Brad Hirschfield
Encyclopedia
Brad Hirschfield is a rabbi
, author and the president of CLAL–The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership
. Hirschfield was ranked three years in a row in Newsweek
as one of America's "50 Most Influential Rabbis" and recognized as a leading “Preacher & Teacher” by Beliefnet.com.
. He received his M.A. and M. Phil from the Jewish Theological Seminary
, a Conservative
institution, and his B.A. from the University of Chicago
. He self-identifies as an Orthodox
rabbi.
Hirschfield was raised in a secular Jewish home but began to pursue a more traditionally observant life as a teenager thus becoming a baal teshuva
. He moved to Israel and became involved with a settler group near Hebron
. Becoming disenchanted with this approach, he returned to the United States, where he met and worked for Orthodox rabbi and CLAL founder Irving Greenberg
. He went on to pursue his own rabbinical studies, and became a proponent of interfaith dialogue and pluralist attitudes.
Hirschfield is a current co-president of CLAL–The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, which describes itself as "a leadership training institute, think tank and resource center committed to religious pluralism and the healthier use of religion in American public life."
in 2002 Hirschfield was featured on ABC's Nightline UpClose, and PBS's Frontline: Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero In 2009 he was interviewed on the National Public Radio program Tell Me More
, and in 2010 for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
's The Spirit of Things hosted by Rachael Kohn
.
as "a breathtaking treatise on the perils of rigid religious behavior".
Hirschfield conceived and hosts two series for Bridges TV
, an American Muslim television network: Building Bridges: Abrahamic Perspectives on the World Today (three seasons) and American Pilgrimage. With his CLAL co-president Irwin Kula
he co-hosts a weekly radio show called Hirschfield and Kula on KXL in Portland, Oregon
.
Hirschfield writes a column, "For God’s Sake," for the Washington Post’s On Faith section. He writes the "Windows and Doors" blog for Beliefnet
, where he is featured as a "Preacher and Teacher." He is a regular commentator on ethical issues for truTV.
He was featured, along with students and professors from the University of Oklahoma
religious studies program, in a documentary entitled, Freaks Like Me, on the subject of religion in the age of terrorism.
Hirschfield supports a greater role for religion in American public life.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, author and the president of CLAL–The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership
National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership
The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership is a leadership training institute, think tank, and resource center. It is an inter-disciplinary and inter-denominational movement, in which rabbis from all of the major Jewish denominations in North America are participants...
. Hirschfield was ranked three years in a row in Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
as one of America's "50 Most Influential Rabbis" and recognized as a leading “Preacher & Teacher” by Beliefnet.com.
Bio
Hirschfield received his rabbinical ordination from the Institute of Traditional JudaismInstitute of Traditional Judaism
The Institute of Traditional Judaism, also known as the Metivta or the ITJ, is the rabbinical school sponsored by the Union for Traditional Judaism. The Metivta trains men for the rabbinate, and also offer study programs for men and women which do not lead to ordination...
. He received his M.A. and M. Phil from the Jewish Theological Seminary
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
, a Conservative
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
institution, and his B.A. from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. He self-identifies as an Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
rabbi.
Hirschfield was raised in a secular Jewish home but began to pursue a more traditionally observant life as a teenager thus becoming a baal teshuva
Baal teshuva
Baal teshuva or ba'al teshuvah , sometimes abbreviated to BT, is a term referring to a Jew who turns to embrace Orthodox Judaism. Baal teshuva literally means, "repentant", i.e., one who has repented or "returned" to God...
. He moved to Israel and became involved with a settler group near Hebron
Hebron
Hebron , is located in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judean Mountains, it lies 930 meters above sea level. It is the largest city in the West Bank and home to around 165,000 Palestinians, and over 500 Jewish settlers concentrated in and around the old quarter...
. Becoming disenchanted with this approach, he returned to the United States, where he met and worked for Orthodox rabbi and CLAL founder Irving Greenberg
Irving Greenberg
Irving Greenberg, also known as Yitz Greenberg, is a Modern Orthodox rabbi, Jewish-American scholar and author. He is known as a strong supporter of Israel and a promoter of greater understanding between Judaism and Christianity....
. He went on to pursue his own rabbinical studies, and became a proponent of interfaith dialogue and pluralist attitudes.
Hirschfield is a current co-president of CLAL–The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, which describes itself as "a leadership training institute, think tank and resource center committed to religious pluralism and the healthier use of religion in American public life."
in 2002 Hirschfield was featured on ABC's Nightline UpClose, and PBS's Frontline: Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero In 2009 he was interviewed on the National Public Radio program Tell Me More
Tell Me More
Tell Me More is a National Public Radio daytime interview show hosted by journalist Michel Martin. Tell Me More was first introduced in a novel way; it was made available online in December 2006 through an "open piloting" program called "Rough Cuts." Martin and the show's producers provided a...
, and in 2010 for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's The Spirit of Things hosted by Rachael Kohn
Rachael Kohn
Rachael Kohn is an Australian author and broadcaster who since 1992 has presented and produced programs on Religion and Spirituality for ABC Radio National, beginning with Religion Report, Religion Today, and since 1997, The Spirit of Things...
.
Works
Hirschfield is the editor of Remember for Life: Holocaust Survivors’ Stories of Faith and Hope and a co-author of Embracing Life & Facing Death: A Jewish Guide to Palliative Care. In 2008 he published You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism, described by a reviewer in The Christian CenturyThe Christian Century
The Christian Century is a Christian magazine based in Chicago, Illinois. Considered the flagship magazine of U.S. mainline Protestantism, the biweekly reports on religious news; comments on theological, moral, and cultural issues; and reviews books, movies, and music...
as "a breathtaking treatise on the perils of rigid religious behavior".
Hirschfield conceived and hosts two series for Bridges TV
Bridges TV
Bridges TV is a Muslim television network headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Premiering nationally in November 2004, it was the first American Muslim television network to broadcast in the English language....
, an American Muslim television network: Building Bridges: Abrahamic Perspectives on the World Today (three seasons) and American Pilgrimage. With his CLAL co-president Irwin Kula
Irwin Kula
Irwin Kula is an American rabbi and author, currently serving as the president of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership . In 2008, he was listed as 7th in Newsweek’s “50 most influential rabbis” list.-Education:...
he co-hosts a weekly radio show called Hirschfield and Kula on KXL in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Hirschfield writes a column, "For God’s Sake," for the Washington Post’s On Faith section. He writes the "Windows and Doors" blog for Beliefnet
Beliefnet
Beliefnet is a large multi-faith e-community that aims to provide a free forum for religious information and inspiration, spiritual tools, and discussions and dialogue groups. Beliefnet provides information about various religious and spiritual beliefs, ranging from Christian denominations to...
, where he is featured as a "Preacher and Teacher." He is a regular commentator on ethical issues for truTV.
He was featured, along with students and professors from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
religious studies program, in a documentary entitled, Freaks Like Me, on the subject of religion in the age of terrorism.
Public positions
Hirschfield has expressed concern on the lifting of the excommunication of bishop Richard Williamson, a member of the Society of Saint Pius X.Hirschfield supports a greater role for religion in American public life.
External links
- Brad Hirschfield's website
- Hirschfield and Kula Intelligent Talk Radio website
- "For God's Sake" Blog at The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
- Articles by Brad Hirschfield on the Berman Jewish Policy Archive @ NYU Wagner
- "Windows & Doors" Blog at BeliefnetBeliefnetBeliefnet is a large multi-faith e-community that aims to provide a free forum for religious information and inspiration, spiritual tools, and discussions and dialogue groups. Beliefnet provides information about various religious and spiritual beliefs, ranging from Christian denominations to...
- CLAL website