Walking in God’s Ways: Lessons From Abraham Joshua Heschel

The Glastonbury Abbey lecture series was established in the fall of 1999 to foster interfaith dialogue under the overall theme of “Listening to Other Voices.” Each year a different general topic is presented and speakers are engaged to address it from the perspective of their own faith tradition. The topic for the series year 2017-2018, based on Psalm 15, is “Doing Justice and Living in the Presence of God.”

Rabbi William Hamilton will open this year’s program year by exploring its theme through the lens of the life of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972), a man who famously “prayed with his legs.” A world-renowned theologian, Rabbi Heschel aimed, through his writings and teachings, to shock modern people out of complacency and into a spiritual dimension. He felt that religion entailed the certainty that something is asked of man and that he is not a mere bystander in the cosmos. “A Jew is asked to take a leap of action rather than a leap of thought. He is asked to do more than he understands in order to understand more than he does.” A distinguished early career in Europe was cut short by the Nazis, and, in 1940, he came to the United States to teach at Hebrew Union College. In 1945, Heschel became Professor of Ethics and Mysticism at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and began to publish a series of works, including studies on religious symbolism, Jewish views of humanity, and contemporary moral and political issues. Heschel is deeply respected among American religionists of many faiths not only for his writings but also for his active role in the civil rights and peace movements of the 1960s and in Jewish-Christian dialogue.

Rabbi William G. Hamilton has served since 1995 as rabbi of Congregation Kehillath Israel, a Conservative synagogue in the heart of Coolidge Corner in Brookline. Rabbi Hamilton has striven to be an important change-agent within the Greater Boston Jewish community. Under his leadership, his institution’s model for encouraging empowerment, inclusion, and the practice of partnership has attracted national and international attention and will soon be the subject of a forthcoming Harvard Business School study. He also serves as chaplain of the Massachusetts State Police and as a trustee for the Anti-Defamation League, The David Project (Israel advocacy), the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, and the Board of Ministry of Harvard University. Rabbi Hamilton is the recipient of Jewish Federation’s (CJP) Rabbinic Leadership Award 2001, and a recipient of Safe Havens (domestic violence prevention) Vision Award 2000, and, in 1995, he was honored by State of Israel Bonds.

Held in the Morcone Conference Center at Glastonbury Abbey. No registration required. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. Parking is also limited. Therefore, we advise that you carpool where possible. Lectures are free. Donations gratefully accepted.

Rabbi Hamilton’s presentation is co-sponsored by Congregation Sha’aray Shalom, Hingham, and Temple Beth Sholom, Hull. For more information, contact sneiman148@gmail.com.