Faithful Friends: Inter-Religious Dialogues on Faith, Tradition, and Community
Claim This Podcastby Rabbi Chaim Edelstein & Deacon Anthony Cullen
Podcast Overview
<p>Join two “Faithful Friends”–faithful to G-d, and good friends, Rabbi Edelstein and Deacon Anthony Cullen, as they try to better understand themselves by understanding each other. As clergy, they are building bridges in the community; as friends, they are really just two theology and religion nerds who want to have interesting conversations and thought other folks might be interested to hear them too.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
7/3/2025
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Recent Episodes
May 5, 2026
The Afterlife Part 1: The Good Place
<p>🎙️ <strong>Episode Summary</strong></p><p>Deacon Anthony and Rabbi Chaim begin a multi-part conversation on death, the afterlife, and what happens beyond mourning. Building on earlier discussions about grief practices, they shift focus to the fate of the soul, comparing Jewish and Catholic perspectives. From early biblical ideas like Sheol to later developments such as Gan Eden, Heaven, and the “world to come,” the episode explores how both traditions wrestle with mystery, speculation, and hope. Along the way, they reflect on resurrection, purification, divine judgment, and what it might mean to encounter God—whether as a personal reunion, ultimate knowledge, or complete unity with the divine.</p><p>This episode explores:</p><ul><li>Early Jewish concepts of the afterlife (Sheol) and how later rabbinic tradition developed ideas of Gan Eden (paradise) and Gehenna (purification).</li><li>The role of mourning practices like Kaddish in helping or encouraging the soul’s journey.</li><li>Catholic teachings on heaven, resurrection, and the “beatific vision” as seeing God fully.</li><li>Symbolism of white garments in both traditions as signs of purity, renewal, and connection to life-cycle rituals.</li><li>The tension between literal and metaphorical understandings of heaven, including gates, judgment, and reunion with loved ones.</li><li>Mystical and philosophical ideas—from Kabbalah to medieval Christian theology—about the soul returning to its divine source.</li></ul><p>🔦 <strong>Key Quotes:</strong></p><ul><li>“We’re talking about very theoretical things… there’s an acknowledgement that all of this is speculation.” — Rabbi Chaim</li><li>“Our human minds… can’t even remotely wrap our heads around what could be there.” — Deacon Anthony</li></ul><p>📚 <strong>Mentioned in This Episode:</strong></p><p>Sheol, Gan Eden, Gehenna, Kaddish, olam haba (the world to come), resurrection, the beatific vision, the communion of saints, Passover and Easter symbolism, the Zohar, Talmudic stories of the afterlife, and Thomas Aquinas’ reflections on heaven.</p><p>🙌 <strong>Stay Connected:</strong></p><p>📧 Email us: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:faithfulfriendscast@gmail.com">faithfulfriendscast@gmail.com</a> </p><p>📲 Follow us on Instagram: @faithfulfriends_podcast</p><p>🎙️ Recorded at Temple Beth Ahm, Aberdeen, NJ</p>
February 15, 2026
Service of the Heart: Prayer Practices and Liturgy
<p>Episode Notes</p><p>🎙️ <strong>Episode Summary</strong></p><p>Deacon Anthony and Rabbi Chaim begin the new year by exploring how Catholics and Jews structure their days around prayer. Comparing the Catholic <strong>Liturgy of the Hours</strong> with the Jewish cycle of daily services, they discuss shared roots in the Psalms, Temple worship, and early Jewish-Christian practice. The conversation highlights how fixed times of prayer sanctify ordinary life, connect individuals to a wider community, and continue to adapt in the modern world.</p><p>This episode explores:</p><ul><li>The three traditional daily Jewish prayers and their links to the patriarchs and Temple sacrifices.</li><li>The Catholic Liturgy of the Hours as a continuation of monastic psalm prayer shaped by St. Benedict and later Church reforms.</li><li>How communal prayer (like a minyan) and clerical obligations shape participation differently in each tradition.</li><li>The historical connection between the 150 Psalms, monastic practice, and the development of the rosary for lay Catholics.</li><li>The ongoing evolution of prayer books, translations, and the balance between structure and accessibility today.</li></ul><p>🔦 <strong>Key Quotes:</strong></p><ul><li>“Prayer is the service of the heart.” — Rabbi Chaim</li><li>“Even when you’re praying alone, you’re praying with the whole Church.” — Deacon Anthony</li></ul><p>📚 <strong>Mentioned in This Episode:</strong></p><p>Jewish daily prayer (Shacharit, Mincha, Ma’ariv), the Shema and Amidah, Catholic Liturgy of the Hours, St. Benedict’s rule, Vatican II reforms, the Psalms, and the rosary as a devotional parallel to monastic prayer.</p><p>🙌 <strong>Stay Connected:</strong></p><p>📧 Email us: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:faithfulfriendscast@gmail.com">faithfulfriendscast@gmail.com</a> </p><p>📲 Follow us on Instagram: @faithfulfriends_podcast</p><p>🎙️ Recorded at Temple Beth Ahm, Aberdeen, NJ</p>
January 11, 2026
Deacons, Rabbis, and Becoming Clergy: What it means to serve
<p>Episode Notes</p><p>🎙️ <strong>Episode Summary</strong></p><p>Anthony (a newly ordained Catholic deacon) and Rabbi Chaim explore <strong>ordination, religious leadership, and ritual roles</strong> in Catholicism and Judaism. They discuss what it means to be called, how leaders are formed, and how roles like deacons and rabbis function in community life. With candid stories and thoughtful comparisons, they unpack differences in sacramental theology, training, and liturgical participation, while also finding rich similarities in purpose and practice. This episode explores:</p><ul><li>The restoration and role of the <strong>permanent diaconate</strong> in the Catholic Church and how deacons bridge secular and clerical life.</li><li>How <strong>rabbinic ordination (smicha)</strong> works in Judaism historically and in modern movements, including challenges and evolving inclusivity.</li><li>Practical distinctions in <strong>sacramental ministry</strong> — who can preside over baptisms, weddings, funerals, and the Eucharist.</li><li>Liturgical participation by <strong>women and laity</strong> in both traditions and what roles are reserved for ordained leaders.</li><li>Shared themes of <strong>teaching, pastoral care, ritual symbolism (e.g., head coverings)</strong>, and how both traditions call leaders to challenge and nurture their communities.</li></ul><p>🔦 <strong>Key Quotes:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Rabbi Chaim:</strong> “A rabbi’s job is not to placate people — it’s to push them a little bit and challenge them to grow.”</li><li><strong>Anthony:</strong> “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are… Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”</li><li><strong>Anthony:</strong> “The deacon is almost seen as having one foot in the secular world, one foot in the clerical state.”</li></ul><p>📚 <strong>Mentioned in This Episode:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Catholic topics:</strong> Permanent diaconate, sacramental theology (Holy Orders, Eucharist, baptism, marriage), liturgical roles, zucchetto/vestments, ministry formation.</li><li><strong>Jewish topics:</strong> Rabbinic ordination (smicha), historical figures (Regina Jonas, Sally Priesand), seminary training, LGBTQ+ & gender inclusivity in rabbinic roles.</li><li><strong>Shared themes:</strong> Head coverings (zucchetto & yarmulke), ritual symbolism, teaching & pastoral care, evolution of tradition.</li></ul><p>🙌 <strong>Stay Connected:</strong></p><p>📧 Email us: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:faithfulfriendscast@gmail.com">faithfulfriendscast@gmail.com</a></p><p>📲 Follow us on Instagram: @faithfulfriends_podcast</p><p>🎙️ Recorded at Temple Beth Ahm, Aberdeen, NJ</p>
9 total episodes available
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- What is Faithful Friends: Inter-Religious Dialogues on Faith, Tradition, and Community?
<p>Join two “Faithful Friends”–faithful to G-d, and good friends, Rabbi Edelstein and Deacon Anthony Cullen, as they try to better understand themselves by understanding each other. As clergy, they are building bridges in the community; as friends, they are really just two theology and religion nerds who want to have interesting conversations and thought other folks might be interested to hear them too.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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