eCLAL

CLAL
CLAL - The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership
Dear Friend of CLAL,
It has come to our attention that the Israeli company, Clal Insurance, was unfortunately one of the victims of the Madoff ponzi scam. Because of the similarity to our name, we want to be sure that you know that CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership had no funds invested with Bernard Madoff or any of his related institutions. Due to our conservative investment approach and strong conflict of interest policies, we have not sustained any losses during this financial crisis. This is a very challenging time for the many people whose lives depend on the critical services delivered by our Jewish social and educational organizations and institutions. We at CLAL recognize the responsibility we have to help leaders deal with the issues of the day. It is critical, particularly during difficult times, to more deeply understand what we genuinely share and value as individuals and communities, and to inspire people to rise to new levels of covenantal responsibility and commitment to repairing our world. That task has never been more important than it is today. Thank you very much for your continue belief and trust in CLAL and our work. May this Hanukkah be an opportunity for us all to transcend the fear of this moment, and to recover our purpose of increasing light.
A very happy holiday to you and your family.

Windows & Doors, a daily blog on Beliefnet.com
Weigh in on Brad Hirschfield's top posts:
• A Nuclear Iran...
• Will God Bail Out the Auto Industry?
• Hanukkah Questions Answered
Sign up for the latest post...

Irwin Kula blogs on Huffington Post Living
Top posts:
• The Change We Seek
• Why Voting & Religion Don’t Mix
Sign up for the latest post...

The Washington Post’s "On Faith" blog hosts
Brad Hirschfield's posts:
• Defining Loyalty and Betrayal in the Episcopal Church
• God's Word Is Bigger than Either Side Admits
and Irwin Kula's posts:

eCLAL December 27, 2008

How do We Celebrate Christmas this Year? December 25, 2008 See Irwin Kula on The Today Show. View...From NBC TV's The Today Show
Are Miracles Possible? December 23, 2008 See Irwin Kula on The Today Show. View...From NBC TV's The Today Show
Replace Fear with Purpose December 12, 2008 "...Getting past our fears is never easy, especially in difficult times. And the best responses usually require the kind of imagination which fear--especially fear about our vulnerability--constrains...." More...From CLAL
"Figuring out how to celebrate Chanukah" December 8, 2008 "...’The interesting thing about Chanukah is that its had different definitions in different years,‘ said Rabbi Brad Hirschfield... ’In every generation Chanukah has been a celebration of overcoming whatever the biggest challenge the Jewish people were facing.‘..." Read... By Lisa Keys from JTA
"Spiritually Provocative Yet Uplifting": Brad Hirschfield December 4, 2008 "...we must craft a compass worthy of navigating our polarizing times. ’It‘s incumbent upon us to do two things,‘ [Hirschfield] says. ’We must commit deeply to people we love most. And we must remain deeply open to people who have different commitments and loves than us.‘..." Read... By Robert Sklar from the Detroit Jewish News Online
The Madoff Meltdown, Jewish Philanthropy, and Value of Compassion December 16, 2008 "...The easy answer to all of these questions is a simple one word answer — greed. And like most easy answers to complex issues, the answer is certainly insufficient and probably plain wrong..." More...
Brad Hirschfield's You Don't Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism Book Tour -- November 20, 2008 We bring you media coverage of Rabbi Hirschfield‘s appearances around the country... · "Jami Floyd: Best Defense," Tru-TV, 12/17/08 · "Communication 360," (Webtalk radio), 12/16/08, more... · KTAR Radio, "The God Show," 12/7/08 · Worldview, WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio, 11/17/08, more... · Cleveland Jewish News, 11/14/08, more... · "In Session," Tru-TV, 11/14/08 · The Texas Jewish Post, 11/13/08, more... · Tampa Tribune, 11/13/08, more... · KPHX, "The Jeff Farias Show," (Nova M Radio), 11/13/08 · "The Busted Halo," Sirius Radio, 11/12/08 · St. Petersburg Times, 11/9/08, more... · KMOX, "The Carney Show," (CBS affiliate), 11/6/08 · St. Louis Beacon, 11/2/08
Hirschfield and Kula: Intelligent Talk Radio Getting Through Tough Times & Help for the Homeless? November 8, 2008 Brad and Irwin draw on their personal experiences in getting through difficult times as they talk with Dr. Julie Silver, Harvard Medical School. And a controversial program matching homeless people with empty, foreclosed homes... Be sure to check the website each week for more riffing with the rabbis on topics of the day. Listen .... From Hirschfieldandkula.com, broadcast on KXL, Portland, OR
"Finding A Connection To Judaism During the Eid" December 8, 2008 "...My grandmother knew there was a Jewish community in Mumbai and ordered my cousin to track it down so Kevin could have Shabbat dinner. That's when I first learned there were Jews in India..." Listen... From an NPR oped by Eboo Patel, founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based organization fostering the international interfaith youth movement and a friend of CLAL.
Torah Portion of the Week Commentary from Remember for Life: Holocaust Survivors' Stories of Faith and Hope Edited by Brad Hirschfield Featuring Parashat Va-yishlah , Parashat Va-yeshev & Parashat Mikkets December 12, 2008 "...I was an American soldier, not a Jew ... I saw this boy with a yellow star ... I walked over to him and said to him in Yiddish, Bisti Yiddish? Are you Jewish? He got scared and started to run away, but I ran after him and held him. I says Ich bin a Yid, Ich bin a Yid, an Americanishe Yid...." Read more... From Remember for Life
Sign up to receive eCLAL regularly Subscribe...