The Stanley C. Golder Interfaith Lecture Series promotes understanding among faiths and embraces the unifying spirituality among all religions. Every year this outstanding program presents a prestigious speaker or speakers to address topics of religion, politics and international understanding.

10th Annual Golder Interfaith Lecture

"Race and Religion: A Panel Discussion"
Moderated by Pulitzer-Prize Winning Columnist Clarence Page

Saturday, May 2, 2009
8:00 pm

Stay tuned for further details.

Past Lectures

9th Annual Golder Interfaith Lecture

"The Rise of Religious Fundamentalism" with Judith Miller

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Judith Miller, well-known author and Pulitzer Prize winning reporter addressed the rise of religious fundamentalism in Islam. This phenomenon is seen as a powerful force in today's highly charged political arena. As a journalist, Ms. Miller has worked with reporters of different faiths covering the international scene and knows first-hand the impact religious beliefs can play in the socio-political sphere. She also discussed efforts to promote understanding through programs and dialogue.

Ms. Miller writes for the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and New York Sun. As a TV commentator, she speaks regularly on the issue of national security as it relates to the Middle East and counterterrorism and on striking a delicate balance between protecting national security and preserving civil liberties in a post-9/11 society, a topic with which she is intimately familiar.As a reporter for the New York Times, Ms. Miller spent 85 days in jail rather than disclose her confidential sources in the now controversial Scooter Libby case. She has since left that paper and is currently advocating the enactment of a federal "shield" law to protect the relationship between reporters and their sources versus the public's right to know.

Ms. Miller is the author of God Has Ninety-Nine Names: Reporting From a Militant Middle East and the co-author of Germs: Biological Weapons and America's Secret War.

African-American & Jewish Shabbat Program

      

Friday, May 2, 2008

Our congregation shared dinner and worship in collaboration with Leaders United, the Anti-Defamation League and the Chicago Urban League. Our guest speaker was the Rev. Dr. Leon Finney, founder and pastor of the Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church and a well-known advocate of urban revitalization. His leadership of the Woodlawn Organization and Woodlawn Community Development Corporation has inspired similar community development programs throughout the country.

Rev. Finney has served as Vice Chairman of the Chicago Public Housing Authority and Monitoring Commission for School Desegregation for the Chicago Public Schools. Dr. Finney has been a Board Member for the Chicago Planning Commission, Broadcast Ministers Alliance and Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions. He has written numerous publications on economic and social development. In addition, he has been a member of the faculty of the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Northwestern University and Lutheran School of Theology, among others.

8th Annual Golder Interfaith Lecture

"The God Factor ... How We Live Our Faith" with Cathleen Falsani

Cathleen Falsani Photo by Paul Natkin

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Cathleen Falsani, religion columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and author of The God Factor, was our keynote speaker.

As the Sun-Times religion writer, Ms. Falsani covered the “God beat” from such diverse locations as Vatican City, the West Wing, and the dugout at Wrigley Field. But she first drew inspiration for a book after climbing aboard the tour bus of U2 to interview lead singer Bono about AIDS in Africa. Their discussion turned to spirituality and faith and the key role they play in this country today, prompting Falsani’s quest to paint a candid picture of modern faith in this nation of many beliefs. The God Factor features interviews with an array of people who have shaped our culture. From exploring “Playboy theology” with Hugh Hefner to discussing Jesus with Anne Rice and heaven with Senator Barack Obama, the 30 interviews in her book offer a fresh, controversial and illuminating look at the beliefs that shape our lives.

At the lecture, Falsani discussed her motivation to write this book. She also shared excerpts from her interviews with Bono, Anne Rice, Senator Barack Obama and Elie Wiesel, among others.

"Jews, Christians and Muslims Partnering for Peace"

Friday, April 27, 2007

As part of the Goldstein Interfaith Lecture Series Weekend, Carmi Gillon, mayor of Mevasseret-Zion, a suburb of Jerusalem, and former head of the Israeli Secret Service, Shabak, spoke on the prospects for peace in the Mideast.

7th Annual Golder Interfaith Lecture

"The Challenge to Islam Today" with Irshad Manji

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Over 400 people throughout the community attended this lecture. A young, faithful Muslim, Irshad Manji is also author of the international bestseller, The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith. In this dynamic speech, Irshad assessed the likelihood of a liberal reformation in Islam, one that promotes competition of ideas and respect for human rights. Along the way, she offered key insights about a new generation of Muslims from the West and the Islamic world. She illuminated their struggles as well as their expectations. Above all, she explained how they've inspired her to launch a foundation, Project Ijtihad, to establish the world's first leadership centre for reform-minded Muslims, which offers essential lessons for policy-makers, educators, investors, and engaged citizens.

Ms. Manji also hosts the television program, "Big Ideas," is recipient of the Simon Wiesenthal Award of Valor and was recently described by the New York Times as "Osama bin Laden's worst nightmare." (She takes this as a compliment.) Click here for her latest commentary.

Shabbat Worship Service: "When Love is Shared" with Rabbi David Nelson

Friday, April 28, 2006

As a people, Jews' love for the land of Israel stretches back many millennia and speaks to our sense of identity and connection to Israel today. But love of Israel does not belong to Jews alone. Two other religious communities - Christian and Muslim - also claim Israel as their heritage. Rabbi David Nelson, Associate Director of ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America), talked at our Shabbat Service about Jews' connection to Israel and how it is impacted by those of other faiths.

6th Annual Golder Interfaith Lecture

"Evil and Suffering: Where is God to be Found? Our Religions Respond"
A Panel Discussion: Moderated by John Callaway

Saturday, April 30, 2005

John Callaway moderated a panel discussion focusing on responses to the age-old question of "Where is God amidst the evil and suffering in the world?" Our panel was comprised of religious and educational leaders representing a variety of perspectives.

Best known as the moderator of WTTW's Chicago Tonight, Mr. Callaway has been a professional journalist for over 45 years, serving as broadcast executive, radio and TV interviewer, news anchor, documentary producer and narrator, magazine writer, print columnist, lecturer and, most recently, stage performer and writer. Mr. Callaway currently is the host and senior editor of WTT's critically acclaimed Chicago Stories documentary. He has won over 100 awards, including the coveted Peabody Award, and twelve Emmys. In 1974, he joined WTTW, where he began a 27-year career in public television as the host of the station's first nightly news program. His national PBS series have included "John Callaway Interviews," "Dilemmas of Disarmament" and "Campaigning on Cue."

Our panelists included:

Reverend Robert Barron - Professor, Department of Systematic Theology, University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary, and author of numerous works, including The Strangest Way: Walking the Christian Path.

Reverend Franklin Gamwell - Shailer Mathews Professor of Religious Ethics, Philosophy of Religion and Theology, Divinity School, University of Chicago and an ordained Presbyterian minister. His books include The Divine Good: Modern Moral Theory and the Necessity of God.

Professor Inamul Haq - Professor of Islam at Benedictine University in Lisle. He is frequently cited by the media, including PBS and the Chicago Tribune, on issues concerning Islam and Muslims in the U.S.

Rabbi Eleanor Smith - Former rabbi at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston and currently completing her second year of medical school at the University of Chicago. Her writings include Intermarriage: The Price of Modernity and the Power of Choice.

Reverend Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite - President of the Chicago Theological Seminary and an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ. Dr. Thistlethwaite is the author or editor of ten books and has translated two different translations of the Bible.

The program was offered by Temple Jeremiah in partnership with Christ Church, the Islamic Cultural Center, St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, Winnetka Congregational Church and Winnetka Covenant Church.

5th Annual Golder Interfaith Lecture

"Can We All Get Along? Building Bridges Among Jews, Christians and Muslims in the 21st Century" with Bruce Feiler

Saturday, April 24, 2004

Bruce Feiler is the New York Times best-selling author of six books, an award-winning journalist, storyteller and speaker, Mr. Feiler has traveled to over 60 countries over five continents, immersing himself in their cultures and experiences. The result is six nationally acclaimed books, including: Learning to Bow: Inside the Heart of Japan; Looking for Class: Days and Nights at Oxford and Cambridge; Under The Big Top: A Season with the Circus; Dreaming Out Loud: Garth Brooks, Wynonna Judd, Wade Hayes and the Changing Face of Nashville; Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses, in which Mr. Feiler retraces the greatest stories ever told; and his latest work, Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths, which recounts his personal search for the shared ancestor of Jews, Christians and Muslims.

Abraham has become a runaway New York Times bestseller, was named one of the best books of the year by Amazon.com, Borders and Publishers Weekly and was featured recently on the cover of TIME Magazine. Praised as "a revolution in thought" by TIME, Abraham offers a powerful interfaith message and a major breakthrough in building peaceful relations among religions. The book has inspired an unprecedented nationwide network of summits and grassroots interfaith discussion groups, or "Abraham Salons", as they have come to be known, around the globe.

Mr. Feiler wrote about his recent travels to Iraq in search of Biblical sites in the April 25, 2004 issue of Chicago Tribune's Parade Magazine. The article includes photos of the sites by Gwendolen Cates, who accompanied Mr. Feiler to Iraq. He also spoke on "Good Morning America" April 28 about an upcoming search for Noah's Ark in Turkey.

The 2004 Stanley C. Golder Lecture was part of a "Tearing Down Walls, Building Bridges" Interfaith Weekend which took place from Friday, April 23 to Sunday, April 25.

4th Annual Golder Interfaith Lecture

"What's Going to Happen in Washington?" with William Safire

Saturday, April 26, 2003

As part of its "Great Minds, Critical Issues" Weekend April 25, 26 & 27, Temple Jeremiah hosted noted writer, columnist and politician William Safire. Mr. Safire spoke not only on the nation's politics, including his predictions for the 2004 and 2008 Presidential races, but on the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the New York Times, Mr. Safire is considered one of the nation's most influential conservative voices. His novel, Full Disclosure, about a President under fire was on the best-seller list for 14 weeks. Other publications include a political dictionary, anthology and collection of commentaries. Mr. Safire served on Eisenhower's Presidential campaign, was a senior speech writer in the Nixon White House and is credited with bringing Nixon and former Soviet Premier Khruschev together in the now-famous "Kitchen Debate."

* Terry Waite
* Mitch Albom
* Father Andrew Greeley