‘In Conversation’ with Rabbi Zalman Kastel and Emanuel Synagogue

February 4th, 2021

Awake Goy

February 4, 2021 by A J-Wire community service announcement

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Sydney’s Emanuel Synagogue in Woollahra will host the first of their 2021 ‘In Conversation’ with Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins and Rabbi Zalman Kastel.

Rabbi Zalman Kastel

Entitled ‘Embracing cultural and religious differences’, Emanuel’s Senior Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins will join the National Director of Together For Humanity, Rabbi Kastel, to explore the many challenges involved in bringing faiths together; and the concept of what it means to be ‘together for humanity’.

Raised in the Hasidic tradition in New York, Rabbi Kastel’s perspective was radically altered in 2002 amidst a series of transformative encounters with Christians and Muslims.

“It got me thinking that there’s more to people that seem different to us than meets the eye,” he recently told SBS.

“When you scratch under the surface, everybody sets out caring about love and compassion.”

He has since then fostered inter-faith and intercultural friendship.

“I’m far more respectful of people outside my own faith and I profoundly value the relationships I’ve forged with people from other communities,” he says.

Rabbi Kamins said the event was a great opportunity for members of the community to expand their understanding of interfaith conversations and relationships, and learn from Rabbi Kastel’s example of working to bridge the divide between cultures.

“Rabbi Kastel is an inspiration, and our conversation will doubtlessly shed a great deal of light on what possibilities there are in reaching out to other communities of faith,” he said.

The event will be both in-person and online via Zoom*, with registrations open via Emanuel’s website.

When: Sunday, 7 February, 2021, 5pm until 6.30pm
Where: Emanuel Synagogue, 7 Ocean Street, Woollahra (and online via Zoom)
Cost: FREE for Emanuel members / $20 in person / $15 via Zoom
Bookings: https://bit.ly/2LduJvg

*Zoom link & further details to follow on registration.