Abraham's Table

Islam, Judaism, and Christianity all command followers to pursue justice. But the very word, "justice", has become a loaded term in our culture. What is required of us as faithful people in a world where inequity is very real and the distance between the richest and poorest is our nation is growing. What is justice!? And how can faithful Jews, Christians, and Muslims pursue justice? Welcome to Abraham's Table.

Imam Shaheed, Rabbi Uriarte, and Rev. Skidmore reflect on the national 250th anniversary. How do people of different faiths talk about our nation's shared history as Americans? What is the relationship between our faith, our personal history, and the whole history of our nation?

Rabbi Uriarte, Imam Shaheed, and Rev. Skidmore are joined by the Executive Director of the Anne Frank Center on the campus of The University of South Carolina, Dr. Doyle Stevick, to discuss what we learned from touring that exhibit. To find out more about The Anne Frank Center - the official partner of The Anne Frank House in the USA and Canada - visit their website: www.annefrankcenter.com.

Rabbi Uriarte tells a story of a time when a Torah Scroll fell to the ground during worship to begin a conversation about how Judaism, Christianity and Islam think of and revere holy objects.

Imam Shaheed, Rabbi Uriarte, and Rev. Fowler Skidmore discuss the challenges of aging and of the systems of healthcare in our culture and how our faiths may serve as guides and resources as we make decisions for ourselves and our loved ones.

Rabbi Uriarte, Imam Shaheed, and Rev. Skidmore continue the conversation we began in Episode 7 and talk about how the practices of our faith are taught, encouraged and lived especially as children grow into maturity.

Today's episode explores how children, youth and new converts become adult members of our faith communities. Are there rituals or rites of passage that mark the move from childhood to full adult participation in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim practice? How does one become Jewish, Christian or Muslim? Welcome to Abraham's Table!

In Season 2, Episode 6, Imam Shaheed, Rabbi Uriarte, and Rev. Skidmore discuss same sex marriage, divorce, interfaith marriages, and more. Come and listen.

In episode 5, we begin a conversation about the traditions and practices of wedding ceremonies in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. And we begin to talk about the meaning of marriage itself as an institution. Join us for interfaith conversation!

Jews observe Passover. Christians observe Lent and Easter, and Muslims observe Ramadan. How are these holy seasons observed, and what is their purpose in the lives of the faithful? This episode was recorded in 2025 when all three holy seasons were being observed concurrently. Why do they sometimes happen at the same time and in other years do not? Welcome to Abraham's Table!

Imam Shaheed, Rabbi Uriarte and Rev Fowler Skidmore continue the conversation they began in Episode 2 about death. What do Jews, Christians, and Muslims believe about death? What are the rituals around death in each of our faiths? How do those beliefs affect how we respond to death as people of faith? And what do our traditions teach about what happens after this life?

We begin Season two by exploring how our faith helps us mark and interpret the cycles of life and the rites of passage that are common to everyone. Today we begin at the end . . . . with death. How do Judaism, Christianity, and Islam deal with death? Join us to learn more!

Welcome to Episode ONE of a brand-new season of Abraham's Table! Imam Omar Shaheed and Rev. Ellen Fowler Skidmore welcome Rabbi Erik Uriarte to our interfaith discussions! Today we introduce ourselves, and look forward to a new season of listening and learning! Welcome to Abraham's Table.

As the war between Israel and Gaza grinds on, the suffering and costs of war seem unbearable. Rabbi Case, Imam Shaheed, and Rev. Skidmore talk about what "Peace" really means in each of our faiths and what God's Peace requires of the faithful. How can we become agents for God's peace in the world?

Rabbi Case, Imam Shaheed, and Rev. Skidmore talk about the October 7, 2023 attack of Hamas on Israel and the resulting war. Rather than focus on where we disagree with each other (and we do), we identify and focus on areas where we can agree. Even in the midst of war, we are called to live as faithful Jews, Muslims, and Christians.

Rev. Ellen F. Skidmore reflects on the absence of food laws in the Christian tradition and compares and contrasts Christian practices around food with what we learned about food practices in the Jewish and Muslim faiths.

Imam Shaheed teaches us about the rules and practices governing foods that are both Halal (lawful or permitted) and haram (unlawful and unpermitted) for faithful Muslims. We learn that there are many parallels between Jewish and Muslim practices.

In most every religion, food and faith are connected. Join us as we learn more from Rabbi Case about food and faith in the Jewish tradition. What does "kosher" mean? Why is it important? What sorts of foods show up in the celebrations of Jewish high holy days? And how might a non-Jewish host welcome their Jewish friends to share a meal?

How can we, individually and as a nation, move forward when it comes to the legacy of slavery and other types of trauma that are part of our national psyche? Compassion is key. Listening to another's story is important. Listen in as Imam Shaheed, Rabbi Case, and Rev. Skidmore discuss this high stakes and all important topic.

Juneteenth was declared a national holiday in 2021. How might this observance serve both the black and the white communities in America as an opportunity for education, discussion, and healing of the wounds that still affect our national life?