Main Page | Video | By Religion | The Panel |

Irwin Kula

Rabbi, author, commentator

Rabbi Irwin Kula is the President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, a leadership training institute, think tank and resource center in New York. The “On Faith” panelist has served as rabbi of congregations in St. Louis, New York City and Jerusalem. He is author of “Yearnings: Embracing the Sacred Messiness of Life” (Hyperion, Sept. 2006)  winner of a “Books for a Better Life Award,” and selected by Spirituality & Health magazine as one the “10 Best Spiritual Book of 2006.” He is a regular guest on NBC-TV’s “The Today Show,” and co-host of the popular weekly radio show, Hirschfield and Kula, airing on KXL in Portland, Ore. In 2007 he was identified as one of the “Top 50 Rabbis in America,” by Newsweek. He is co-founder of the Aitz Hayim Center for Jewish Living in Chicago. He received his B.A. in Philosophy from Columbia Univ., his B.H.L. from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTSA) in NY, and his M.A. in Rabbinics and Rabbinic Ordination from JTSA. He has served as rabbi of congregations in St. Louis, MO; Queens, NY; and Jerusalem, Israel. Close.

Irwin Kula

Rabbi, author, commentator

Rabbi Irwin Kula is the President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership in New York. He has served congregations in St. Louis, New York and Jerusalem. more »

Main Page | Irwin Kula Archives | On Faith Archives

A Necessary Tension!

If our choice is between religious fundamentalists and secular fundamentalists, patients' interests will not be maximally perceived yet alone honored.

» Back to full entry

All Comments (2)

victoria:

RABBI- excellent observations-
you have really nailed the heart of the matter.
we can all be guilty of hubris- and this transcends polarizing philosophies- removing the pride from the situation is illustrated in your own personal story- the care of the patient is in the end the actual focus. you and your brother in law have listened to your own inner dissonance and are trying to find mutual respect and concern for your fathers' care-
as you stated, it is a sacred calling to be a healer-
thank you for sharing your clarity with us.

August 14, 2007 1:24 PM | Report Offensive Comments

Posted on August 14, 2007 13:24

yoyo:

Priests are professional comforters.That's it.
Priests are a bit like astrologers when you consider that God may not actually exist.
Because it's fair to say that the jury's still out on what,after all,is not called "The Big Question" for nothing,It's still a question...does He or doesn't He? And indications are that he does not.
Exist,I mean;anymore than Aphrodite does.
Doctors are scientists and deal with real life.
Priests are into the supernatural and deal with death.
They offer comfort to believers and assure them of a Pie-in-the-sky afterlife.
Not exactly brain surgery,is it?

August 13, 2007 6:55 PM | Report Offensive Comments

Posted on August 13, 2007 18:55

Post a comment

We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.

User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.

Name:

Comments:

What Islam Really Says About Violence, Rights and Other Religions

Gomaa, Fadlallah, Mubarak, Khan, Siddiqi, Ellison, others | On Faith

On Faith is an interactive conversation on religion moderated by Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. It is produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com, as is PostGlobal, a conversation on international affairs. Please send your comments, questions and suggestions for On Faith to editor and producer David Waters.