By COLlive reporter
A media savvy Conservative Judaism-ordained rabbi and author, who has criticized the JLI – Rohr Jewish Learning Institute for not being universal, is now praising the Chabad affiliate program.
In March 2009, Brad Hirschfield, President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, said the JLI “Unity Lecture” was not inclusive enough.
But in an April, 16, 2010, blog post on beliefnet.com, Hirschfield seemed to have learned more about the international adult education group:
“I received another gift yesterday. This one came in the form of an ad for JLI, the Jewish Learning Institute, a Chabad-sponsored international initiative for adult Jewish learning.
“The ad was for a new course entitled Beyond Never Again: How the Holocaust speaks to us today. While I cannot attest to the answers which the course will provide, I know that the emphasis on what they refer to as “big, bold questions”, as opposed to the answers the course will provide, is both powerful and refreshing.
“In JLI’s description of the course, they write: The Holocaust forces us to grapple with the existence of evil and suffering. It challenges us to find faith and optimism in the face of devastation and despair. And it humbles us as we encounter heroes of the spirit who fought for truth and decency in the darkest of times.
“Let’s see, struggling with evil, discovering optimism and celebrating heroism. Is there a person among us not looking for that? Whether one finds what they are looking for in this particular program or not, the sponsors are to be congratulated for making that the focus of the course… they know that the future is the focus.”
I did not grow up frum or with much Jewish practice. After my Bar Mitzvah, I didn’t do anything Jewish for about 15 years. I probably “read” (though don’t understand) Hebrew at a third grade level. My Jewish formal training/schooling: Conservative Hebrew and Sunday School after public school. I attended Chabad for the first time when I was 31…and I’ve been growing in my Yiddishkeit ever since, 4 years later: I married a Jewish girl (with the influence of my Chabad rabbi) and we observe the big 3: 1) Family Purity, 2) Shabbos, and 3) Kashrus. He’s still my rabbi,… Read more »
he changed!
I meant #2 is right we don’t need always to look for approval from the world. we are good because we are good.
Now an Orthodox rabbi,
What does that mean NOW an orthodox Rabbi, like becoming an independant, Republican, Democrat
what will be tomorrow if he gets a better position, paying job… no #1 is right enough of looking for validation from others we are the best period.
If you look on his website, it states that he is an ORTHODOX Rabbi…
(3rd paragraph from the bottom)
http://www.bradhirschfield.com/author.html
why do we need Conservative Rabbis approval? In my opinion, if they approve the program, I would guess that’s because the program is all inclusive which means it doesn’t stress enough the importance of full commitment to Halacha.
According to the Rebbe and ALL of Orthodoxy, Conservative rabbis represent just another group of non believers in our unadulterated traditions.
It is belittling that we even mention what they think of this stellar program.
he let himself think on his own and he came to it. kol hakavod.