"The JCC has enlisted the help of Rabbi Irwin Kula and his organization, Clal (Hebrew for inclusive)... to guide the organization as it refocuses its strategy. The goal: to transmit Jewish values and wisdom to more Jews, affiliated or not...'The animating question for the next piece of American Jewish history will not be: 'How do we make more Jews Jewish?'...'The animating question will be: 'How can I make this wisdom get the job done in helping people develop and nurture their aspirations to be more fully evolved human beings?'..."

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By Elise Kigner from The Jewish Advocate Boston, MA

Rabbi Brad Hirschfield speaks with Al Gainey about the comments veteran reporter Helen Thomas made on Jewish American Heritage Day at the White House.
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From the Al Gainey Show on WDUN (No. Georgia)

Rabbi Hirschfield was also interviewed on this topic by Aaron Imholte on Aaron in the Afternoon, KLFD, St. Cloud, MN (audio unavailable)

Rabbi Brad Hirschfield speaks with Aaron Imholte about the Gaza blockade and alternative ways of viewing and managing the regional conflict.

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From Aaron in the Afternoon KLFD, St. Cloud, MN

"As usual with New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, when it comes to Israel, today's offering, entitled "Saving Israel From Itself"," presents a disturbing mix of reasonable conclusions (blockade is generally destructive to all, including Israel), ugly and erroneous equivalences (PLO terror of the past and the ship boarding are the same kinds of actions), and the refusal to admit that the solutions he proposes (and with which I largely agree!) forget that Hamas is committed, not to a two-state solution, but to the destruction of Israel..."

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From Windows & Doors, Brad Hirschfield’s daily blog on Beliefnet

This spring, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield went to the University of Oklahoma (OU) in Norman, OK, for his third trip to the Heartland Institute for Religion and Public Life, an institute he co-founded with Dr. Barbara S. Boyd, Director of Outreach/Faculty from OU’s Religious Studies Program, which hosts it.

We are delighted to welcome Melissa Zalkin Stollman, Clal’s new Development Manager. In this position, she will be responsible for managing Clal’s fundraising operations, and working closely with CLAL’s executive staff in maintaining and building the organization’s development program.

"My recent visit to the White House was a moving experience, and not simply because it was the White House, though one has to be pretty cynical not to be moved by that alone...."

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By Rabbi Brad Hirschfield Special to the Jewish Week

Rabbi Brad Hirschfield talks with Lars Larson about the flotilla clash in the Middle East.

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From the Lars Larson Show syndicated by Compass Media Networks

A step toward the You Don't Have to Be Wrong for Me to Be Right path recommended by Rabbi Brad Hirschfield is: "Take stock every day of something you really like about yourself, and try and identify it in someone you may not like so much... The foundation of conferring dignity, respect and love on others is feeling that you are possessed of dignity and worthy of respect and love. It's very hard to give when you don't have it...."

On May 27, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield attended President Obama’s first ever White House reception in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month. Welcoming Jewish leaders from all walks of life, the President acknowledged the tremendous contribution Jews have made to our country and the beacon of “tikkun olam” as a shining standard for our nation.

In his speech, the President made reference to the wide array of talents in the room, with a special reference to baseball legend Sandy Koufax: