Shmuly Yanklowitz

So often, when we in the U.S. debate a war, we omit much of the globe from the conversation: We do not talk about (or to) rice farmers in Asia or soda vendors in Kenya when discussing the cost of a war in the Middle East.

What is shared between three Abrahamic traditions — Islam, Christianity and Judaism — is the idea that food is never just simply food.

Pope Francis himself was a longtime friend of the Jews, calling antisemitism "a sin against God." As Jews, we not only offer sympathy to Catholics worldwide, but mourn this enormous loss along with them.

Across faith traditions, humility emerges as a cornerstone of true strength — a lesson that profoundly shaped this Orthodox rabbi raised by a devout Christian mother.

Perhaps Pope Francis, by offering his faithful a middle ground, can set a framework for leaders in other religious communities to follow in welcoming LGBTQ members.