alien/stranger and an inhabitant. They also look at the respect the Hittites have for Abraham, his rejection of Ephron’s generous offer, the dialectical existence of the Jew, and the tension that this existence can, at times, generate. God’s eulogy of Sarah and some examples of people living their life like her are also examined before Rabbi Weil concludes the episode with the lessons he has learned about mankind and the Jewish concept of learning. Much like the Rabbi, you will undoubtedly find yourself questioning your own assumptions as your brain is stretched during today’s enlightening and inspiring conversation between these two great friends. Episode Highlights: · Their summary of the passage and its significance for Rabbi Weil · The Hittites’ respect for Abraham · Abraham as both alien and inhabitant · His desire for a place that he owns and controls completely · Rabbi Soloveitchik’s reading of this text · Abraham’s rejection of Ephron’s free offer · The dialectical existence of the Jewish people · Rabbi Weil’s examples of the tensions arising from this existence · God’s eulogy of Sarah · The examples of Bernie Lander and Dr. Ruth · The lessons Rabbi Weil has learned about humankind · The Jewish concept of learning  Quotes: “Even though they’re polytheists, they recognize this man, the Prince of God.” “They never understood him when he said ‘ger ve-toshav’ – ‘I’m a stranger and I’m an inhabitant’.” “What, are you better than us?” “The Jew leads, so to speak, a dialectical existence.” “Probably the most loyal Americans that I’ve ever met are survivors.” “We, as Jews, are much more responsible for the benefit and the welfare of this country.” “You can’t give someone an answer when they’re not listening.” “Always retain the qualities of that stage in your life as you pass through it.” “If you can combine energy and enthusiasm with wisdom, that’s how you become Sarah.” “The ideas I cannot take credit for.” “What appears on the surface is 99% of the time not the case.” “The older we get, the more rich our learning is because it builds upon our previous experiences.”  

Genesis 23 - https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.23.1-20?lang=bi&aliyot=0  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]

Jon Steinberg, one of Mark’s favorite cigar smoking companions, is the very special guest on this week’s episode. Currently the president of Altice News and Advertising, Jon is also the founder of Cheddar, the leading Post Cable Networks company. Previously, he had been the Chief Executive Officer of DailyMail.com North America, and the President and Chief Operating Officer at BuzzFeed, and is widely considered one of the world’s great media entrepreneurs. Jon has chosen a rabbinical commentary by Rebbe Maharash, L’chatchila Ariber, to discuss with Mark today.

He begins the conversation by sharing the selected text, its importance for him and how he was introduced to it initially. He and Mark then embark on an extensive analysis of the differing possible readings of this text, some examples of it from both the Bible and in Jon’s work, as well as the importance of learning through failure, walking in God’s ways, and being unique in business. Jon also shares his thoughts on the message this text provides in the time of COVID, and he concludes the discussion with the lessons he has learned about humankind. Fittingly, Mark and Jon dedicate this episode to Rabbi Moshe Scheiner of Palm Beach Synagogue, the man who first introduced Jon to this instructive text, and whose wisdom and understanding continues to inspire them, as is clearly demonstrated here today.

Episode Highlights: · Jon’s summary of the commentary and its importance for him · How he found it · Some differing readings of it · Some practical examples of this commentary · Learning through failure · Walking in God’s ways · This text’s message in the context of COVID · Biblical examples of leaping over obstacles · Jon’s use of Torah wisdom in his businesses · Being unique in business · The lessons that Jon has learned about humankind  Quotes: “There are many different readings you could have into this.” “Be bold, have conviction, have energy.” “Don’t go low in the first place. Go high in the first place.” “Just do it.” “Take the creative, bold approach in the first place.” “The conventional wisdom is usually right, and seldom profitable.” “If you’re not doing something which is long odds, there really is no chance of you building anything that’s significant or different or unique.” “Never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.” “Anxiety and worry is really wasted energy.” “I’m a huge worrier.” “Judaism tells us to keep moving along, to keep moving forward…you can’t do good deeds if you’re not in motion.” “Jumping over is a way more aggressive and bold forward momentum than crawling like a baby under.” “You only learn by going.” “Walk, leap, and go.” “Just copying doesn’t work.” “My playbook is totally unique stuff.” “No person leads an unencumbered life.” L’chatchila Ariber The world says that if you cannot crawl under an obstacle, try to leap over it. However, I say, leap over it in the first place! https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2718066/jewish/What-Does-Lchatchila-Ariber-Mean.htm  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: mailto:[email protected]

Mark is delighted to welcome Rabbi Susan Silverman to the podcast today. Rabbi Silverman is the founder of KAMOCHA: A Jewish Response to Refugees, is on the Board of Directors of Women of the Wall, and the International Council of The New Israel Fund. She is also the Founding Director of Second Nurture: Every Child Deserves a Family – And a Community, an organization dedicated to providing a path to adoption for “waiting” children by bringing together multiple adults from within the same community who are interested in foster-adoption, creating an adoption cohort, and offering multilayered support throughout the adoption process. The passage she has chosen to discuss is Genesis 1:1-8. Rabbi Silverman’s dual interpretation of the passage sets off a wide ranging discussion between herself and Mark regarding such topics as the two beginnings, the New Years of the Torah, being in relationship with God and others, and the eternal challenge of balancing order and freedom. As the conversation turns to the theme of brokenness, the Rabbi shares her perspective on how this passage, and really the very nature of the Torah, relate to the lives of those children with whom she works through foster care and adoption. She finishes the episode with the lessons she has learned about humankind, particularly about the need for relationship which is so prevalent throughout her vocation of ‘being engaged in the sacred process of helping children from troubled backgrounds to begin again’ - a noble example of this passage brought to life each and every day. Episode Highlights: · Rabbi Silverman’s summary of the passage and its interest for her · Her explanation of the two beginnings · How the passage relates to Rabbi Silverman’s work in foster care and adoption · The New Years in the Jewish calendar · Being in relationship with God and others · The eternal challenge of balancing order and freedom · Brokenness inherent in Creation itself · How foster children relate to this passage practically · Foster children naming their story · The importance of making room for foster children to retell their stories of trauma · The lessons that Rabbi Silverman has learned about humankind .

Genesis 1:1-8 Bereshit When God began to create heaven and earth— the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water— God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day. God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the water, that it may separate water from water.” God made the expanse, and it separated the water which was below the expanse from the water which was above the expanse. And it was so. God called the expanse Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.1.1?lang=en&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: mailto:[email protected]

Mark is delighted to welcome Jonathan Goldstein to today’s episode. Jonathan is the Chief Executive and Founder of the private investment firm, ](http://www.cainint.com/)[Cain International, the Chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, the umbrella body of British Jewry’s central organizations and charities, as well as the Chair of the Chief Rabbinate Trust. He has also served as Vice Chair of Jewish Care and Chair of Governors of Kerem School in Hampstead Garden Suburb, as Chair of Partnerships for Jewish Schools, and, with his wife, he is an inaugural Honorary President of Camp Simcha, a charity working to improve the quality of life of children suffering from life threatening illnesses. The passage he has chosen to discuss with Mark is Genesis 18.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Jonathan begins by offering his summary of the passage and then he and Mark engage in an extensive analysis of both this passage and others that share similarities with it. In so doing, they touch upon a number of topics such as divine experiences, determining the impact we can have upon the world and others, the primacy of helping others over prayer, and ensuring the continuity of the Jewish people. Jonathan also shares his perspective on the most important Jewish holidays, his advice for parents, his stand against Jeremy Corbyn, and the experience of British Jews. He concludes the episode with his thoughts on our biggest legacy, small acts of kindness, and the lessons about humankind which he has learned. So much of what is shared today by these two enthusiastic thinkers can be summed up in one of Jonathan’s final statements, “Stand up, be counted as a Jew, make your difference, engage with your heritage” – valuable advice and guidance inspired by this eternally relevant test.

Episode Highlights:

· His summary of the passage and its meaning for him · The purpose of a divine experience · Determining what impact we can make on the world and others · Committing to Judaism · The primacy of helping others over prayer · Ensuring the continuity of the Jewish people · Jonathan’s perspective on the most important Jewish holidays · Jonathan’s advice for parents · His stand against Jeremy Corbyn · Comparing the experiences of American Jews and British Jews · Our biggest legacy · Small acts of kindness · The lessons about humankind that Jonathan has learned

Quotes:

“It talks about a man of action. It talks about a man who understands his place in the world, and that he’s here to do something.”

“Okay God, if You could just hold on a minute, I’ve got some business to attend to. I’ve got some people that I need to look after.”

“Say a little, and do a lot.”

“There are many ways to approach God…you can get close to God and not be a Jew.”

“It is a miracle that we, as a Jewish people, have continued.”

“These are words and text that have huge relevance in our day-to-day lives.”

“Sometimes we forget our own heritage.”

“There are times in your life when you need to make a stand.”

“We live in a generation that’s been blessed.”

“We, as Jews, have never had it better.”

“You have to do the joyful things first.”

“It’s what we do in our own homes that’s our biggest legacy.”

“Our walls know us best, don’t they?”

“Have empathy for your fellow man or woman.”

“Keep yourself grounded.”

Genesis 18 - https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.18.1?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en

Links:

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

The Rabbi’s Husband Newsletter contact: mailto:[email protected]

Mark is delighted to welcome Apostle Dwayne Hardin to the podcast this week. Apostle Hardin is the founder and lead pastor of The Embassy Church and The Millennium Masters Inc, a global organization designed to effectively co-join the workings of the secular and sacred. He is also a public speaker, author, and musician, as well as a recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given to him by President Barack Obama. The passages he has chosen to discuss today are Psalms 119:89 and Joshua 1:6-9. Apostle Hardin summarizes both of these passages and shares their deep significance for him demonstrated through his remarkable commitment to both learn about them and bring them to life everyday. He and Mark explore such topics as God’s settled speech, how to connect to God, the folly of creating God in our image, and the purpose behind writing out the Torah. Apostle Hardin also relates his ‘Moses-Joshua moment’, his perspective on the ‘curse of the Law’, how he developed such a love for all things Jewish, and the role that slavery played in the celebration of the Sabbath. He concludes the episode with the lessons that he has learned about humankind and teaching people to think. Woven throughout this magnificent conversation is Apostle Hardin’s passion for scripture and the power of engaging in discussions with others about it, which he feels leads to greater understanding for all. As you will soon discover, the truth of this noble belief is resoundingly evident during today’s fascinating and inspiring episode. Episode Highlights: · Apostle Hardin’s summaries of the passages and their significance for him · His experience of writing out the Torah and the Psalms · God’s settled speech · Letting go of opinion, bias, and paradigm to connect with God · Creating God in our image · The purpose behind writing out the Torah · Apostle Hardin’s ‘Moses-Joshua moment’ · ‘The curse of the Law’ · The development of his love of the Jewish people, teachings, and State · How slavery changed the day of the Sabbath celebration · Shabbat dinner · The lessons about humankind that Apostle Hardin has learned · Teaching people to think  Quotes: “The one kind of changed my life one day.” “With my hand I noticed it get to my heart more.” “The word ‘settled’ just got to me.” “There are no insignificant details in the Bible.” “Every time God speaks, it’s a settled speech.” “I’ll be Me through you, if you’ll allow Me.” “Stay out of opinion, bias, and paradigm when it comes to God’s Word.” “I can’t corner the market on God’s mind.” “The scripture breaths - it’s alive.” “It’s now time for you to arise. Just as I was with him, I will be with you.” “It really produces courage and strength.” “I am anxious to see the Torah come alive.” “When we decide we want to follow God and follow the Torah, the Law becomes very real to us.” “Everything about my upbringing is Jewish.” “It’s hard for you to separate Christian Black people from Jewish anything.” “When I grew up, we were in Church all day.” “That Sunday was spent deep in the scriptures.” “There’s more with you than there are against you.” “Once you free people to think…you’ll be surprised at the phenomenal people that are around you.” “If we had more thinkers, people would be more responsible, accountable, and powerful.”  

Psalms 119:89 - https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.119.89?lang=en 

Joshua 1:6-9 - https://www.sefaria.org/Joshua.1.6-9?lang=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: mailto:[email protected]

Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, is Mark’s very special guest on the podcast this week. Yehuda is a leading thinker and author on the meaning of Israel to American Jews, on Jewish history and Jewish memory, and on questions of leadership and change in American Jewish life. He has also served as faculty member at Brandeis University, where he held the inaugural Chair in Jewish Communal Innovation. The chapter he has chosen to discuss with Mark is Jonah 4. Yehuda begins by summarizing the first three chapters of Jonah in order to set the scene for today’s passage where he and Mark share a variety of interpretations and readings of the text surrounding Jonah’s actions, attitude, and interaction with God. Essentially demonstrating that Jonah is more concerned with his own role rather than God’s bigger plan for humanity, which he seems unwilling and unable to fathom, Mark and Yehuda come to the agreement that God loves a good argument, something Jonah fails to provide, choosing rather to simply ‘check out’. Yehuda finishes by sharing the lessons he learned about humankind, and they lead to a further discussion about the split in voting habits among the Jewish people and how that relates to the whole point of a book such as Jonah’s. Today’s discussion is one in which both parties enlighten the other with variations on themes and readings, bringing the very essence of the Torah to life through questioning and challenging, precisely, as Yehuda states, ‘…what studying the Torah is supposed to get us to do’. 

Quotes: “Word for word, the greatest book ever written, I believe, is the book of Jonah.” “I think it’s prophetic sabotage.” “He’s not the Genesis 18 Abraham.” “The whole thing is a satire of the prophets and the works of the prophets.” “Jonah is a narcissist.” “Prophets are social outcasts.” “People who are truth tellers are oftentimes insufferable.” “In some deep sense, sitting in the vulnerability of nature and observing the world is the normal condition in which we see how the world unfolds.” “God may have a larger business plan than can be adjudicated morally by, like, what happens to you at any given moment.” “He is way too focused on his own piece of the story than he is about his job in the world which is to understand that God’s plan is more transcendent than he’s capable of seeing.” “Picking and choosing – I need God to operate a particular way.” “You can comply or you can argue, but you can’t run away.” “I come away just haunted by the rhetorical question at the end and challenged by it, and I think that’s what studying the Torah is supposed to get us to do.” “More people are carrying around more stuff in baggage than we think about them.” “Things seem harder today for many Jews than they may have earlier.” “Human beings are still searching for community, purpose, and meaning.” “I think that the profound partisanship in our Jewish community is a witness to ‘homeness’.” “We’ve become too locked into convenient and neat stories about our identity and our politics as opposed to being enthralled by the paradoxes.”  

Jonah 4 - https://www.sefaria.org/Jonah.4.1-11?lang=en&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: mailto:[email protected]

Mark is delighted to welcome Rabbi Joshua Davidson to the podcast today. A graduate of Princeton, and, like Mark’s wife, a graduate of Hebrew Union College as well, Rabbi Davidson is currently the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York, having previously served as senior rabbi of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester in Chappaqua, New York. He is involved in numerous social justice issues and organizations, and, in 2009, was honored for his interfaith efforts by the Westchester Jewish Council and the AJC. On today’s episode, Rabbi Davidson has chosen to discuss Genesis 18 and Genesis 22 and the relationship between them. Throughout the episode, the Rabbi offers both his summary of these passages as well as his perspective on their various lessons and interpretations. Touching upon such notions as God’s love of a good argument, what God and Abraham teach each other, and the differences between the public and private aspects of both righteousness and the lives of public figures, he and Mark highlight the dual elements of Abraham’s personality and what we can learn from it. As you listen in, you will quickly discover that the analysis of these two seminal passages of the Torah here today, by these two insightful seekers of biblical truth, truly brings to life ‘both their depth and their relevance to our present struggles, challenges, and opportunities’. Episode Highlights: · Rabbi Davidson’s summary of the passages, how they relate, and their significance for him · God’s love of a good argument · Abraham stepping out of comfort to argue with God · What God and Abraham are teaching each other · Privately righteous and publically righteous people · Public figures and their private lives · Some different interpretations of the Akedah · The multiple potential lessons from it · The dual elements of Abraham’s personality · The lessons that Rabbi Davidson has learned about humankind  Quotes: “Even though Abraham is a junior partner in the project of teaching humanity, Abraham is still a partner.”  “This is the greatest act of hutzpah in human history.” “Of course, there were 10 righteous people.” “The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is our admonishment against this sense that what’s happening within our city, within our country, doesn’t have anything to do with us.” “The difference in his behaviors in the two passages is extraordinary.” “No passage in the Bible’s been studied more than this one…it’s a terrifying passage.” “You’ve got to take care of your own family, too.” “We ground our leadership in our relationships with those closest to us.” “Abraham may, in fact, be testing God.” “I think the writers of the Bible placed it in the Torah as a polemic against child sacrifice.” “The Bible has always been countercultural.” “We project onto God what we believe to be right and what we believe to be wrong.” “There are fundamentalists who use religious tradition to commit heinous crimes.” “The private mess and the public hero, and the complicated father we have.” “Our public figures and our patriarchs – these are not perfect people.” “The Bible was either written by God or an anti-Semite because no people would write their own history this way.” “People will always try to do the right thing.” “They don’t know that they’ve got that strength until they find themselves in that position.”  

Genesis 18 - https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.18.1-33?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en 

Genesis 22 - https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.22.1-24?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en  Links: The Rabbi’s Husband homepage:  http://therabbishusband.com/ Mark’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en The Rabbi’s Husband Newsletter contact: [email protected]