Maimonides, Spinoza and Us: Toward an Intellectually Vibrant Judaism

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Marc D. Angel

ABOUT THE EVENT:

Moses Maimonides (1138-1204) is the classic Jewish thinker who strove to reconcile Judaism and philosophy/science. Baruch Spinoza (1632-1667) is the classic Jewish heretic who revolutionized modern rationalistic philosophy and did much to undermine traditional religious beliefs. By drawing on the teachings of both of these intellectual giants, we can seek a traditional Judaism that is vibrant, intellectually challenging, and meaningful.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Rabbi Marc D. Angel is Founder and Director of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals (jewishideas.org), fostering an intellectually vibrant, compassionate and inclusive Orthodox Judaism. He is Rabbi Emeritus of the historic Congregation Shearith Israel, the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of New York City (founded 1654), where he began serving in 1969.

Born and raised in the Sephardic community of Seattle, Washington, he went to New York for his higher education at Yeshiva University where he earned his B.A., M.S., Ph.D. and Rabbinic Ordination. He also earned an M.A. in English Literature from the City College of New York.

Author and editor of 38 books, he has written and lectured extensively on various aspects of Jewish law, history and culture. Among his books are Foundations of Sephardic Spirituality: The Inner Life of Jews of the Ottoman Empire (Jewish Lights, 2006); and Maimonides, Spinoza and Us: Toward an Intellectually Vibrant Judaism, (Jewish Lights, 2009), both of which won Finalist Awards from the National Jewish Book Council. His book, Choosing to Be Jewish: The Orthodox Road to Conversion (Ktav, 2005) has reached many thousands of readers. His most recent books are a commentary on Pirkei Avot published by Koren (2015); The Wisdom of Solomon and Us (Jewish Lights, 2016); and A New World: An American Sephardic Memoir (Albion-Andalus, 2019).  He serves as Editor of Conversations, the journal of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals.

Rabbi Angel is Past President of the Rabbinical Council of America (1990-1992). He has served as officer and board member of numerous agencies including the UJA-Federation of New York, the American Sephardi Federation, the Rabbinic Cabinet of Jewish National Fund, and the HealthCare Chaplaincy. He has won awards from many institutions including Yeshiva University, the Orthodox Union, and the New York Board of Rabbis. He is co-founder of the International Rabbinic Fellowship, an association of Modern Orthodox rabbis.

Rabbi Angel is married to Gilda Angel. Their children and grandchildren live in New York, Baltimore and Teaneck.