Harold Kushner

(1935-)

Rabbi Harold S. Kushner was born on April 3, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York. Kushner attended Columbia University, obtaining his B.A. in 1955 and his M.A. in 1960. In 1960, Kushner was ordained a rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary. In 1966 Kushner accepted a rabbinical position for Temple Israel in Natick, Massachusetts; he would remain at Temple Israel for twenty-four years. In 1972, he earned his Ph.D. from the Seminary.

In 1981, Kushner published his first bestseller, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Since that time, the book has been translated into twelve languages. A few of his other works include When Children Ask about God (1972) and To Life! (1993). In 1995, he was awarded the Christopher Medal for When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough. In 2003, he published The Lord Is My Sheperd.

Sources: “Harold Kushner (1935- ).” American Jewish Historical Society, American Jewish Desk Reference, (NY: Random House, 1999) pg. 65, Wikipedia