Ed Gaskin, at The Blogs

Apr 15, 2024, 8:12 AM

Checking on Your Jewish Friends and Colleagues

Six months in, the war in Gaza isn’t going well for anyone. Israel doesn’t have its hostages back, Hamas remains a threat, Israel is viewed as a pariah because of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and there’s no end...

Dec 28, 2023, 3:44 PM

What about the Palestinians, equality and peace?

Following the brutal October 7 attacks by Hamas and the accompanying chants of “From the river to the sea!” and “Intifada!” some worry that the world will forget Palestinians’ legitimate complaints about discrimination. Since then, discrimination has gotten worse...

Dec 27, 2023, 10:00 PM

Sitting Shiva for Peace in Israel

Has the war killed the opportunity for peace?

On October 7th, when I saw the world's reaction to the massacre in Israel. I was dumbfounded by the silence of some, the cheering of others, and the excuses and rationalization of still others for the crimes Hamas committed...

Sep 8, 2023, 11:28 AM

God, Guns, Mass Shootings and Evangelicals

Image from Redeeming God, If your Gospel isn’t leading you to live peacefully with others, you’ve got the wrong gospel

“Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.” – Leviticus 18:21 When I think of the number of people who die from...

Jul 31, 2023, 3:26 PM

I’m a Judeo-Christian. What does that mean?

Wikipedia says the term “Judeo-Christian” has a mixed history. So perhaps it’s better to define what I mean by it. Because I spend so much time in both Jewish and Christian communities and each community knows I spend time...

Jul 21, 2023, 3:51 PM

Jewish, Christian Interfaith Families: Practice One Faith or Two?

Admittedly I am talking about a relatively small number of people because both conservative Jews or Christians wouldn’t marry outside of their faith. We are talking about liberal, non-practicing believers or cultural Jews and Christians. So what do you...

Jul 20, 2023, 6:15 PM

Patriarchs and Matriarchs: A Reflection of Spiritual Equality

When I was in Hebron, I visited the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, also called the Cave of Machpelah. I entered from both the Jewish and Muslim sides. What surprised me was the tombs of the matriarchs. Even...

Jul 6, 2023, 10:52 AM

What Can I Do to Help Israel’s Democracy Movement?

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - January 21, 2023: Israelis protest in Tel Aviv against plans by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu .

An African American Christian seeks guidance from Jewish friends around the world The first in a series of questions for Times of Israel readers. American Jews have been helping American Blacks fight for civil rights for the past century as part...

Jul 4, 2023, 5:30 PM

Israel’s Declaration of Independence and Shabbat

Now more than ever, we need to include a prayer for Israel in our Shabbat service (Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik)

In a prior post, I expressed my admiration for the Jewish “Prayer for Our Country.” I am inspired by this prayer and believe we could use such a prayer here in America, for our country. Praying for the country can be...

Jan 18, 2023, 9:04 PM

Whitewashed: How a Jewish and brown Jesus became an Aryan

My search for the origin of the white Jesus Jesus and his 12 disciples were all Jewish. Peter, one of the disciples Catholics describe as the first pope, was Jewish. The Apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament,...

About Me

Ed Gaskin attends Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Massachusetts and Roxbury Presbyterian Church in Roxbury, Mass. He has co-taught a course with professor Dean Borman called, “Christianity and the Problem of Racism” to Evangelicals (think Trump followers) for over 25 years. Ed has an M. Div. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and graduated as a Martin Trust Fellow from MIT’s Sloan School of Management. He has published several books on a range of topics and was a co-organizer of the first faith-based initiative on reducing gang violence at the National Press Club in Washington DC. In addition to leading a non-profit in one of the poorest communities in Boston, and serving on several non-profit advisory boards, Ed’s current focus is reducing the incidence of diet-related disease by developing food with little salt, fat or sugar and none of the top eight allergens. He does this as the founder of Sunday Celebrations, a consumer-packaged goods business that makes “Good for You” gourmet food.

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