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Building Bridges: Abrahamic Perspectives on the World Today
with Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Season II
Now Available on a 3-DVD Set
A first-ever 15-part series conceived by a rabbi for Bridges TV-American Muslim TV Network, the show brings together religious leaders of the three major Abrahamic faiths to grapple with the divisive issues splitting our traditions and country. Fast paced and tied to today's news, it gives viewers a deeper understanding of how people of faith see the world, and each other, with live interviews from the American public.
Price: $25.00 (3 DVD Set)
To order, click here.
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| Brad Blog Nov 29, 2007 |
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| Thursday, 29 November 2007 | |
   
What Would Jesus Do?
Posted by Brad Hirschfield in reaction to the recent CNN/YouTube Republican Presidential Debate
For any of us who believe that religious convictions can inform our political views, last night was a tragedy. The most troubling moment in last night’s Republican debate came when a young man asked specifically those candidates who describe themselves as Christian, “What would Jesus do in terms of carrying out the death penalty?” Sadly, he never got an answer to his honest, important and sincerely preferred question. Governor Huckabee dodged it completely, stating that it must sometimes be done and that it was the hardest thing he had to as Governor. All well and good perhaps, but where was his answer?
Is it so difficult for someone who has a personal relationship with Jesus, and ordained minister, to directly address the relationship between the beliefs he holds and the policies that he supports? And the answer that followed, offered by Mr. Tancredo, was no better. In fact, it was worse! He simply said that he would seek divine guidance on the matter and expected that he would discover the right thing to do in the case before him. Apparently he doesn’t know about the religious past, but is confident that God will tell him the future! Unbelievable!! And the saddest moment of all came when Governor Huckabbee was pushed for a direct answer by the debate moderator, Anderson Cooper, only to be told that “Jesus was far too smart to run for public office”. What does that say about the guys on stage, who hope to lead the most powerful nation in the world? If they are cynical about what they are doing, how are the rest of us supposed to feel? How refreshing it would have been for them to do any of the following: admit that Jesus would, like them, support the death penalty (apparently not something they really believe), admit that Jesus would oppose the death penalty and that therefore they too would now re-think their own position (apparently something they are not ready to do), or suggest that while Jesus might have opposed the death penalty, there is room to differ about this given that the world and its public policy challenges are not the same now as they were 2,000 years ago (apparently not something they are bold enough to say). Religious conviction has an important role to play in American politics, but not if those who claim to be the most releigious, are not prepared to tell us what they really believe, or revisit their beliefs in light of new things they learn or new circumstances that they encounter. Last time I checked, that is what real faith is meant to empower us to do. |
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Read more Brad at Beliefnet.com
| May- June 2008 |
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CNN Radio “The Paula Gordon Show” 6/21/08
PBS TV: The Jewish People: A Story of Survival, an original one-hour film explores these themes of resilience, fortitude and achievement of the Jewish people, moving chronologically over four millennia. Featuring Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, it is hosted by Martha Teichner, Senior Correspondent for “CBS News/Sunday Morning.”
5/7/08 WLIW NYC
6/1/08 WETA DC
6/2/08 WHYY, Philadelphia
6/4/08 KOCE, LA
6/5/08 WTTW, CHI
WORT-FM (Madison) “A Public Affair” 5/8/08
KPBS (San Diego) “These Days” 5/22/08 |
| April, 2008 |
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WRPI-FM (Albany) “In the Spirit” 4/24/08
Open Court Tru-TV (formerly Court TV) 4/16/08
The Morning Show, Wisconsin Public Radio 4/15/08
Religion News Service 4/15/08
Brad ranks #37 in Newsweek's 50 most influential Rabbis in America 4/11/08
The Jewish News (New Orleans), 4/11/08
The Journal News (Gannet Westchester) 4/5/08
The Norman Transcript (Oklahoma) 4/4/08
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| April - June 2008 |
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The Detroit Jewish News Online 6/13/08
Voice of America 6/11/08
“In the Spirit” WRPI- FM (Albany) 6/5/08
The Mitch Albom Show WJR-AM, Detroit 6/2/08
KOOP-FM (Austin) Soul Talk 4/17/08
The Drive with Steve Fast on WJBC (Central Illinois) April 14
Maria Sanchez Show on KVTA (Ventura, CA) April 14
Irwin ranks #7 in Newsweek's 50 most influential Rabbis in America 4/11/08
The Jeff Farias Show, on Nova M Radio Network (Phoenix) April 10
The Pope’s visit with the Jewish community, and the sacredness of paying our taxes on the Louie B. Free Show Tuesday, April 8 at 2:05 pm EST, WASN, WRBP, and WGFT (all in the Cleveland/Pittsburgh area)
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| Arizona Daily Star 3/7/08 |
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Brad & Irwin in the Arizona Daily Star 3/7/08 |