Harold S. Kushner is rabbi laureate of Temple Israel in Natick, Mass., a congregation he served for 24 years. Kushner is best known as the author of "When Bad Things Happen to Good People," an international bestseller published in 1981, translated into 12 languages and named one of the 10 most influential books in recent history by Book of the Month Club members. Kushner's latest book, "How Good Do We Have to Be?", is also a bestseller. Other recent books include, "When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough," which won the Christopher Medal, "When Children Ask About God," "Who Needs God" and "To Life!" -- honored by the National Jewish Book Council.

Rabbi Kushner graduated from Columbia University, was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1960 and received his doctoral degree from the seminary in 1972. He has six honorary doctorates and has studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the Harvard Divinity School. He has also taught at Clark University and the Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Related sites:

• Column on Kushner in the Winston-Salem Journal
• Read about Kushner's latest book