Clal nurtures new skills in leaders, helping them to prepare for the civic, spiritual, intellectual and ethical challenges in American life.
Recognized for his work as global teacher and religious leader with a deep commitment to pluralism, Rabbi Irwin Kula was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to promote the legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Through its many programs, the Foundation supports a culture of world peace and sustainability, offering a global vision for building harmony and justice by reconciliation, forgiveness, and ethical leadership, and to be included in its work is a great honor. For a brief description of Archbishop Tutu’s humanist philosophy, or "Ubuntu," in which he talks about how as a society we do not function alone—we are always in relation to each other, view:
"Before arriving in Israel for 5 days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Vice President Joe Biden reached out to leading members of the Jewish community for guidance..."
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From Windows & Doors, Brad Hirschfield’s daily blog on Beliefnet
"Famed Israeli Rabbi, Mordechai Elon, stands accused of numerous sexual indiscretions with students....."
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From Windows & Doors, Brad Hirschfield’s daily blog on Beliefnet
Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, characterized as a self–confessed "radical pluralist" is interviewed by Rachael Kohn at the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
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From ABC Radio National–Australia, The Spirit of Things, aired 12/21/2010
membership...since [Rabbi Lopatin’s tenure has] quadrupled. That is significant considering that only about 25 to 35 percent of Jewish people belong to a congregation, according to Rabbi Irwin Kula...Within the Orthodox denomination, Lopatin is one of the most open, inclusive and creative rabbis in the country, Kula said...";
"‘People think listening [to the beliefs of others] dilutes faith, when actually it strengthens it,’ said Rev. Kyle Reese...‘It doesn’t matter how long your beard is or how Orthodox you are ... even the most conservative Jewish denomination doesn’t claim a monopoly on salvation,’ said [Brad] Hirschfield,..."
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Rabbi Irwin Kula discusses President Obama’s State of the Union Address. Are we resilient? Change takes work, are we ready to learn the partial truths of a view?
"…far more important than what I could or couldn’t eat, was who could’ve imagined…a rabbi from America to travel thousands of miles as a guest of his own government and government of Indonesia to sit…with a bunch of wonderful young people and answer all their questions about what was a Jew, what was kosher, and how we could talk more than we ever expected. For me that…is far more nourishing…than whether or not they made me lunch...."
"Pope Benedict’s visit Jan. 17 to the Great Synagogue of Rome caused quite a stir in some quarters...Hirschfield comments...‘... it’s remarkable hubris on our part to assume that the leader of more than 1 billion Catholics is primarily concerned with us!’..."
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By Dennis Coday from his blog onNational Catholic Reporter
"...religion is a very potent motivator, yet no religious group has truly succeeded to be the one, according to Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, one of the U.S. delegates speaking at the Indonesia-US Interfaith Cooperation, especially regarding good governance ..."