Rabbi Sharon Brous: Building Bridges in a Divided World
Apr 24, 2024
auto_awesome
Rabbi Sharon Brous, founder of IKAR, discusses building bridges in a divided world with Guy Kawasaki. They explore finding purpose through service, promoting compassion in religious unity, envisioning peaceful leadership for Israeli-Palestinian conflict, LGBTQ perspectives in politics, fostering connections in turbulent times, and supporting others through compassion and understanding.
Rabbi Sharon Brous emphasizes the role of a rabbi in connecting individuals with their sacred past to live purposefully towards a just and loving future.
The significance of 'Amen' lies in its deeper representation of faith, humanity, and communal unity, bridging individuals through shared empathy and spiritual resonance.
Deep dives
Rabbi's Role and Definition
A rabbi fulfills the roles of a teacher, a pastor, and a guide through life's various moments, both joyous and challenging. Rabbi Sharon Broughs emphasizes that being a rabbi involves helping individuals connect with their sacred past to live more purposefully in the present and strive towards a just and loving future. Rabbi Sharon shares a personal anecdote highlighting the multifaceted duties of a rabbi, ranging from officiating weddings to comforting individuals in times of grief. Ultimately, a rabbi serves as a translator of ancient teachings to foster a more meaningful and interconnected community.
The Essence of 'Amen'
The significance of 'Amen' is explored by Rabbi Sharon Broughs, drawing from its diverse uses in different contexts. While commonly associated with agreement or conclusion in prayers, the deeper meaning delves into faith and humanity. Derived from the Hebrew word 'Emunah,' signifying faith, 'Amen' symbolizes more than a mere affirmation; it represents a connection with others' experiences and a profound acknowledgment of their emotions and aspirations. Rabbi Sharon underscores the communal aspect of 'Amen,' portraying it as a bridge that unites individuals through shared empathy and spiritual resonance.
Interfaith Unity and Shared Dreams
Rabbi Sharon Broughs reflects on the shared dreams and narratives that unite individuals across different faith traditions. Drawing parallels between diverse religious stories, Rabbi Sharon highlights the common aspirations for justice, compassion, and a world free from cruelty. She narrates a powerful personal experience at a Christmas Mass, discovering common ground with a Christian leader despite differing religious narratives. Emphasizing the universal message of unity and peace across faiths, Rabbi Sharon asserts the importance of dialogue, understanding, and collective action towards building a harmonious world.
Counteracting Extremism with Love
In the face of religious extremism and divisive practices, Rabbi Sharon Broughs advocates for countering hatred with love and inclusivity. She challenges extremist voices within religious communities by amplifying messages of peace, dignity, and unity. By interpreting sacred texts through a lens of compassion and human dignity, Rabbi Sharon encourages individuals to reject regressive interpretations that breed intolerance and violence. She underscores the transformative power of embracing love and understanding across religious divides to foster a world rooted in respect, empathy, and harmony.
In this inspiring episode of Remarkable People, Guy Kawasaki engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Rabbi Sharon Brous, the influential founder of IKAR, a groundbreaking Jewish community in Los Angeles. Together, they explore the power of coming together in difficult times, finding purpose through service, and imagining a future of peace. Rabbi Brous shares wisdom from her new book, The Amen Effect, providing tangible practices to help us stay connected, honor each other's humanity, and work towards a more just and loving world. Discover how small acts of compassion can create ripples of change and healing in our lives and society.
---
Guy Kawasaki is on a mission to make you remarkable. His Remarkable People podcast features interviews with remarkable people such as Jane Goodall, Marc Benioff, Woz, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Bob Cialdini. Every episode will make you more remarkable.
With his decades of experience in Silicon Valley as a Venture Capitalist and advisor to the top entrepreneurs in the world, Guy’s questions come from a place of curiosity and passion for technology, start-ups, entrepreneurship, and marketing. If you love society and culture, documentaries, and business podcasts, take a second to follow Remarkable People.
Listeners of the Remarkable People podcast will learn from some of the most successful people in the world with practical tips and inspiring stories that will help you be more remarkable.
Episodes of Remarkable People organized by topic: https://bit.ly/rptopology
Listen to Remarkable People here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guy-kawasakis-remarkable-people/id1483081827
Like this show? Please leave us a review -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!