A JEWISH-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE ON EIGHT ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL ISSUES: MYTHS AND STORIES THAT CHANGE OUR LIVES

Thomas O’Brien and Howard Shapiro

DESCRIPTION: In prior series, Rabbi Shapiro and Tom O’Brien examined the differences between Judaism and Christianity, religious challenges of the 21st-Century and the ways different religious traditions respond to “The Big Questions.” Tom and Howard now expand their dialogues to explore texts (which will be available online for participants) that transformed their lives – and just might also change yours.

EIGHT LECTURES:

1. Myths We Live By: Genesis and the writings of Karen Armstrong
   
2. Suffering and Meaning: Job and writings of Viktor Frankl and Elie Wiesel
   
3. Guilt and Forgiveness: Joseph, the Prodigal Son, and the power of forgiveness
   
4. The Purpose of Living: Ecclesiastes and the writings of Rick Warren and others
   
5. The Sacred, Profane and Holy: The writings of Abraham Joshua Heschel and others
   
6. Knowing Right from Wrong: Sophie’s Choice, The Good Samaritan, and the birthright story
   
7. Destiny, God’s Plan and Determinism: Scripture, Oedipus Rex, and the writings of John Calvin
   
8. Death as a Destination or Doorway: The writings of John Cave, various Jewish thinkers, and Bishop John Shelby Spong

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Rabbi Howard Shapiro was educated at Brandeis University and ordained from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. He came to Temple Israel, West Palm Beach, in 1981 after serving as a chaplain in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and as a rabbi in Springfield, N.J. He serves on the Reform Pension Board of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Union for Reform Judaism. He is the Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Israel, and his spiritual guidance, intellectual stimulation, creative programming and full participation in all aspects of Jewish life reflect his love and dedication to Judaism and the Jewish people.

Tom O’Brien received his B.A. magna cum laude in 1964 from Notre Dame and graduated from Yale Law School in 1967. He practiced corporate law for more than 30 years, retired in 2001, and received an M.A. in theology summa cum laude in 2003 from St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. Tom is a Canon in the Episcopal Church and the Examining Chaplain for Holy Scripture for the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, has taught courses for LLS, teaches scripture and theology courses at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, and led interfaith dialogues for the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews for many years.