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A Rabbi and a Priest Study the Gospels

The Episcopal Diocese of New York offers this inspiring video to give viewers a taste of interfaith empowerment.  It tells how two congregations, Episcopal and Jewish, extended the trajectory of interfaith understanding from tolerance, to respect, to appreciation, to what theologian Kristal Stendahl called “holy envy.”  Both congregations have been strengthened and enlivened by a deep exploration of each other’s faith.  Both also learned more about their own faith in the process.

The Rev. Matthew was ordained to the priesthood in September 2012 and has served as priest-in-charge at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Woodstock since October 2014.  He also serves as a retreat leader and teaches for Northeast Wisdom and the Contemplative Society, non-profits dedicated to the renewal of the Christian Wisdom tradition.  He is widely sought as a retreat leader.  Many of his retreats have been recorded and have received thousands of views on the YouTube channel.

Rabbi Jonathan Kligler has served as the spiritual leader of Kehillat Lev Shalem, the Woodstock Jewish Congregation, since 1988.  He was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1989, and is a member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.  Rabbi Jonathan has authored two books, the most recent being Turn It and Turn It: For Everything is in it.  He is an accomplished singer and folk guitarist, and has recorded a number of CDs.  He continues to write and teach widely.