The Interfaith Roundtable with Rabbi Mark Listen Hagerstown

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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
 
 

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