Moral Courage: From the Study of Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis

In this engaging conversation, Ari Averbach speaks with Jonah Sanderson, a hospice chaplain and Jewish educator, about the profound impact of Rabbi Harold Shulweis on their lives and work. Jonah reflects on how Shulweis's teachings have shaped his approach to helping individuals navigate the end of life, emphasizing the importance of legacy and ethical wills. He shares personal anecdotes about his experiences as a caregiver for his grandmother and how these moments inspired him to pursue a career in hospice chaplaincy, focusing on the significance of storytelling and self-reflection during life's final stages.

LINKS: Schulweis Poems cited during the discussion; both available via the Harold M. Schulweis website www.hmsi.info.
Embrace Me Whole: https://hmsi.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/embrace-me-whole.pdf
Holding On and Letting Go: https://hmsi.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/124-holding-on-and-letting-go.pdf

What is Moral Courage: From the Study of Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis?

“Moral Courage” shares Jewish ideas and conversations — inspired by the works of Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis — that make Jewish wisdom more accessible, inclusive and relevant to today’s complicated world. Rabbi Schulweis was a longtime pulpit rabbi at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California, from 1970 until his passing in 2014, who made Judaism approachable and accessible. He believed that humanity could do divine work in the world, trying to make it a better place. He was a cofounder of the anti-genocide program Jewish World Watch, and said that Jews have a moral responsibility to help those who are suffering, wherever they are. He was also the founding Chair of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, recognizing Christians who saved Jews from the Holocaust. His is a voice that we need now—to give us direction and hope, in an otherwise troubled time. Executive Produced by Sad Clown Productions and Mayim Bialik. Hosted by Rabbi Ari Averbach.