Faith in the Face of Hate
Thursday, Apr 27, 2023
Thursday, April 27th
6:00 pm ET Doors | 6:30 pm ET Event Begins
Live at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
Free with Suggested $12 Donation, Registration Required
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Join us for a conversation featuring the two prominent faith leaders, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and Reverend Mark Kelly Tyler, Ph.D. We’ll begin the evening by hearing from Rabbi Cytron-Walker about his experience during and since the 2022 hostage crisis at his former congregation in Coleysville, Texas. Following the Rabbi’s reflections, we will hear from both faith leaders reflect on the importance of working across faith based communities to address rising antisemitism and hate in all of it’s forms today. The conversation will be moderated by Jane Eisner, director of academic affairs at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University.
This event is produced and presented by the Philly ADL in partnership with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.
More About the Participants
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker is the Rabbi at Temple Emanuel in Winstom-Salem, North Carolina. Rabbi Charlie has a history of working to bring a sense of spirituality, compassion, and learning into the lives of his communities. He loves finding a connection with people of every age and strives to welcome all who enter his congregation, from interfaith families to LGBT individuals and families to those seeking to find a spiritual home in Judaism, along with all others. He previously served at Congregation Beth Israel in Coleysville, Texas.
On January 15, 2022 Rabbi Charlie and three other Temple Beth Israel congregants were held hostage by a gunman in the synagogue’s sanctuary. After an 11-hour standoff, all the hostages were able to escape when Rabbi Charlie threw a chair at the gunman, distracting him long enough for everyone to get out of the building. Since then, he has spoke out on the importance of security training for religious communities, and especially small congregations, as well as the need to build stronger bridges between faith communities, especially on a local level.
Reverend Mark Kelly Tyler, Ph.D. is a prominent religious leader and social justice advocate based in Philadelphia. With a career spanning over three decades, Reverend Tyler has become a respected figure in the interfaith community, known for his dedication to promoting unity and understanding across different religious traditions.
As the pastor of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Reverend Tyler has led his congregation in numerous initiatives aimed at addressing social and economic inequality in Philadelphia. He has also played a key role in building bridges between different faith communities, working closely with leaders of various religions to promote interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
In addition to his work as a pastor, Reverend Tyler is also a sought-after speaker, frequently giving talks on topics such as interfaith relations, social justice, and community building. He has been recognized for his leadership and activism by various organizations, including the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists and the National Action Network.
Throughout his career, Reverend Tyler has remained committed to promoting the values of compassion, empathy, and understanding, and his work has served as a model for interfaith collaboration and community engagement.
Jane Eisner is an accomplished journalist, educator, non-profit leader and public speaker who is currently director of academic affairs at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, overseeing the Masters of Arts program.
For more than a decade, she was the Forward’s editor-in-chief, the first woman to hold the position at America’s foremost national Jewish news organization.
Since Eisner joined the Forward in 2008, the publication dramatically expanded its digital reach, becoming the authoritative source of news, opinion, arts and culture in the Jewish world. The publication won numerous regional and national awards, and her editorials have been repeatedly honored by the Society of Professional Journalists and other media groups. She is known for her interviews of such notable figures as President Barack Obama, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin and many others.
Live at The Weitzman
101 South Independence Mall East (Corner of 5th & Market)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
This program is presented by the Philly ADL in partnership with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.
