Human Dignity with Rabbi Joel Levy

"Purim and Human Dignity" is discussed as part of Elijah's Praying Together in Jerusalem initiative.
This was the 25th gathering of the series (21.03.24). Rabbi Joel Levy in conversation with Peta Jones Pellach on whether and how a festival based on the Book of Esther, with its story of court intrigue, drunken parties, revenge and killing, can teach us something about human dignity.
Rabbi Levy is the Rosh Yeshiva of the Conservative Yeshiva where he teaches Talmud, Halakha, Tanakh, liturgy and Jewish thought. He was ordained by Rabbi David Hartman z”l in 2000. He has been the rabbi of Kol Nefesh Masorti Synagogue, Britain’s first fully egalitarian traditional shul, since 2001. He is particularly interested in exploring which aligned modes of religious study and discipline enhance the practitioner’s core humanistic sensitivities and which fail to do so.
Followed by a response by Sr Maureen Cusick of the Sisters of Sion and Ramadan blessings by Issa Jaber.
The Elijah Interfaith Institute is a multinational organization dedicated to fostering peace between the world’s diverse faith communities through interfaith dialogue, education, research and dissemination. Our unique programming generates interfaith dialogue at the highest levels, bringing together world religious leaders and renowned scholars the world over, through research projects, public conferences and community-based initiatives.
Praying Together in Jerusalem is a movement whose participants believe in the power of side-by-side prayer to bring friendship, respect and, ultimately, peace between people of all faiths.
Gatherings have been held since October 2015. Originally, once a month in Jerusalem but now, in a time of crisis, there are weekly on-line gatherings.
In addition to our regular gatherings, PTIJ organizes occasional events to provide opportunities for people of diverse faiths to meet, pray alongside each other and share wisdom from their various sacred texts.
PTIJ emerged out of the Visioning Interfaith Activism in the Holy Land Conference held at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in June of 2015. It was the initiative of Peta Jones Pellach & Fr. Russ McDougall, residents of Jerusalem. Eliyahu McLean became the third founding partner. The coordinator of the Visioning Interfaith Activism in the Holy Land Conference, Raanan Mallek, has continued in this capacity for Praying Together in Jerusalem since its inception. The movement has grown, and in addition to individuals, many organizations committed to interfaith dialogue and peace have given their support.