Coping with the Pandemic: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Responses to the Medical, Religious, and Emotional Issues Raised by COVID-19

Classrooms Without Borders is honored to convene a panel discussion featuring religious leaders from the three major monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Moderated by Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Professor of Philosophy at American Jewish University, this panel features Rabbi Aaron Bisno of Rodef Shalom Congregation, Rev. David Poecking of Archangel Gabriel Parish, and Imam Chris Caras of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh.
Among other topics, this discussion will address issues of religious values (how to retain a sense of community, and care for ourselves and others with dignity and humanity, during a pandemic); issues of religious observance (how to celebrate life-cycle events); what religious traditions tell us regarding issues of medical importance (triage, nursing homes, removing life support, testing vaccines); and what religious traditions tell us regarding issues of economic importance.

This discussion is in partnership with Rodef Shalom Congregation and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Rabbi Aaron Bisno

Rabbi Aaron Bisno holds the Frances F. and David R. Levin Senior Rabbinic Pulpit of Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has been the senior rabbi to the community since June 2004. Bisno has been recognized specifically for his work in the areas of interfaith and inclusion. In 2010, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI conferred upon Rabbi Bisno a Benemerenti Medal for “outstanding contributions to interfaith relations.” Today, Bisno continues his work to strengthen interfaith dialogue and partnerships in our community and beyond.

Imam Chris Caras

Imam Chris Caras, originally of Peoria, Illinois, is a convert to Islam who earned degrees in traditional Islamic studies in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia from 2007 to 2016. He was then active in Islamic outreach for several Muslim institutions in St Louis Missouri. In the summer of 2019, he became the imam and religious director for the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh. Chris is married with three rambunctious children.

Rev. David Poecking

Fr. David Poecking began adult life as a math and physics teacher, but a childhood encounter with the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien ultimately led him to the Catholic Church and to the priesthood. He has served at several churches in the Pittsburgh region and as the director of continuing education of clergy, and is currently pastor of Archangel Gabriel Parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Discussion Moderator: Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Ph.D.

Rabbi Elliot Dorff is Rector and Distinguished Service Professor of Philosophy at American Jewish University. He is also the Chair of the Conservative Movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, for which he has written many rabbinic rulings on bioethics, including one on end-of-life issues and just recently on triage during the current pandemic. Among the thirteen books that he wrote is one on bioethics, namely, Matters of Life and Death: A Jewish Approach to Modern Medical Ethics.