Harold Samuel Kushner | |
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| Born | April 3, 1935 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | April 28, 2023 (aged 88) Canton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
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Harold Samuel Kushner (April 3, 1935 – April 28, 2023) was an American rabbi, author, and lecturer. He 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.
Kushner gained widespread recognition for his many popular books that simplify complex theological ideas for both Jewish and non-Jewish readers. He received numerous awards, including the Christopher Award in 1987 and the Jewish Book Council's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. His most prominent works include When Bad Things Happen to Good People, delving into human suffering, divine kindness, and theodicy following his son's death from progeria, and When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough, exploring existential themes of life's purpose and the pursuit of fulfillment.
Considered to be one of America's most prominent rabbis,[1] Kushner was known for his Reconstructionist views and for his ideological progressiveness within the Conservative movement. He 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.
- ^ Landsberg, Mitchell (April 12, 2011). "Leaders of Conservative Judaism press for change as movement's numbers drop". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 19, 2023.