Episode 96.

Have you lived in more than one country? Do you participate in interreligious dialogue or are you interested in it? Have you studied religion or theology? Not very many people can say yes to all of these questions. But my guest, Judith Pajo can. Born in Germany, she has nevertheless lived many years both there and in the U.S., shuttling back and forth since childhood. Raised Catholic, she has also studied theology and cultural anthropology in both countries. Judith now conducts interreligious research at Pace University in New York. With these elements as our focus, Judith and I explored her peripatetic upbringing, her current scholarship on interreligious and intra-religious dialogue, and the impact of that exploration on her Catholic faith.

While this conversation was recorded weeks ago, the recent death of Pope Francis makes it particularly timely.

Highlights:

• Diverse experiences of Catholicism.
• The impact of mobility on religious experience.
• Sound and light over words and other distractions.
• Language diversity in Catholic practice.
• Impact of October 7th attack on interfaith dialogue.
• Researcher risks and faith struggles.
• How interfaith dialogue reshapes religions.
• Research outcomes and future directions.

Bio:

Judith Pajo, PhD, grew up in both Germany and the United States. She studied Catholic theology and cultural anthropology on both sides of the Atlantic and has been teaching at Pace University in New York City for over fifteen years, with shorter stints at NYU and Fordham. Her new research on interfaith dialogue among Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Europe and North America, conceived a little over a year ago, is transforming her Catholic faith as she integrates more elements from the other Abrahamic religions into her practice. She is also guiding undergraduate students in conducting interviews with individuals from diverse faith traditions. The research group itself is an interfaith initiative; no two members share the same faith, but they are discovering that they have much in common. She is currently working on an article about cultural transgressions in interfaith work. What does forgiveness look like in practice? How do we continue interfaith dialogue? Judith lives in Queens, NY.

Highlights:

References:

• Church of the Reconciliation, Berlin
• Second Vatican Council

Suggested episode on Living Our Beliefs:

• Mookie Manalili episode – Catholic life

Social Media and other links for Judith:

• Profile at Pace University
• LinkedIn – Judith Pajo

Transcript on Buzzsprout

Social Media and other links for Méli:

• Website – the Talking with God Project
• Meli’s email
• LinkedIn – Meli Solomon
• Facebook – Meli Solomon

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The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project.

Episode 95.

What comes to mind when you hear the term mysticism? Perhaps you imagine a yogi sitting cross legged in meditation, or people sitting in a circle chanting. Several religions have mystical practices, Sufism in Islam, and Zen Buddhism, for instance. Whatever the particulars, they generally share a desire to become one with the Divine and valueing of spiritual rather than intellectual understanding. Today, my guest, Lex Rofeberg, has joined me to talk about Jewish mysticism, its history, core books, challenging concepts and risks to followers. As a rabbi ordained in the Jewish Renewal movement, he is both a practitioner and critic of Jewish mysticism. Lex is co-host of the Judaism Unbound podcast and the Un-Yeshiva – a link is in the show notes. He is also an active proponent of learning from other faith traditions. In this, he shares my philosophy that learning about other paths is beneficial and does not pose a risk to your beliefs or practice.

Bio:

Lex Rofeberg (he/him) serves as senior Jewish educator for Judaism Unbound, a digital-first Jewish organization. He co-hosts and produces its weekly podcast, facilitates many of its digital rituals and events, and oversees the UnYeshiva: a digital center for Jewish learning and unlearning. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in Judaic Studies, and was ordained as a rabbi by ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lex lived for two years in Jackson, Mississippi -- working for the Institute of Southern Jewish Life -- and he currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island with his wife.

Highlights:

• Embracing Jewish pop culture.
• Pantheism, panentheism and monotheism.
• Embodied worship and pantheism.
• Oneness and separation of the sacred and the profane.
• Hasidism, neo-Hasidism, and Chabad.
• The Zohar and Kabbalah.
• Reckoning with harm in by charismatic leaders.

Social Media links for Lex:

• Website – JudaismUnbound.com
• Bluesky – @lexaphus.bsky.social

References:

• Living Our Beliefs – Yusef Hayes episode on Sufism
• Living Our Beliefs – David Green on the Tanya and Chabad

Transcript on Buzzsprout

Social Media links for Méli:

• Website – the Talking with God Project
• Meli’s email
• LinkedIn – Meli Solomon
• Facebook – Meli Solomon

Follow the podcast!

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project.

Episode 94.

Are you a Jew, Christian, or Muslim? Do you wonder about how your holiday this spring intersects with other holidays occurring at or near the same time? What do you make of that? And what does your holiday mean to you? How do you celebrate it?

In this month's reflection, I address how Ramadan, Lent, and Passover connect thematically, and in the calendar. In these tense times when so many of us are feeling anxious and distressed, we can either give into that or strive to remember what connects us to be civil and caring and, that we can learn from each other. I personally choose the latter and I'm guessing you do as well. I thought taking a few moments to look at the main themes of these holidays and the calendar of these holidays that we can, get a little relief from the exhaustion and expand, enrich our own spiritual experience.

Highlights:

• Ramadan, Lent and Passover coinciding this year.
• Ramadan and Lent: Repentance and gratitude.
• Lent and Passover: Redemption and transformation.
• Fasting or restriction brings time and reflection.
• Exodus story as the foundation for both Lent and Passover.
• Importance of processes over time for renewal and spiritual cleansing.

Bio:

I am a public scholar and interreligious leader with a keen interest in understanding the nature of similarities and differences––especially religious and cultural. The Talking with God Project is currently my main focus, and I am actively expanding its reach through workshops, articles, panels, talks and a podcast.

​

Raised in the Boston area, I have lived in Seattle, WA and Berlin, Germany, before returning to Boston in 2017. Carving out a varied educational and professional path, I hold a B.A. in Fine Art from Oberlin College (1984), an M.B.A. from Northeastern University (1997), a Certificate in Coaching from the International Coach Academy (2015), and a Master of Jewish Liberal Studies (MJLS) from Hebrew College with a focus on Global Interreligious Studies (2019). Professionally, I have worked as a business manager, an art dealer and founder of Solomon Fine Art gallery, language trainer, text editor, business coach and now public scholar and podcaster.

​

Though raised in an interfaith non-observant home. my Conservative Jewish practice and wide range of personal and professional experiences inform my research and life.

Transcript on Buzzsprout

Social Media links for Méli:

• Website – the Talking with God Project
• Meli’s email
• LinkedIn – Meli Solomon
• Facebook – Meli Solomon

Follow the podcast!

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project.

Episode 93.

Did you grow up in a highly observant home and religious community where surety of belief was the norm? Aubrey Chaves did, and much as she felt embraced by the family’s deep engagement within their Mormon congregation, or ward, when she encountered differing lifestyles that were loving and not harmful to anyone, the rightness she had always believed about the church fathers and doctrine shifted from a solid foundation to something brittle. In short, it prompted a crisis of faith. Over the many years since then, she’s spent a lot time learning and struggling with her faith, emerging with a stronger and more forgiving approach to living her beliefs. These days, her spiritual views are more complex and open, for which she is grateful.

Highlights:

• Pioneer stock of Mormons on both sides of the family.
• Church provided an anchor and cadence for life.
• Crisis of faith and realizing the church had flaws and ugly history.
• The role of LGBTQ issues in faith reassessment.
• James Fowler's Stages of Faith.
• Missionary service as a transformative journey.
• Orthodoxy v. Orthodoxy.
• Faith redefined as love and trust.

Bio:

As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aubrey Chaves finds deep meaning in faith, community, and the continual pursuit of spiritual growth. She serves on the executive board of the Faith Matters Foundation and co-hosts its weekly podcast with her husband, Tim. Together, they explore big questions and hope to foster expansive, thoughtful conversations that inspire curiosity, connection, and deeper engagement with faith. They live in Midway, Utah, where they are raising their four children under the beautiful snowy peaks of the Wasatch Mountains.

References:

• James Fowler, Stages of Faith
• Brian McLaren – Faith After Doubt
• Pew Research

Social Media links for Aubrey:

• Website – https://faithmatters.org/
• Instagram – @faithmattersfoundation

Transcript on Buzzsprout

Social Media links for Méli:

• Website – the Talking with God Project
• Meli’s email
• LinkedIn – Meli Solomon
• Facebook – Meli Solomon

Follow the podcast!

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project.

Episode 92.

Jews had lived in Libya since the third century BCE, but 1967 marked their final expulsion from the majority Muslim country. Raphael Luzon was a child at the time and fled with his family. Like many, they went to Italy. Overnight, his environment changed. Gone were his Jewish, Muslim and Catholic classmates. Gone was the exchange of holiday greetings with Muslim neighbors. But all was not lost. Those relationships had planted a seed, and that seed grew. Over the decades since university, Raphael has used his religious and cultural knowledge, along with his Arabic, Italian and English, to work in journalism, management, and interfaith dialogue. Within this latter sphere, he has brought high-level religious leaders like the Dalai Llama and Catholic cardinals together for constructive interfaith discussions. In this conversation, you’ll hear stories of success, disappointment and perseverance. Especially in these trying times, it's good to be reminded that connection is possible and what it takes to reach that goal.

Highlights:

• Upbringing as an Orthodox Jew in Libya.
• Instances of "gentleman hypocrisy" and the challenges of integrity in public.
• Overcoming challenges and finding common ground through religious literacy, sacred texts and mutual respect.
• The importance of timing and recognizing when constructive dialogue can occur.
• Participants must be a believer and open-minded, not seeing their religion as the ‘right’ way.
• Ongoing initiatives like MENA 2050.
• Libyan unity and justice effort.

Bio:

Raphael was born in Bengasi, Libya. Thrown out of Libya after a bloody pogrom during the “Six Day War”, in 1967 he moved to Rome, Italy, where he lived for 27 years. He then lived in Israel for 6 years, and for the last 24 years, he's lived in the UK.

He completed a degree in Political Science at University of Rome, then worked for 16 years in diplomacy dealing with Organization, Press and Information, Commercial and Economics, and Administration. He was also a press correspondent in Italy, for Israeli newspapers and media, including Maariv and Hadashot and the Israeli Radio Galei Zahal. In Israel Raphael was active in journalism & management. He has also worked for some years as a producer of RAI, Italian TV and I managed to build up the Jerusalem office.

Raphael was as Manager of a company dealing with Judaica items, books, crafts and silver gifts. He is currently a freelance journalist and analyst regarding the Middle East and Arab world.

Raphael’s major interests include politics, movies, reading, opera, oriental music, travelling, computers and interfaith dialogue.

Social Media links for Raphael:

• Website – https://rluzon.net

Transcript on Buzzsprout

Social Media links for Méli:

• Website – the Talking with God Project
• Meli’s email
• LinkedIn – Meli Solomon
• Facebook – Meli Solomon

Follow the podcast!

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project.

Episode 91.

In this episode, I delve into the complex intersection of personal faith and public roles. I reflect on my recent conversation with Chris Stevenson, founder of the National Museum of American Religion, who chooses to leave his Mormon faith outside the museum to maintain an inclusive environment. I also explore the balance between personal religious identity, intention, and situational appropriateness, sharing my experience of being Jewish in Germany and interacting with diverse cultures and traditions. I highlight the importance of respectful dialogue and awareness, drawing connections to the observance of Ramadan and the values it emphasizes, such as mindfulness and community.

Bio:

I am a public scholar and interreligious leader with a keen interest in understanding the nature of similarities and differences––especially religious and cultural. The Talking with God Project is currently my main focus, and I am actively expanding its reach through workshops, articles, panels, talks and a podcast.

​

Raised in the Boston area, I have lived in Seattle, WA and Berlin, Germany, before returning to Boston in 2017. Carving out a varied educational and professional path, I hold a B.A. in Fine Art from Oberlin College (1984), an M.B.A. from Northeastern University (1997), a Certificate in Coaching from the International Coach Academy (2015), and a Master of Jewish Liberal Studies (MJLS) from Hebrew College with a focus on Global Interreligious Studies (2019). Professionally, I have worked as a business manager, an art dealer and founder of Solomon Fine Art gallery, language trainer, text editor, business coach and now public scholar and podcaster.

​

Though raised in an interfaith non-observant home. my Conservative Jewish practice and wide range of personal and professional experiences inform my research and life.

Resources:

Chris Stevenson podcast episode

National Museum of American Religion

Zeyneb Sayilgan blog

The Big Kahuna movie

Transcript on Buzzsprout

Social Media links for Méli:

• Website – the Talking with God Project
• Meli’s email
• LinkedIn – Meli Solomon
• Facebook – Meli Solomon

Follow the podcast!

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project.

Episode 90.

Are you a museum goer? Are you interested in the history of religion in America? Is religious freedom in America important to you? If you answered yes to any of those questions, today’s episode will speak to you. Chris Stevenson has been developing the National Museum of American Religion for 15 years. Currently a digital-first project, Chris and his team began the Religion in the American Experience podcast as a stepping-stone to exhibits. They are also talking about a traveling exhibit. The key questions are: What has America done to religion and what has religion done to America?

Highlights:

· Religious freedom in America

· the National Museum of American Religion project

· Religion in the American Experience podcast

· Smithsonian vs. private structure

· Mobile museum: religion's pandemic journey

· Exploring positive lived religion

Bio:

Chris has worked as a teacher, systems engineer, and consultant. He has a B.S. in applied physics and Masters degrees in education and agricultural engineering. His passion is buttressing civil society, and in 2000 he founded the non-profit Community Levee Association. After that he founded America’s Quilt of Faith, Faith2SelfGovern, then the National Museum of American Religion project.

References:

• Harvard University Pluralism Project, founded by Prof. Diana Eck
• Article 6 of the US Constitution
• 1st Amendment of the US Constitution

Social Media links for Chris:

• National Museum of American Religion
• Religion in the American Experience
• Facebook
• Instagram
• X (Formerly Twitter)
• LinkedIn

Transcript on Buzzsprout

More Episodes with Mormons:

• Margaret Agard
• Zachary Davis
• Rick Bennett

Social Media links for Méli:

• Website – the Talking with God Project
• Meli’s email
• LinkedIn – Meli Solomon
• Facebook – Meli Solomon

Follow the podcast!

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project.

Episode 89.

Every culture has its food, and in America, each immigrant group has contributed to the bounty of culinary options––from Italian pizza to Jewish delis and much more. Muslims are no different. What this group has brought, however, is a wide array of foods, since Muslims hail from many countries. My guest today, Shahed Amanullah, a renowned entrepreneur, created a short list of restaurants that offered halal food in 1998. What began as a simple list for himself and his Muslim friends, has grown into a juggernaut. Now an app called Zabihah, it is the world’s first global halal restaurant discovery and delivery platform, including 14,000 locations in the U.S. and 50,000 worldwide. In this conversation, Shahed and I cover many aspects of the halal food scene, and the parallels with Jewish kosher laws among other things.

Highlights:

• Halal food as a symbol of Muslim presence in America.
• Defining Halal and Zabiha.
• Variations in halal observance among Muslims.
• Halal as both a spiritual and communal expression.
• Evolving Halal standards debate.
• Shared principles and practice between halal and kosher traditions.
• Eco-Kosher and organic principles in halal practices.
• Spirituality of Food in Islam.

Bio:
Shahed Amanullah is an accomplished entrepreneur, product developer, and investor/mentor for early-stage startups. He is the founder of Zabihah, the world’s first global halal restaurant discovery and delivery platform, and serves as Managing Director of Elian Capital, a private equity fund manager and investment advisor based in San Antonio. Shahed holds a BS in Engineering from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Georgetown University.

Social Media links for Shahed:

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Transcript on Buzzsprout

More Episodes with Muslims:

• Bonus. Understanding the American Muslim Experience (Dr. Amir Hussain)
• Religious Pluralism vs. White Supremacy in America Today – Wajahat Ali
• How to be Visibly Muslim in the US Government – Fatima Pashaei

Social Media links for Méli:

• Website – the Talking with God Project
• Meli’s email
• LinkedIn – Meli Solomon
• Facebook – Meli Solomon

Follow the podcast!
The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet.

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project.