How often do you seriously engage those with whom you may deeply disagree? It’s not always our fault if we don’t (though it’s usually to our detriment) because we live in a world where we can easily surround ourselves, through media and technology, with opinions and ideas that mirror our beliefs.
But however easy it is, that’s the opposite of wisdom, from our perspective at TWD. Engaging people who hold different opinions – at least occasionally – is calisthenics for our spirit and our intellect. It stretches our minds and opens our hearts, as much as a good workout stretches our muscles and opens our lungs. Just like being in good physical shape contributes to overall happiness, being in good intellectual shape does the same.
That’s why I’ve become a guest on Newsmax TV, as well as one of their online columnists. We’ll share the best of that content here at TWD, and whether or not you agree with what you see and read, we hope you’ll be wiser and enjoy the experience.
Earlier this week, I joined host Steve Malzberg for a discussion about recent political issues that have made national news. As you spend a few minutes with these remarks and insights, think about where your opinion lies:
We invite you to add your comments, questions and observations below! And for more videos from The Wisdom Daily, please click here.
Listed for many years in Newsweek as one of America’s “50 Most Influential Rabbis” and recognized as one of our nation’s leading “Preachers and Teachers,” by Beliefnet.com, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield serves as the President of Clal–The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, a training institute, think tank, and resource center nurturing religious and intellectual pluralism within the Jewish community, and the wider world, preparing people to meet the biggest challenges we face in our increasingly polarized world.
An ordained Orthodox rabbi who studied for his PhD and taught at The Jewish Theological Seminary, he has also taught the University of Pennsylvania, where he directs an ongoing seminar, and American Jewish University. Rabbi Brad regularly teaches and consults for the US Army and United States Department of Defense, religious organizations — Jewish and Christian — including United Seminary (Methodist), Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (Modern Orthodox) Luther Seminary (Lutheran), and The Jewish Theological Seminary (Conservative) — civic organizations including No Labels, Odyssey Impact, and The Aspen Institute, numerous Jewish Federations, and a variety of communal and family foundations.
Hirschfield is the author and editor of numerous books, including You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism, writes a column for Religion News Service, and appears regularly on TV and radio in outlets ranging from The Washington Post to Fox News Channel. He is also the founder of the Stand and See Fellowship, which brings hundreds of Christian religious leaders to Israel, preparing them to address the increasing polarization around Middle East issues — and really all currently polarizing issues at home and abroad — with six words, “It’s more complicated than we know.”