Interfaith Relations

Whilst Jewish Journeys’ activities do centre around making Jewish life and learning more accessible for Jews and those who wish to enter our community, we also provide outreach to the greater community that focuses on providing an authentic Jewish voice to the inter-religious conversations concerning faith and society.  As all religious faiths respond to the challenges of a contemporary society that is increasingly hostile to the very notion and efficacy of religious faith, Jews need to take their place at the table of discussion.  Additionally, as we adjust to a society where traditional barriers between different religious and social groups become ever less significant, Jews seek to understand, and be understood by, our neighbours.

To these ends, Rabbi Don is a key member of the Queensland Jewish Board of Jewish Deputies’ Interfaith Team.  He has participated in dialogue and discussion in various venues around Queensland.  He has participated and spoken repeatedly at Pure Land Learning College in Toowoomba, and presented a paper on Food and Spirituality from a Jewish Perspective, at the 2013 Maleny Real Food Festival.  He spoke about the challenges of religion in our age at the Buddha’s Birthday Celebration in Brisbane, and about the obligations of all humanity at the Sathya Sai Society in Brisbane.  In past years in the USA, Rabbi Don spoke at a number of churches of various denominations, and helped them to perform model Passover Seders and Model Sabbath celebrations.

Rabbi Don and Jewish Journeys stand ready to assist you with any sincere request for an appearance to speak about Judaism for  non-Jewish audiences.  Suggested topics include:

– The social history of the Jews of the Land of Israel during the turn of the common era and late antiquity

– Humanity’s obligations:  the Seven Laws of the Children of Noah

– What is Jewish Law and how did it develop?

– Jews and Judaism in the aftermath of the Nazi Holocaust

Feel free to contact us to discuss the possibility of booking Rabbi Don to speak about any of these or a topic of your choice.

Rabbi Don and Clara share a Tu B’Shvat Seder with the Believing Women or a Culture of Peace, an interfaith women’s group in Brisbane