Frank: Mark, an age- old question of why things happen is one that you and I have discussed several times. Is what happens in life predetermined and for a reason, or is what happens merely a random phenomenon? In his extremely popular book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Rabbi Harold Kushner ...
Frank: Mark, I have always been fascinated by the fact that it was the Jewish people who gave the world its first introduction to monotheism as well as laws which God instructs us to follow by giving Moses the Ten Commandments. I have also noted that, while many of these Ten Commandments ...
Mark: It has been noted that America is suffering from an epidemic of loneliness. Ever since Robert Putnam authored the book entitled “Bowling Alone,” numerous researchers and demographers have released studies highlighting the erosion of communal institutions— religious communities, ...
Frank: Mark, as we are currently witnessing an enormous rise in anti-Semitism in this country and around the world, I have been thinking about this issue daily. It is exceedingly difficult for me to understand the reasons why so many people throughout history and in almost every country have found it ...
It began with an extremely targeted goal: A united solidarity mission to Israel with the rabbis of our Nashville community, travelling to learn, to listen, to see, to witness and to stand with and to console the members of our extended Jewish family, and to then return to share the lessons learned from ...
Frank: Mark, many years ago my father, of blessed memory, told me that since his entire family were Germans dating even before Germany became a unified country in 1871, he had always considered himself to be a German Jew rather than a Jewish German. Then Hitler came to power in 1933 and changed that. ...
Frank: Mark, with over 70% of our Reform Jewish young adults marrying someone of a different faith, the Reform movement has been confronted with a request from some of these interfaith couples to allow their children to alternate weekly attendance at their synagogue’s Religious School with a similar ...
Frank: Mark, over the past few years, you have been instrumental in working with Belmont University officials to bring Jewish history, culture, education, and faculty to the school which considers itself to be a Christ centered academic center. Can you explain how and why you have become such an ardent ...
Mark: Frank, what do you make of the current political situation in Israel? You know, I love Israel. Its creation is the fulfillment of our people’s hopes and dreams. But lately, I worry about her future as a democratic state. Frank: Mark, I totally agree with you and am also ...
Frank: Mark while we were on our recent June trip to Berlin, we often spoke about issues surrounding the topic of forgiveness, and with the High Holidays around the corner, I thought this would be a good time to explore some of those issues and begin by asking if you believed there were instances and ...