Judaism, like any religious culture, is always impacted by the civilization in which it resides. The larger society’s language, dress, calendar, marriage customs, dietary behavior, burial rites, and gender roles have all affected Jewish practice from Judaism’s very beginnings. Contemporary America is no exception: residential patterns in suburban life have created pressures for Sabbath travel, gender equality has resulted in female rabbis, a less gendered God, and women counting towards some egalitarian minyanim, Church practices have helped create the practice of rabbi’s sermons, and so on.

Join us as Rabbis Andrew Terkel (KKBE), Adam Rosenbaum (Emanu-El) and Moshe Davis (BSBI) address this well-known fact by considering the contemporary American scene as it affects their movements and their congregations specifically: whether it be gay marriage or gay rabbis, sanctioning Shabbat travel by keeping parking lots open, Bat Mitzvahs, or accommodating intermarried couples in membership, burial, or marriage. Which pressures are shared? Which are specific to a particular denomination or community?

The Three Rabbi Panel is supported by the Stanley and Charlot Karesh Family Fund, an endowment given by the Karesh family in the spring of 2015 in support of Jewish Studies’ community outreach programming. Stanley obm and Charlot have been lifelong pillars of the Charleston Jewish community, and of Jewish Studies. We are incredibly grateful for their support. There will be a reception immediately after the panel welcoming Rabbi Terkel to the community.