Same Text, Different Lens: Jewish & Christian Perspectives on Shared Scripture
July 25 @ 11:00 am
Join Rabbi Josh Franklin of Jewish Center of the Hamptons and Reverend Ben Shambaugh of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for an engaging interfaith exploration of sacred scripture. In this unique class, we’ll delve into biblical texts that Jews and Christians hold in common, discovering how each tradition reads, interprets, and lives these words in distinct ways.
Rabbi Josh Franklin
Rabbi Josh Franklin joins the Jewish Center of the Hamptons after serving for four years as an Associate Rabbi at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA. In his career as a rabbi, he has enlivened the Jewish community by reimagining spirituality through creative mediums. Rabbi Franklin brings to the synagogue setting a passion for music, technology, and creative forms of Jewish education. More >
Rabbi Franklin originates from Yonkers, NY, and grew up at Riverdale Temple in the Bronx, where his father was a rabbi. He spent his childhood summers growing up at URJ Eisner Camp, but has returned to serve for several years on the rabbinical faculty at URJ Crane Lake Camp.
Before receiving his ordination at Hebrew Union College (HUC-JIR), Rabbi Franklin attended Clark University in Worcester, MA. There he graduated Magna Cum Laude, and majored in History with a concentration in Jewish Studies. He also received a Masters degree from Clark in History. While at HUC-JIR, he served numerous synagogues and Jewish institutions as a student rabbi and rabbinical intern including Beth Ha-Sholom of Williamsport, PA, Rodeph Shalom of Philadelphia, PA, DOROT of New York NY, Temple Sinai of Stamford, CT, and Beth El of Beckley, WV. Rabbi Franklin was the recipient of the Daniel and Bonnie Tisch Fellowship, a three year extracurricular program with Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman that explores congregational studies, personal theology, and contemporary religion in North America.
In addition to rabbinical ordination at HUC-JIR, he earned Masters Degrees in Hebrew Literature and in Religious Education. In his spare time, Rabbi Franklin enjoys golf, cycling, snowboarding, photography, wine tasting, beer brewing, and cooking with his wife Stephanie Whitehorn. He now resides in East Hampton, NY with his wife Stephanie and daughters Lilah and Amelia. < Less
Rev. Ben Shambaugh
Reverend Dr. Shambaugh has lived and ministered in New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Paris, Barbados, and around the American National Parks system. In addition, he has been involved in development work in Africa, Haiti, and First Nation Reservations in the American West. He has also led study tours to the Holy Land. More >
Ordained in 1988, Reverend Dr. Shambaugh has served four congregations. Prior to being in Maine, he spent ten years as Rector of St. John’s Church and School (home of African Palms) in Olney, Maryland. In addition, he has a wide variety of mission experiences, including time as a chaplain at the National Cathedral in Washington, as Canon Pastor to the American Cathedral in Paris, and in his current position as Dean of the Cathedral Church St. Luke. He has held numerous diocesan positions, including chair of the Standing Committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Maine and chair of the Maine Deputation to the Episcopal Church’s General Convention. He has served as an Aucillary Chaplain of Support for the United States Coast Guard in Sector Northern New England and as Branch Assistant for District One, with oversight of ACS chaplains in New York and New England.
He has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Northwestern University, a M.Div. from the General Theological Seminary, and a D.Min. from Seabury Western Seminary.
Reverend Dr. Shambaugh and his wife Shari have two grown children, Scott and Kate. While Shari is an educator and artist, he enjoys kayaking, hiking, and playing the tuba. < Less