Searching for Common Ground with Rabbi Mark

This special release of Searching for Common Ground brings together two full episodes in one , offering a powerful exploration of leadership, faith, division, and the possibility of unity in a deeply fractured world. In Part One , Rabbi Mark Perman sits down with Senator David McCormick , the junior United States Senator from Pennsylvania, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation that goes far b...

What does it mean to find common ground on immigration in today's polarized climate? Rabbi Mark sits down with Tessa Petit , Executive Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC.org) , to discuss the harsh realities facing immigrants in the U.S., from unjust detentions to the emotional toll of living in fear. Tessa shares her personal journey from Haiti to the U.S., the challenges of naviga...

In this powerful episode of Searching for Common Ground , Rabbi Mark welcomes Emily Keller, Maryland's Special Secretary of Overdose Response and former mayor of Hagerstown. Together, they explore the state's progress in combating the opioid epidemic, the life-saving impact of naloxone, and the critical role of harm reduction efforts. Emily also shares her deeply personal connection to the issue,...

In this powerful episode of Searching for Common Ground , Rabbi Mark Perman welcomes Senator Chris Van Hollen for an honest discussion on political polarization, media echo chambers, and the growing challenges of finding bipartisan solutions in Washington. From the starkly different worlds portrayed by competing news networks to the fear-driven gridlock in Congress, Senator Van Hollen shares candi...

In this powerful episode of Searching for Common Ground , Rabbi Mark Perman and his wife Elizabeth are joined by Rabbi Ammos Chorny for a deeply thought-provoking discussion about conscience, moral clarity, and the urgent responsibility to speak out in the face of injustice. Drawing from his published statement with the Rabbinical Assembly, Rabbi Chorny reflects on the troubling parallels between...

In this inspiring episode of Searching for Common Ground , Rabbi Mark Perman welcomes Father Andy Switzer, pastor of Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Shepherdstown, WV. Together, they dive into the importance of interfaith collaboration, the role of clergy in public life, and how social justice and faith can intersect to create positive change. Father Andy reflects on his upbringing in a family root...

On this powerful episode of  Searching for Common Ground , Rabbi Mark Perman sits down with former Hagerstown mayor, expert mediator, and poet Tekesha Martinez . In an intimate and unflinching conversation, Tekesha shares her extraordinary journey—from a childhood in foster care to becoming Hagerstown's first Black mayor. Together, they explore what it takes to truly mediate conflict in today's po...

In this compelling episode of Searching for Common Ground , Mark Perman sits down with renowned whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid , known for defending civil servants, media figures, and intelligence officers across the political spectrum. Together, they dive into the erosion of democratic norms, the rise of fear-driven politics, and how due process and constitutional values are being tested in tod...

In the premiere episode of Searching for Common Ground , Rabbi Mark Perman of Hagerstown, Maryland, introduces the purpose behind the podcast: creating space for civil, honest conversation in a time of deep cultural and political division. With support from his wife Elizabeth, Rabbi Mark explores themes like empathy, generational differences, religious identity, and media polarization — all while...