The Interfaith Roundtable with Rabbi Mark

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The Interfaith Roundtable explores various religious traditions and helps us all to understand both the differences and similarities between faiths. What is organized religion compared to spirituality? What do different religious traditions think about God? Is it true that organized religion has been the source of so much hatred and conflict resulting in wars over the centuries in different parts of the world? These questions and more are explored on The Interfaith Roundtable with various guests.

  1. 3D AGO

    We're Back: Mennonite Faith, Interfaith Community, and Why Prayer Still Matters (w/ Pastor Anna Ressler)

    After a year-and-a-half hiatus, Interfaith Roundtable returns! Rabbi Mark shares why this show matters now more than ever, creating space for curiosity, compassion, and connection across faiths without preaching or trying to convince anyone to believe a certain way. In this comeback episode, Rabbi Mark welcomes his first guest back: Pastor Anna Ressler of Hebron Mennonite Church (Hagerstown). Together, they explore what drew Anna into ministry, what "discipleship" looks like in real life, and how Mennonite values like peace, simplicity, and community shape her work today. They also talk about navigating the religion/politics line, why interfaith relationships are so important, and how Anna uses theater and storytelling to make scripture more accessible, sometimes even writing short dramatic sketches for worship. Rabbi Mark also reintroduces core themes of the show, including reflections on creation, free will, Tikkun Olam, and the purpose of prayer, plus a look at Jewish spiritual tradition through the lens of Abraham Joshua Heschel and a wordless nigun melody. Sponsor: This episode of Interfaith Roundtable is sponsored by Andrew K. Coffman Funeral Home, Inc. Located at 40 East Antietam Street in Hagerstown, Maryland, the Coffman Funeral Home has served the community since 1925 as a full-service establishment committed to quality, dignity, and compassion, offering services including traditional funeral services, cremation, and coordination with other funeral homes for forwarding or receiving remains. Want to connect with the show? Email Rabbi Mark at mjperman9@gmail.com.

    48 min

  2. 03/01/2024

    Sharing the Spirit

    Rabbi Mark speaks with Angela Moore who is a leader at UNHCR, and important U.N. Refugee Agency that is helping persecuted and displaced people find help and support as they struggle to build new lives free of terror, oppression, and, in some cases, exploitation. Mark also interviews Cantor Barbara Ostfeld, who is the first woman ever to be ordained as a cantor in the Jewish faith. She talks about being a pioneer in a field that was for centuries exclusively male.

    49 min

  3. 02/08/2024

    Discovering a path toward greater spiritual understanding

    Rabbi Mark speaks with Matthew Thiessesn PhD., biblical scholar and teacher, about Jesus' Jewish roots and he welcomes Pastor James Brooks who is a new minister in Hagerstown, MD at First Christian Church.

    54 min

  4. 01/25/2024

    Exploring sacred text with Bible scholar, Dr. Nehemia Gordon

    Rabbi mark talks with Dr. Nehemia Gordon, who was one of the translators of The Dead Sea Scrolls, about his take on scripture from both a Jewish and Christian perspective.

    49 min
  5. Exploring Israel and joined by a Compassionate Presence Mitch Cohen

    12/19/2023

    Exploring Israel and joined by a Compassionate Presence Mitch Cohen

    Rabbi Mark speaks about his trip to Israel and what he experienced there as opposed to what is generally seen on cable news. Mark then spoke to spiritual guide, teacher, and grief counselor Mitch Cohen who helps clarify the distinctions between being religious and embracing spirituality.

    48 min

  6. 10/20/2023

    The Conflict in Israel with Musician Mattan Klein and Thomas Kennedy, Champion of Religious Freedom with Thomas Riford

    In this episode Rabbi Mark is joined by award winning composer and flutist Mattan Klein. Mattan Klein shares his account of how life in Israel has changed in the past weeks. He gives the historical perspective of the Israel-Palestine and the decades of transgressions that led to the recent events. He also shares his music and his hope that it could lead to harmony and love.  On the second half of the episode Mark is joined by former President of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau Thomas Riford. On the show he shares the history of Thomas Kennedy, a man from Hagerstown who championed Religious Freedom for all. Born in 1776, Thomas Kennedy fought against discrimination and was the leading force to pass the "Jew Bill" which allowed people of Jewish decent or belief to hold public office.    Listen to Mattan's 2023 Album Listen to Mattan's 2022 Album Jazzwise Magazine Mattan Klein Facebook    Hagerstown Convention and Visitor's Bureau Thomas Kennedy Center

    52 min

  7. 09/02/2023

    Supporting Family, Community, and the World at Vista Del Mar and the Way of Veganism with Vivian Chinelli

    Amy Jaffy serves as the Senior Vice President  at Vista Del Mar. Amy explains, they have the capacities to oversee a number of child refugees from various countries. Amy has background and a private practice in psychotherapy which she uses to help stablize and support the children from varying countries that come in. She talks how far Vista Del Mar has come in the past 100 years and how they continue to serve families and the community to this day.  Rabbi Jackie Redner served as the resident pastor for 17 years. Director of spiritual enrichment and a certified, mind, and medicine practitioner. Rabbi Jackie explains how her upbringing and roots led her to want to work in a place like Vista Del Mar. Despite the low amount of jewish children coming through Vista Del Mar she works with people of all faiths to support their spiritual journey. Judism and Interfaith practices are seen throughout Vista Del Mar as all holidays including Jewish holidays are celebrated. Vista Del Mar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VistaDelMarOrg/ Website: https://vistadelmar.org/ Next Mark is joined by poet, author, and proud vegan Vivian Chinelli to talk about her veganism and why others could think before consuming animals. Like others she ate meat until she was challenged one day and she began to stop consuming it. She now makes conversation in the streets of Los Angeles about why people eat meat and how they can look into some alternatives. She also incorporates her poetry into undertaking to educate. She's written a number of books on the topic of veganism. I'm not Vegan but My Cousin is: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Vegan-But-Cousin-Respecting/dp/B0B7QJ8HN7 Website: http://www.vivianchinelli.com

    51 min

  8. 08/21/2023

    Gaining FOCUS with Life Trainer Cherish McMillan and Mortality and Funeral Homes with Ryan Berger

    Our first guest is a motivational speaker, trainer, teacher, author, and a certified life coach. She is The FOCUS Trainer which stands for Fun, Opprotunity, Concentration, Unwavering, and Sucess. Rabbi Mark and Cherish break down her offerings and skills and how she uses her services to contribute to her local community. Cherish explains how her upbringing brought her to where she is today. How she started behind in class in reading and writing and gradually learned and overcame to eventually graduate with honors.  The second guess is Ryan Berger who is the Funeral Director for the Andrew K. Coffman Funeral Home. He unpacks his role at the funeral home and how he helps families get through their time at the funeral home. They discuss the specific burial ceremonies guests need depending on the religion of the deceased. Ryan also explains the stigma around funeral directors in the general public and how others typically feel strange or weary around him.

    40 min
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The Interfaith Roundtable explores various religious traditions and helps us all to understand both the differences and similarities between faiths. What is organized religion compared to spirituality? What do different religious traditions think about God? Is it true that organized religion has been the source of so much hatred and conflict resulting in wars over the centuries in different parts of the world? These questions and more are explored on The Interfaith Roundtable with various guests.

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