THE RELIGION AND
                        SOCIETY CENTER

An Institute for Religious Dialogue









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About Us

People

RABBI CARL CHOPER, Executive Director

Rabbi Carl Choper has been involved actively in interfaith dialogue for over twenty-five years. He has participated in seminars and workshops in interfaith dialogue that have lasted for days and weeks at a time. He has organized dialogues both in academic and community settings.

Rabbi Choper, through his career, has played several roles. Rabbi Choper has served as a Chaplain in several settings. He served as the Rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania for 16 years. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, and for Lebanon Valley College where he taught Religion in America. He was the Project Coordinator for the successful launching of a synagogue congregation in Center City Philadelphia.

Rabbi Choper is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. There he was ordained and earned a Master's of Arts in Hebrew Letters (1990). While studying for his Masters of Arts in American Studies (1986) from the University of Maryland, he focused on religion in America. His Bachelor's degree (1984) from the University of Maryland is in Urban Studies with a concentration in community and neighborhood development. He also studied in Israel for a year.

He is a member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, the Philadelphia Board of Rabbis, and the Religious Research Association. He is an Associate Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and a Fellow of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.

ALAN KRASNER, Board Chair

Alan has been a consultant for more than 20 years and is currently a Principal in Deloitte Consulting's National Public Sector practice. Mr. Krasner has an MBA in Finance from Cornell University and a BA from Bucknell University in Political Science and Economics. Prior to receiving his MBA, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon.

Alan has resided in Lower Paxton Township since 1993 and is committed to interfaith dialogue with the hope of improving understanding among all members of the Harrisburg community. Mr. Krasner is happily involved in an interfaith marriage with his wife Lorie and the proud father of their two children, Ali and Drew.

MARK WIDOFF

Mark Widoff has practiced law since 1968 in private practice, in government service, most notably as the Pennsylvania’s first Consumer Advocate, and in non profit legal services programs. He retired as General Counsel of the Pennsylvania State Education Association in 2006, after 17 years of service. Mr. Widoff has an L.L.B. from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Arts and History from Clark University. Mr. Widoff is co-founder of the Keystone Research Center, an organization that explores and critiques how state economic pressures and policies affect lives at work and in the community. Mr. Widoff has served in the Peace Corps and he's been recognized as a Big Brothers/Big Sisters Volunteer of the Year. Mr. Widoff has served on the National Board of Directors of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation of North America..... www.widoff-law.com

The Religion And Society Center, P.O. Box 13060, Harrisburg, PA 17110 717.236.3484
email: ReligionSocietyCenter@gmail.com