37 Facts About Harold Kushner

Harold Samuel Kushner was an American rabbi, author, and lecturer.

Harold Kushner was a member of the Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Judaism and served as the congregational rabbi of Temple Israel of Natick, in Natick, Massachusetts, for 24 years.

Harold Kushner received numerous awards, including the Christopher Award in 1987 and the Jewish Book Council's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

Harold Kushner argued against the notion of an omnipotent, interventionist God, and instead focused on God's role in offering comfort and solace to those who suffer.

Harold Samuel Kushner was born to Conservative Jewish parents Julius and Sarah Kushner in Brooklyn, New York City.

Harold Kushner was an avid fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers in his early years.

Julius had hoped that his son would take over the business someday, but Harold Kushner did not believe he possessed the same level of business acumen as his father.

Harold Kushner became certain about his calling to be a rabbi during his junior year at Columbia.

Harold Kushner completed his bachelor's degree in religious education in 1955, and after completing his master's degree in the social and philosophical foundations of education in 1960, he enrolled full-time at the seminary, where he was ordained that same year.

Harold Kushner completed a year of graduate work at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and held teaching positions at Clark University and the Rabbinical School of the JTS.

Harold Kushner served for two years as a first lieutenant in the Army's Chaplain Corps at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.

In 1966, Harold Kushner assumed the position of rabbi at the 450-family congregation Temple Israel in Natick, Massachusetts.

Harold Kushner fulfilled the role of congregational rabbi there for 24 years while being a member of the Rabbinical Assembly, the "clerical arm" of the Conservative movement.

The synagogue deemed Harold Kushner, who was 55 years old at the time, too young to be appointed as rabbi emeritus, so he was bestowed the title of rabbi laureate in 1983.

Harold Kushner spoke at the interfaith prayer service for the second inauguration of Bill Clinton.

Harold Kushner was a eulogist at the state funeral of Ronald Reagan in the Washington National Cathedral in 2004, where offered a reading from the Book of Isaiah.

Harold Kushner is best known for his international best-selling book on the problem of evil, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, published in 1981.

Harold Kushner aimed to assist individuals in maintaining their belief in God's benevolence despite experiencing personal tragedies.

In 1986, Harold Kushner published When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough: The Search for a Life That Matters, delving into existential themes of life's meaning and individual pursuit of happiness within the context of Ecclesiastes.

Central to his argument was Ecclesiastes, which he called "the most dangerous book in the Bible" for its call to contemplation over blind worship, as Harold Kushner contended that life's richness emerges from thoughtful engagement, emphasizing that an unfulfilled life is more daunting than death itself.

Harold Kushner aimed to bridge the gap between religious fundamentalism and atheism, highlighting that organized religion's greatest offering is not theology but rather the comfort and support of a spiritual community.

Harold Kushner asserted that the existence of God endows individuals with the ability to perceive holiness in the world and attain a greater sense of purpose.

In 2007, Harold Kushner received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jewish Book Council.

Harold Kushner interprets Jacob's encounter with an angel as an internal struggle, symbolizing the conflict within his soul and his progression towards integrity.

Harold Kushner was an editor of the journal Conservative Judaism from 1980 to 1984.

Harold Kushner frequently used examples from TV shows and movies in his teachings and writings to connect with his audience, as he believed many people are more familiar with these cultural references than with the Bible, although he expressed concern over the semi-literacy of the Bible and found it surprising when people were not familiar with biblical stories.

Harold Kushner, affiliated with Conservative Judaism, championed progressive concepts within the movement while deeply influenced by Mordecai Kaplan, his teacher and the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism, whom he regarded as the most influential thinker in American Jewish history.

Harold Kushner emphasized that the goal of Conservative rabbis was to demonstrate that leading a religious life in the modern era could be fulfilling, without imposing strict observance on less practicing Jews.

Harold Kushner rejected the notion of God causing suffering as punishment, advocating instead for a God who shares in human pain, as evidenced by God's name "I am with you" in the Book of Exodus.

Harold Kushner's writing and ideas were popular among Christians, but traditional Jews held mixed opinions.

In When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Harold Kushner reconciled Jewish beliefs in God's omnipotence and benevolence constraining God's influence over random hazards in life.

Harold Kushner likened God to a benevolent watchmaker who created the world and its natural laws.

In line with Kaplan's influence and Reconstructionist theology, Harold Kushner perceived the Torah as a fully human creation that, while acknowledging its human origins, serves to commemorate significant religious experiences in life.

Harold Kushner sometimes expressed doubt about the reliability of individuals who claim to have heard divine messages, and cited the Binding of Isaac as a problematic narrative that contradicts fundamental religious tenets.

In 1960, Harold Kushner married Suzette Estrada and moved to Massachusetts.

Harold Kushner's brother Paul was a rabbi in Bellmore and Merrick on Long Island, and died in 2019.

Harold Kushner moved into a senior residence in Canton, Massachusetts in 2017.