Sometimes, the most meaningful thing we can do is simply show up for others. In doing so, we can find purpose in our own lives and create a deeper, more lasting impact on a world that often feels chaotic and beyond our control. Join us for a powerful conversation with film director Brian Ide, Bishop Michael Curry, and Rabbi Yehiel Poupko, hosted by Rabbi Shoshanah Conover around the recent film, A Case for Love.

Fun fact: Rabbi Conover is featured in this film! Give it a watch before this event to catch a glimpse of our very own Temple Sholom Rabbi on the big screen.

Bishop Michael Curry

Bishop Michael Curry served as the 27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, one of the historic mainline denominations in the United States. Known for his dynamic preaching and charismatic public presence, Bishop Curry gained international recognition for his sermon on the power of love at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Bishop Curry passionately advocates for a love-driven approach to addressing societal divides, with a focus on engaging faith communities in movements towards healing and wholeness.
 

Rabbi Yehiel Poupko

Rabbi Yehiel E. Poupko is Rabbinic Scholar at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. He is responsible for the Jewish community’s interfaith relations with a variety of local, national, and international Protestant, Evangelical, and Catholic seminaries, churches, institutions, and leaders. He is the author of Chana: A Life in Prayer, the first full length treatment of the drama of Hannah in the Bible and its reception in Rabbinic literature and liturgy.

He recently published a book of poetry entitled What is Lost. His poetry is regularly published in The Christian Century. He is the author of the scholarly introduction to the classic fifth century Midrashic Rabbinic work, Pesikta d’Rav Kahana. Rabbi Poupko was privileged to travel to Ukraine and Israel with His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George. He worked closely with His Eminence, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin on his 1988 50^th Anniversary of Kristallnacht speech, as well as his presentation to the Jewish community of his paper on a consistent ethic of life. Additionally, he was a founding member of the Catholic-Jewish Scholar’s Dialogue in Chicago, established by Cardinal Bernardin some forty years ago. Rabbi Poupko is founder of the Annual Evangelical-Jewish National Leadership Conference. He has written articles in both popular and scholarly publications on a range of issues in Christian-Jewish relations and on Judaism for Christians. He regularly meets with a group of seminarians at St. Mary of the Lake to learn Psalms.

Brian Ide

Director Brian Ide has worked in the entertainment industry for over 20 years, initially as a paid actor, then producer, and eventually journeyed into the world of directing. "A Case for Love" is his fifth film, and premier feature-length documentary.

After producing and directing the feature film "This Day Forward," he traveled the U.S. presenting the film in churches, theaters, and community centers while discussing the film’s message and experiencing its impact on audiences.

Following that tour, the Lutheran Church of Australia called him to their communities to do the same. 50 pages of responses to that tour are available on the film’s website.

Prior to founding Grace-Based Films, he directed "Clear Lake, WI" and the recent faith-based short film, "Reconcile", which has been viewed and used in 47 different countries.

A three-time national judge for the Polly Bond Awards, he has spoken to colleges, faith centers, and film programs nationwide about the intersection of film and faith.

Brian is the son of an ELCA Lutheran pastor-father and devout Catholic mother. He is the husband to a lifelong Episcopalian who is drawn to stories that focus on what unites us rather than what divides.

This program is made possible through generous community support. Please consider making a gift to enable Temple Sholom to continue to provide free, high-quality programming in the future.