The Rabbi's Husband

Senior editor at the Washington Examiner, David Mark, joins our host for today’s episode. Among many other roles, David has also been a senior editor at Politico and at CNN Digital Politics, is the author of two books, and appears regularly as a political analyst on television, radio and other forums. The passage he has selected to discuss today is Genesis 45:5-7, which recounts one of the most famous stories in the Bible.

The conversation begins with David sharing his summary of the passage, the many lessons it contains, and his focus today on two of those lessons. He and Mark then explore the notion of divine reframing, the impact upon Joseph of the near fratricide he experienced, and the genius of Pope John XXIII. Calling upon his vast knowledge of Washington politics, David reveals his perspective on the sense of brotherhood he finds there, how social media has impacted it, the current level of partisanship evident, and the difference in the way politicians respond to the media as opposed to their constituents. The episode draws to a close with David’s suggestions for structuring the Presidential Debates effectively, and the lessons about humankind that he has learned. While the lessons of this remarkable passage are timeless, the expert analysis and extrapolation of them here today could not be timelier, given the current, and future, state of politics and the world.

Episode Highlights:

Quotes:

“One that…gives a lot of different lessons, different takeaways, that you can get on personal growth, forgiveness, reconciliation, all kinds of other important themes.”

“You can grow from your previous mistakes.”

“You can find positive from the most negative situations.”

“He’s a jerk when he’s young, but he’s a genius.”

“No matter what has happened with family members in the past…you could always find a way to get back together.”

“When you announce yourself as someone else’s brother, all the barriers drop.”

“You’re treating them as an equal.”

“Overall, it is pretty bitter, and we could use a whole lot more reconciliation.”

“We all got here the same way.”

“Social media puts immediate pressure on these people to make very harsh statements they might not otherwise say.”

“Essentially, you are on one team or another.”

“The Bible, in so many instances, is so insistent on creating a positive structure…it’s basically all throughout.”

“It seems like there’s got to be some kind of a penalty for just constantly interrupting the person you’re debating.”

“In Congress, there’s still very much a sense of decorum.”

“Language is important.”

“You don’t want to question people’s motives.”

“I think that the majority of people who go into public service mean it for the right reasons.”

Genesis 45:5-7 - https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.45.5-7?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/

Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en

Mark is delighted to welcome evangelist and international speaker, Pastor Nick Hall, to the podcast today. The Founder of PULSE, a movement that seeks to empower the Church and awaken the culture to the reality of Jesus, Nick also sits on the leadership teams for the US Lausanne Committee, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the student advisory team for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He has chosen a passage that Mark had never considered before, Habbakuk 3:2, to discuss today.

Nick begins by summarizing the passage, sharing its meaning for him, and looking at how it demonstrates that God welcomes our humanity and works with the broken. He explains the three levels of faith found within the passage, and outlines the ways to help people move to the highest level through prayer, giving them a ‘God size vision’, identifying miracles in everyday life, and exercising their spiritual muscles. As with all guests, Nick draws the episode to a close with the lessons he has learned about humankind. His insight and passion, so clearly on display here today, not only bring the lessons of this passage to life, but also provide ample evidence as to why Pastor Nick Hall is ‘widely known as his generation’s successor to Billy Graham’.

Episode Highlights:

· Nick’s summary of the passage and why it’s meaningful to him · God welcoming our humanity · The three levels of faith involved in this passage and getting someone to the third level · God working with the broken · The power of prayer · Giving people a ‘God size vision’ · Identifying miracles in everyday life · Working out your spiritual muscles · The lessons about humankind that Nick has learned

Quotes:

“It’s a man who is trying to have a conversation with God in the midst of a really hard time.”

“When God opens the prophet’s eyes, we actually see his heart change.”

“I’m going to put feet to my faith.”

“Our God acts on behalf of those who seek Him, who wait for Him, who call on His name.”

“God only works with broken utensils.”

“You think you’re worse than King David?”

“Every biblical figure has massive flaws.”

“We need God to do what only God can do.”

“Every moment can be sacred if we allow it to be.”

“The more miracles you identify in your life, the more appreciation of God you’re going to have, and the more grateful you’re going to be.”

“I’m able to give away because I have been given.”

“The most spiritual moments in my life have come from just unexpected encounters with just people who are image-bearers of God.”

“Truth is either a gift or a weapon.”

“I want to be closer to God, you know, and I want to cherish the people around me.”

Habbakuk 3:2

O Lord! I have learned of Your renown; I am awed, O LORD, by Your deeds. Renew them in these years, Oh, make them known in these years! Though angry, may You remember compassion.

https://www.sefaria.org/Habakkuk.3.2?lang=en

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/

Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en

Pastor Jerry Gillis is Mark’s very special guest on the podcast today. Pastor Gillis is the Lead Pastor of The Chapel, a multi-complex church network in the Buffalo area, and he is also involved with ‘Christ Together’, a network of churches which aims to ‘empower the whole Church to bring the whole Gospel to the whole nation’. The passage he has selected to discuss with Mark today is Leviticus 19:1-2.

Pastor Gillis begins the conversation by sharing his summary of the passage and the significance it holds for him, and then launching into an extensive analysis with Mark about the very nature of holiness for both God and ourselves. Along the way, they touch upon the importance of actions and character, how we can be holy, the power and grace of God, and how this passage should change our lives. As the conversation draws to a conclusion, Pastor Gillis shares the lessons he has learned about humankind, which leads to a discussion of those who claim to reject religion and the causes for this. As you will hear, Mark’s esteemed guest here today is a Pastor with intricate knowledge and understanding of scripture whose ‘brilliant insights’ reveal the eternal wisdom and guidance of this powerful passage.

Episode Highlights:

· Pastor Gillis’ summary of today’s passage and its significance for him · The idea of God’s holiness as His essence · Holiness as more than morality · The importance of action and character · How we can be holy · How this passage should change our lives · The power and grace of God · The lessons about humankind that Pastor Gillis has learned · Those who claim to reject religion

Quotes:

“It kind of inspired me to look back into the Torah itself to understand better the idea of holiness.”

“God’s holiness makes a claim on our humanness.”

“Holiness is His essence…it is more essence than it is attribute.”

“Everything you do should be infused with holiness.”

“I think that holiness, by definition, has to be about more than morality.”

“He understands it as being set apart to God to fulfill His purposes with your life.”

“God wants the heart…of course the actions are important, but so is the character.”

“His essence informs and constructs His attributes.”

“The interesting thing about the New Testament is how much Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament, particularly, by the way, when you’re reading Peter.”

“God’s holiness belongs only to Himself, and our holiness is in only belonging to God.”

“Who am I owned by - God or me?”

“That’s a great frame right there - God is not ridiculous.”

“We’re asking for You to give us the grace to be able to fulfill living in such a way that brings You glory.”

“There is a God, and I’m not Him.”

“People oftentimes, who are claiming to be atheists, are so emotionally angry at a God that they say they don’t believe in.”

“Either people have a broken view of God, or a broken view of who they are in God.”

“We have a mission. God has a plan. It’s our job to figure out what our mission is.”

Leviticus 19:1

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.

https://www.sefaria.org/Leviticus.19.1-2?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/

Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en

Mark is delighted to welcome “perhaps the youngest person to have ever earned the appellation ‘a legend’” to the podcast today. Joe Lonsdale truly is a legend in the fields of business, philanthropy, and public policy, and was the youngest member of the Forbes ‘100 Midas List’ in 2016 and 2017. As an investor in, and founder of, numerous businesses, Joe has found great success with such companies as Wish, OpenGov, 8VC, and Addepar, to name just a few. The passage he has chosen to discuss with Mark today is Deuteronomy 32.

Joe starts off by summarizing the passage, sharing why he chose it, and highlighting the notion of accepting blame that is found within it. He then goes on to discuss his experiences with both failure and blame, how self-criticism is needed now more than ever in society, and the discipline and framework that chess has taught him. Joe also offers his advice on what should be passed on to children, the current lack of gratefulness that he observes in his own generation, and the importance of criticism and how it is delivered. He concludes the episode with the lessons he has learned about humankind and his advice for young parents. Joe’s objective observations about his own failures are inspiring, especially considering the vast amount of success he has achieved in his life, and the lessons he derives from this prophetic passage, so very relevant to society today, reinforce yet again the role of the Torah as an eternal guidebook for us all.

Episode Highlights:

· Joe’s summary of the passage and why he chose it · Accepting blame and striving to do better · Joe’s experience with failures and blame · Avoiding Moses’ prophetic warning · Accepting blame in the world these days · What Joe has learned from playing chess · His perspective on the inheritance to pass on to children, and the current lack of gratefulness for American core values among those born in the 80’s and 90’s · The importance of criticism and how it is delivered · The things about humankind that Joe has learned · His message to young parents

Quotes:

“This is the last speech that Moses gives the people before they enter Israel.”

“When things are not going well, I think the first thing you should do is look at what you’ve done, and look at how you could be doing better yourself.”

“The only way you get better is rather than blame everyone around you, you blame yourself.”

“Most of the Torah is essentially reminders.”

“As soon as you start to tell yourself that you’re really good at something, that’s when you stub your toe.”

“When things are going well, become paranoid.”

“Acknowledge your own faults.”

“Whether you win or you lose, the discipline’s the same, right? You’re reviewing to see how you could have done better irrespective of the result.”

“The hardest things we have in life is when you have success, when…life is going really well because…those are the easiest times to forget your values and forget your principles.”

“Grateful am I.”

“Love involves criticism, or else it’s not love.”

“If you have to deliver the rain, deliver it with the dew.”

“People respond better when you actually see their strengths and you actually show confidence in them and believe in them than they do to criticism.”

Deuteronomy 32 - https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.32?lang=en&aliyot=0

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/

Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Ron Dermer, joins Mark for today’s episode. Born and raised in Miami Beach, Florida, Ron went on to become a graduate of both the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and Oxford University. He has been a columnist for the Jerusalem Post, and has served both as Israel’s Minister of Economic Affairs in the United States, and as one of the closest advisors to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The passage he has chosen to discuss is Esther 4:14.

Ron begins the conversation by sharing the story of how he met his wife, before going on to summarize the passage and why it is meaningful to him. He and Mark then provide a thorough analysis of the passage, including how it represents the third round of battle between the Jews and Amalek, and its demonstration of the greatest statement of faith and Esther’s role as a navigator. The relevance of these themes throughout history and modern times are discussed, particularly in the context of Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to the American Congress and the standing ovation that Esther received there. Their conversation concludes with Ron offering the lessons he has learned about humankind, which leads to a discussion of the need to be able to disagree with others without impugning them and the evolution of the Jewish relationship with the United States. Ron’s thorough grasp not only of scripture, but of history, politics, and diplomacy as well, renders him uniquely qualified in ‘bringing the Bible to modern times’ here today, as he passionately inspires all who listen to recognize and play their role in life, especially as it relates to securing the Jewish future.

Episode Highlights:

· The story of how Ron met his wife · His summary of the selected passage and why it’s meaningful to him · Esther as a talented navigator · The greatest statement of faith · The three rounds of battle between the Jews and Amalek · Esther’s role and intention in saving the Jewish people · The passage’s message to those devoting their life to service · Esther’s standing ovation in the American Congress · Mordecai’s stand against Haman · The impact of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s 2015 speech to the American Congress · Playing our part in securing the Jewish future · The lessons about humankind that Ron has learned · Disagreeing without impugning others · The Jewish relationship with the United States

Quotes:

“My hutzpah is what got me my wife.”

“This, to me, is probably the most famous passage in the Book of Esther.”

“It’s the navigators that actually win.”

“I know the Jews are going to be saved.”

“I see it as a primordial battle between good and evil.”

“In confronting evil, we can’t rely on God – we have to do it ourselves.”

“It’s whether or not Esther will be an instrument in that salvation.”

“I think in life, we’re all put in different places in different times, and we all can have an impact.”

“You have to be a believer that there is a destination towards history.”

“It lights a fire underneath you that you have to do everything you can.”

“Anything that any of us do could reverberate in a way that will be experienced 2500 years from now, and that’s, kind of, the great thing about living in God’s world.”

“She is…one of the ultimate heroines of our people.”

“What I’ve learned over time is the importance of people.”

“Israel’s emergence as a rising power among the nations has started to impact our diplomacy and our relations with different states.”

“The United States and Israel are not just countries, we’re causes.”

“Israel’s strength, bringing along peace because the interests connect.”

“Our interests drive relations with states.”

“Israel’s been in ‘September 12’ for 72 years every day, and that affects it."

Esther 4:14 - https://www.sefaria.org/Esther.4.14?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/

Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en

Mark is delighted to welcome Heather Gerken, the Dean of Law at Yale Law School, to the podcast today. Hailed as an “intellectual guru” in the New York Times, Heather served as a senior advisor to the Obama campaign in 2008 and 2012, has been published extensively, has served as a commentator for a number of major media outlets, and is one of the country’s leading experts on constitutional law and election law. The passage she has chosen for today is Micah 6:8.

Heather begins by discussing the vampire novels she has written, as well as sharing her summary of the passage and the meaning it holds for her. She and Mark then embark on an extensive discussion of the notions of justice, mercy, and humility, both in the passage and in society today. Heather also details the pastoral role that a Dean plays, the dangers of arguing through social media, and, as with all guests, she concludes the discussion by offering the lessons she has learned about humankind. In her conversation with Mark today, Heather brings her formidable experience in Law and Education to the analysis of this ‘truly awesome Biblical passage’, rendering its timeless lessons and application to modern times both fascinating and accessible to all.

Episode Highlights: · Heather’s vampire novels · Her summary of the passage and the meaning it holds for her · Pulling mercy and justice closer together in our current legal system · Mark’s hypothetical case study · Knowing when to give justice and when to have mercy · Balancing humility and being a fierce advocate · The Dean’s pastoral role, particularly during the pandemic · Society’s education in humility · Arguing through social media · The lessons that Heather has learned about humankind

Quotes:

“It was the passage we read at our wedding.”

“There is, I think, a question about hewing to the path that you must hew to in order to remain what you are.”

“We should always try to not…judge people by their worst acts.”

“I spent the entire semester telling students to be gentle with each other.”

“But there’s also a difference between pulling someone into the community and that conversation and trying to find change with them versus shunning them and shutting them outside the community.” “I actually think that the whole point of the legal profession is humility.” “I think it’s much harder to be merciful than it is to think that you are doing justice. Showing mercy requires genuine forgiveness, and that’s the hardest thing to do.” “We try to get our students to be righteous, but not self-righteous.” “I do think it’s harder for people to listen to the other side because the politics of the moment are so terrible, and things have become so polarized.”

“That is the sign of a great education, is that it makes you humble about your own views.”

“It’s always the power of the example that they say is able to open other people’s hearts.”

“Never say anything on social media that you wouldn’t say, or perhaps haven’t said first, to another human being.”

“It’s people interpreting the other in the worst possible way.”

“You’ve got to be careful and you’ve got to be generous.”

“When you’re struggling with someone, it’s almost always because something big is going on in their life.”

“When the big thing comes, we come together.”

Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good, And what the LORD requires of you: Only to do justice And to love goodness, And to walk modestly with your God;

https://www.sefaria.org/Micah.6.8?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/

Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University, is Mark’s very special guest on the podcast today. In addition to leading one of the premier institutions in Jewish life, Rabbi Berman has served as the pulpit Rabbi at the Jewish Center in Manhattan, and is a scholar in his own right. He also lectures widely throughout the U.S. and Israel, and has written numerous articles on subjects including current trends in Jewish thought and the future of Orthodoxy. The passage he has chosen to discuss with Mark today is The Akedah (Genesis 22).

Rabbi Berman begins the conversation by sharing his summary of the passage, why it is important for him, and the significance of the use of the word ‘hineni’ in it. He and Mark then examine the resolution of the tension found in Abraham being heneni for God and Isaac, Isaac’s takeaway from this event, and the lesson that The Akedah offers, particularly during the current pandemic. They also discuss the two directions The Akedah gives, Mark’s notion of a hineni for our mission in life, and they conclude with the lessons Rabbi Berman has learned about mankind. As Rabbi Berman notes, we are 'seeking the wisdom of our 3000 year old tradition which is the greatest gift that God has given humanity…enabling a lot of people to find what they seek’.

Episode Highlights:

Quotes:

“I am here for you.”

“The Torah doesn’t report small talk.”

“He actually can’t be heneni for both of them…but he says he is.”

“Abraham the servant and Abraham the father – they’re both precious to God. And you do not have to sacrifice one for the other – God does not want you to sacrifice.”

“The difference between Judaism and Christianity in this sense is that in our tradition, the son does not die. “

“Isaac was perpetuating the legacy of his father.”

“The Torah speaks so beautifully in its silences, too.”

“Every moment can be a ‘heneni moment’.”

“We go through life, often sleepwalking through life.”

“We must give ourselves with kindness and compassion, be present in their lives in all ways that we can. You know, in this world it could be by Zoom at times.”

“Everyone has a different purpose. Everyone has a different mission. Everyone has different skills and talents.”

“We’re at our best when we are seekers.”

“If you want to be a sage, you have to remain a talmid, you always have to remain a student.”

The Akedah - https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.22.1-19?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/

Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en

Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman, Senior Associate Rabbi at Temple B’nai Jeshurun, the Temple where Mark became a bar mitzvah in 1985, joins him on the podcast today. Karen received her Masters Degree in Hebrew Literature from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in New York, and currently serves as Rabbi in Residence for the Rabbi Barry H. Greene Early Childhood Center and the B’nai Jeshurun Religious School. The passage she has chosen to discuss today is Ruth 1:1-18.

Karen begins the conversation by sharing her summary of the passage, the significance it holds for her, and the original biblical statement of conversion to Judaism found within it. Mark recounts his experiences with missionary doctors as they exemplify the notion of opening the door to conversion, and then he and Karen examine the importance of Jewish peoplehood and unity, the welcome that converts to Judaism receive, Mark’s perspective on the answer to the intermarriage question, and how this passage presents the constitution of conversion. As with all guests, Karen concludes the episode by detailing the lessons she has learned about humankind. As you listen in, you will discover the joyful and positive nature of Judaism as it is brought to vivid life through today’s examination of this beautiful passage and its powerful message regarding conversion, welcoming, and acceptance.

Episode Highlights:

Quotes:

“Ruth is really important because she is the ancestor of King David.”

“It’s even thought that…somehow she is the ancestor of what will eventually redeem us all.”

“The short story is a Jewish genre.”

“Naomi was sort of her conversion teacher.”

“She becomes the first convert to Judaism.”

“You’re joining a people, but for the sake of something bigger, for the sake of the nation.”

“We need every Jew we can get to help make our world a better place and to also strengthen Yisra'el.”

“So many of these people end up converting because we make it an open environment.”

“There is great power in those who come into the community who are different, and it actually shows a lot about the community if they’re able to welcome and accept someone who’s different and make it an open place.”

“It’s very future-looking, it’s very hopeful, and actually, it’s very Jewish…we’re in this together.”

“You can have everything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want out of life.”

“When you choose love over fear, you almost always make the best choice.”

“There’s plenty in the world to be bothered by, but to be able to walk around with a sense of hopefulness, I mean, that’s about as Jewish as it gets…and that hope, I think, is what we need more than ever in this world.”

Ruth 1:1-18 - https://www.sefaria.org/Ruth.1.1-18?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/

Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en

This week, Mark is delighted to welcome Harry Hargrave, the Chief Executive Officer for the Museum of the Bible, to the podcast. After spending over 45 years in finance, marketing and business operations, Harry found the site, obtained DC approvals and oversaw the planning and development process for this incredible Museum which is 430,000 square feet of rare and fascinating artifacts spanning 4,000 years of history. It is among the most technologically advanced and engaging museums in the world offering visitors an immersive and personalized experience with the Bible and its ongoing impact on the world around us. Harry is also the chairman of the Miracle of Nazareth International Foundation, chairman of the Christian Workers Foundation, and a founding elder of Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas. The passage he has chosen to discuss is Psalms 19.

Harry begins by sharing his summary of the passage, and its meaning for both himself and the Museum. He then describes how the Museum came to be created, the impact it has upon visitors, and its continued operation throughout the current pandemic. The artifacts, their ongoing discovery, and the process of establishing their provenance is discussed as well as the Museum’s extensive American Heritage section. Harry concludes the episode, as all guests do, with the lessons he has learned about humanity. As Mark notes, the work that Harry does through this remarkable Museum is “opening the Bible and opening the hearts of the Bible by making it so interesting and so accessible and so fun” - a noble achievement.

Episode Highlights:

Quotes:

“That’s a beautiful passage for people of all faiths, but especially the Jewish and Christian faith.”

“It’s the gift that keeps giving.”

“Would you come be a tour guide for us?”

“It’s the book that keeps talking to you.”

“It’s our job to show them the Bible, and encourage them to read the Bible, and give them reasons for that.”

“Archeological discoveries are still finding the Bible to be true and fulfilling the promises that God made to all of us.”

“It makes the Bible come alive when you go to Israel and spend one or two weeks there.”

“We want to tell the stories of how people see the value of the Bible throughout our world.”

“It’s an important part of the nation’s history and, of course, an entire subculture of the United States, and the world now.”

“What I see in mankind is a great ability to make mistakes, and a great ability to forgive themselves and one another.”

“It’s truly the Living Word…it seeks out your soul and just pierces you.”

Psalms 19 - https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.19.1-15?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/

Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en

Mark is delighted to welcome Michael Medved, a legend in the world of American thought and political discourse, to the podcast today. Starting his public life as a left-liberal political organizer, Michael has gone on to become a historian, movie critic, nationally-broadcast talk radio host, podcaster, and best-selling author. One of his books, What Really Happened to the Class of ’65?, is actually the first book Mark remembers seeing around his house as a child. The passage that Michael has chosen to discuss today is Exodus 33:18-23.

Michael begins this fascinating conversation with the story behind President Trump’s choice of his favorite Bible verse, and follows with his summary of today’s selected verse and its meaning for him. He and Mark then engage in an extensive analysis of the notion of ‘God passing by’ highlighted by this verse, including a number of examples where God is involved not only in the history of America and Israel, but also in our daily lives. They also discuss the value of seeing the world with ‘radical and perpetual amazement’ before Michael shares the lessons he has learned about humankind, his perspective on what is wrong in America right now, and the importance of acknowledging gratitude. As Mark notes, the Torah’s ‘truths keep coming’, and today they are highlighted through Michael’s gift for effortlessly bringing history to life, rendering this episode yet another clear demonstration of the wisdom of this seminal text and its profound impact upon both historical and present day issues.

Episode Highlights:

Quotes:

“I think it’s extremely meaningful and relevant for anybody who writes history or cares about history or current events, or trying to discern what God is trying to do in the world.”

“I think that there are lots of us who, at different times of life, want to see God’s face.”

“You will know My presence after I am done with that act. During it, you’re not going to see it.

“It is the job of the statesman to listen for God’s footsteps in history, and when he hears them to grab His coattails and hang on.”

“We don’t really think about God in Heaven.”

“We’re an imperfect nation and we’re an instrument to God because He needs an instrument, and what’s He going to do, choose Belgium?”

“The arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

“Washington was actually the indispensable man.”

“And today, with a country of 330 million instead of 2.8 million, the best we can do is Trump and Biden?”

“He had just conquered fear, because his response after this attempt on his life was so remarkable.”

“America is not an accident.”

“I got engaged in 9 weeks – absolutely, you just know.”

“For people who doubt that God is involved in the history of America and the history of Israel, it seems to me that many of those people probably do see God’s hand, at least, in their own marriages.”

“These are all American daily miracles.”

“Nobody achieves anything alone.”

“A great deal depends upon maintaining the right and the positive attitude…especially when trials come, and they come to all of us.”

“You should acknowledge the existence of gratitude before you acknowledge the existence of yourself.”

Exodus 33:18-23 - https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.33.18-23?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/

Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en