Swami Vivekananda and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

In this essay I explore the remarkable similarities between Swami Vivekananda and Abraham Joshua Heschel. I have found incredible affinities, in spite of their significant differences, on a number of important issues, including the concept of humanity and the concept of God. However, the thrust of the paper is to show how these pioneers of interreligious understanding can open us to the possibility of truth in traditions other than our own and thus help to bring peace to the world. I will also explain the influence that Vivekananda and Heschel had in shaping my own views on religions, particularly my attitude toward other faiths.