Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish

Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish is currently an independent lecturer, scholar, author, blogger and interreligious consultant and activist. He is also a Library Fellow at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. Previously, he was the Founding Director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI) and through his 25 years of service to this organization became one of the leaders in the field of Interreligious Dialogue as a form of peacebuilding in Israel and internationally.  He is a noted rabbi, author, and speaker—he has spoken in synagogues, churches, mosques and universities North America and in Europe and the Far East.

Educated at Brandeis University (BA), Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion ,New York, (M.H.L. and rabbinic ordination) and the Harvard Graduate School of Education (doctorate in philosophy and history of education), Rabbi Kronish has published articles and essays on Jewish politics, faith communities and the peace process and peacebuilding in Israel, as well as education, culture and contemporary issues in America, and he blogs regularly for the Times of Israeland blogged for the Huffington Post.

 Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is Cordoba House’s founder and Chairman. He engages in outreach to moderates of all faith traditions in interfaith dialogue, forging connections of trust and mutual support. For more than 25 years he was the Imam of Masjid al-Farah in New York City.  Imam Feisal was ranked among the “100 Most Influential People of the World” by Time Magazine, “Top 100 Global Thinkers” by Foreign Policy,and “Top 50 Arabs” by the Middle East Magazine.

A leading voice of moderation, Imam Feisal has participated as a speaker regularly at the Council on Foreign Relations, the World Economic Forum (Davos) and at Chatham House in London.  Recently he became a member of the Council of Foreign Relations.

Imam Feisal was born of Egyptian parentage and educated in England, Egypt, and Malaysia. Imam Feisal holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Columbia University in New York and a Master of Science in Plasma Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey.

 Reverend Christa Compton

Rev. Christa Compton is a Lutheran pastor serving at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Chatham, New Jersey.  She brings 17 years of experience as an educator to the work of ministry.  As a high school English teacher, Christa was named the 2001 SC Teacher of the Year and one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year.  She holds a BA and an MT from the University of Virginia, a PhD from Stanford University, and an MDiv from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.  Christa chairs the Candidacy Committee of the NJ Synod, serves as a member of the Accreditation Commission of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, and writes “Preaching Helps” for Currents in Theology and Mission. She loves teaching people about the Bible and about faith, and inviting conversations about all doubts, questions, and curiosities.