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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.

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Brad Blog Jan 31, 2008 Print E-mail
Thursday, 31 January 2008

Thoughts on the Superbowl
superbowl_xlii_logo.gifPosted by Brad Hirschfield

-The Superbowl is a national holy day that is about much more than who will be declared the best team in professional football, and this year that's truer than ever.

-This really is a competition between two understandings of what sports is all about and tells a lot about how the two teams’ fans see the world, even beyond the playing field.  Are you infatuated with perfection?  Then you are probably a Patriots fan.  Do you root struggle for underdogs?  Then you will find yourself cheering for the Giants.

-The Patriots are looking to cap off a perfect season - at least if the definition of perfection is to win every game you play, even if it requires a little signal stealing from the sidelines...

-Led by proudly unemotional coach Bill Belichick, they call themselves a machine.  If you are drawn to the perfect execution of an intended pattern of play, regardless of the joy that comes with it, the Pats are your team and perfection is defined by the most efficient path to the stated goal.

-The Giants have struggled all along and led by their baby-faced quarterback who has exceeded all expectations, they find themselves reaching for the championship.  It hasn't always been pretty, but they have overcome long odds to make it to this game.  If you think sports is about the struggle to succeed, to dig deep and locate power and strength you never knew you had, you will be rooting for the Giants.

-Although not identical, football on Sunday and church on Sunday are more alike than most of us realize.  Like any sacred event, it brings people together to focus on a particular performance which speaks to their hope and aspirations.  It’s probably no accident that recreation and re-creation are from the same word. When sports and religion are done right, we feel the fullness of our freedom.  We really feel that we are as Gods.

-Whether you are playing or watching the sport, you will be reminded of the amazing things our bodies can do, of the incredible capacity that we have as human beings, and how far we can carry ourselves and others if we train hard and work long enough.

-We experience that sense of “being in the zone,” what psychologists call “the flow state,” of being where we are suppose to be, doing what we are suppose to do, with the people we want to do it with, and doing it all so well and naturally.

-The importance of using this safe experience to teach ourselves and each other the difference between being a fan and a fanatic.  The former loves his team but enjoys a great game no matter what, the latter really can not see beyond his own team and can not appreciate the good found in the other one.  The parallels to other groups in our world is clear.

- People will create communities and celebrate this event, just as they do around religious milestones. Small communities committed to a particular team will connect to each other and to an international body supporting that same team, and ultimately, to everyone who loves the game.

 
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Read more Brad at Beliefnet.com

Brad's blog on beliefnet.com

Oct 2008 - Present

KTAR Radio The God Show 12/07/08

Cable Radio Network
, AM Show, 12/1/08
 
The Louie Free Show, WASN-AM Cleveland, 11/25/08
This Thanksgiving, what do we have to be thankful for?
 
Christian Science Monitor, 11/25/08
WERE-AM Maury Feren Show, Cleveland, 11/22/08
Brad discusses his book

WBEZ
, Worldview, Chicago Public Radio, 11/17/08

Washington Post/Newsweek On Faith,
11/15/08
Brad Hirschfield

Cleveland Jewish News
, 11/14/08

Tru-TV
, “In Session,” 11/14/08

On the Disney World assault trial

KPHX
The Jeff Farias Show (Nova M Radio) 11/13/08


The Busted Halo, Sirius Radio, 11/12/08

KERA
Think (NPR, Dallas) 11/10/08
 

KMOX
The Carney Show (CBS affiliate St Louis) 11/6/08

St. Louis Beacon 11/2/08

The Washington Post
10/11/08
When Judging Guilt By Association, Look Deeper
 
May 2008 - Sept 2008

NPR “Tell Me More” 8/22/08
Topic: The Obama McCain debates at Saddleback Church—what was missing?


Philadelphia Jewish Voice
8/08
Parents as Life Coaches

CNN Radio “The Paula Gordon Show” 6/21/08
The New York Jewish Week 6/12/08

WASN
(Cleveland) “Louie B. Free Show” 5/22/08

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 - Present
NBC's The Today Show, 11/25/08

The Journal News
11/6/08
Obama narrows 'God gap'


WJBC-AM
(Central Illinois) “The Drive,” 11/4/08

Dayton Daily News
10/18/08
Financial difficulties lead followers to church

Wisconson Public Radio
9/26/08

LISTEN: At Issue with Ben Merens

The Jewish Week
, 9/12/08

The Jewish Game of Being a Tribe is Over, Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle 8/22/08

"Lake Effect" Milwaukee Public Radio 8/11/08
Irwin spoke about “transitioning religion”

The Jeff Farias Show, Nova M Radio Network (Phoenix) 8/7/08

“At Issue” Wisconsin Public Radio, 8/5/08

“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

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)

 
Arizona Daily Star 3/7/08

Brad & Irwin in the Arizona Daily Star 3/7/08

 

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