William Parsons: Interdependence in Diverse Contexts

A big word here at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and Society is “interconnectedness”—we’re curious about the manner in which different aspects of society interact with each other, and how understanding these connected aspects can help us better approach society as a whole. In this conversation, we’re joined by three preeminent thinkers from a diverse range of fields for a discussion entitled “Developing an Interconnected Society.” Shelly Christensen works at the intersection of Jewish advocacy and disability rights activism, having founded the nonprofit Inclusion Innovations to help combate disability exclusion. Peter Whitehouse is a professor of neurology at Case Western University and an expert in psychology and bioethics. Finally, Paul Wason serves as senior director of culture and global perspectives at the John Templeton foundation following a distinguished administrative career at Bates College, Maine. These three speakers are joined today to offer us insight into the ways in which the greatest problems facing society today may at their essence all be related, and what we can do to confront these issues holistically. Please enjoy.

Most of us would agree that it takes a new perspective than the one we’ve become accustomed to in order to properly address the crisis facing our environment. With a background in ecological economics and a storied career in biodiversity and conservation, Jon Erickson is prepared to offer such a perspective. Jon is a professor of sustainability science and policy at the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources of the University of Vermont. In this talk, part of a conversation titled “Interconnectedness with the Non-Human World,” Jon offers a fresh take on what we value and foreground in conversations about the environment. Please enjoy.

What can the wisdom of our ancestors teach us about approaching questions around incarceration today? In this episode we’ll be hearing from renowned scholar and educator Elaine Leeder. A dean emerita at Sonoma State University, Elaine has also written a number of books and spoken at length about her experience working with incarcerated individuals. With a background in psychology and a personal acquaintance with Jewish teaching, Elaine offers in this lecture a unique answer to the most difficult problems relating to prisons and the justice system today.

This episode continues our conversation around incarceration and criminal justice with three top experts in the field. Elaine Leeder, who we met in our last episode, is dean emerita of Sonoma State University and author of numerous books in the field of psychology. Julie Wertheimer, an expert in family law, serves as a project director for the Pew Foundation’s Charitable Trust. Malik Bandy has worked as a coordinator for the Communications and Community Engagement office of the City of Philadelphia, and has a background in counseling the formerly incarcerated as they attempt societal reentry. These three had a powerful conversation entitled “Building Interconnectedness in the Carceral Setting.”

This episode features a conversation between two remarkable figures in their fields. Liel Leibovitz is a journalist and author known for his work as a writer and podcast producer for Tablet Magazine. Kenyon Bonner, an expert in higher education, serves as the Vice Provost for Student Affair at the University of Pittsburgh. The two were brought together for a remarkable discussion on race, spirituality, and higher learning under the auspices of the third Social Vision Conference in October of 2021. Please enjoy a selection of highlights from this conversation.

It’s nearly cliche at this point to assert that at the basis of mental health is, in fact, the spiritual. Kate Loewenthal of Royal Holloway University College London joins the Social Vision conference to explain the exact significance of this connection in these highlights from our conference panel entitled “Interconnectedness in All Aspects of Life."

In today’s inspiring episode we’ll be hearing the teaching of Rabbi Ariel Evan Mayse, Assistant Professor of Religion at Stanford University. Professor Mayse is an expert in Hasidic philosophy with a special professional interest in themes related to neo-hasidism and ecology. His lecture for Social Vision was entitled “Interconnectedness with the Non-Human World,” and touched on key themes related to Hasidic philosophy’s environmental teaching.

Today’s ecological crisis often finds itself at the forefront of political discourse. Unfortunately, it seems like few among us have the proper tools to face this issue head on. In this episode we’ll be hearing from Nigel Savage. In 2000 Nigel founded the nonprofit, ‘Hazon’ which mobilizes American Jews to take action on the environment. He spoke with the Social Vision team in October of last year on the application of ideas from Jewish spirituality to his vision for a sustainable future. Please enjoy Nigel Savage on “Spiritual Ecology.”

What is the relevance of mysticism to our lives today? In this episode we’ll hear from William Parsons, professor of Religious Studies at Rice University, and a leading authority on the history of mystical experience and spirituality. His talk for the third Social Vision Conference was entitled “Interdependence in Diverse Contexts,” and explores the fascinating intersection of psychology and mysticism.

Lawrence Schiffman of New York University is widely renowned as an authority on Judaic studies, with a special expertise in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Talmudic literature. Dartmouth College’s Shaul Magid, likewise, is one of the most exciting thinkers in the field of modern Jewish thought today, having written extensively on Hasidic philosophy and Jewish identity. Their conversation at the Social Vision conference in October of 2021 was entitled “Exploring the Thought of Religious Giants.”