In Brown-Lyons Lecture, Spiro to reflect upon problem of evil

By Brian McNeill

Jack D. Spiro, D.H.L., Ed.D., the Harry Lyons Distinguished Chair of Judaic Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University and director of VCU's Center for Judaic Studies, will deliver the 29th annual Brown-Lyons Lecture on March 27.

Spiro, a professor in VCU's School of World Studies in the College of Humanities and Sciences, will give a talk, "Shall Not the Judge of All the Earth Do Justly? (Genesis 18:23)," from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave.

In his lecture, Spiro will reflect upon the timeless problem of evil, addressing such questions as: “If God is all-good, all-powerful and all-knowing, why do the innocent suffer? And how can we reconcile these divine attributes with the reality of evil?”

Spiro has authored, co-authored or edited more than 30 books and written numerous articles, and he also edits the Center for Judaic Studies' online publication, Menorah Review.

The lecture will be free and open to the public, though registration is requested. Parking will be available for a fee in the West Broad Street, West Main Street and West Cary Street parking decks. If special accommodations are needed, or to register offline, please call (804) 828-0593 prior to March 24.

Doors open at 7 p.m. A reception will follow the presentation.

The Brown-Lyons Lecture is sponsored by the Friends of VCU Libraries, the Center for Judaic Studies, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, the Richmond Jewish Foundation and the Weinstein JCC.