Spotlight on CLAL
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When God Goes to War: Religious Violence in the World Today
By Judy Epstein, Director of Public Affairs
In February, CLAL Vice President Rabbi Brad Hirschfield was invited to the University of Oklahoma to lead a thought-provoking program on religion and violence in the world today. The discussion touched on the dark side of all religious traditions and what happens when absolutism takes over.
Speaking before a crowd of more than 1,000 people from across the state, Rabbi Hirschfield talked about the seductiveness of certainty, and that we have to embrace the fact that religion has a hard edge. “Religion can motivate both beautiful and terrible things. The question is will we take responsibility for how we use our traditions? Is there a way in which I can believe in my faith fully and at the same time not negate your deep faith?”
Rabbi Hirschfield spoke about his own experience as an early settler in Hebron in the 1980s, where he saw the dangerous side of what absolutism can bring. ‘We could no longer hear any other position. Only our way existed. We have to find a way where we can be both passionately committed and yet remain open.”
The Department of Religious Studies invited Rabbi Hirschfield after a student had seen him on Nightline (ABC-TV) talking about the tragedy of 9/11 and spoke to the head of the department, who also saw the program and agreed to approach him.
“I was extremely honored,” said Rabbi Hirschfield. “The university community struck me as having a wonderful balance of academic rigor and spiritual openness. It demonstrated a type of hospitality that is rarely found, particularly considering that it’s main objective is intellectual development.”
While at the university, Rabbi Hirschield participated in two other programs – an evening roundtable with university president David Boren, and an afternoon event at Hillel, which drew a huge interfaith audience. At the roundtable, Rabbi Hirschfield raised the question of how to create communities that are both committed and open – how to get past the dichotomy of a fundamentalist fanaticism and a paralyzed relativism. “Can we believe passionately and not degrade others for their beliefs?” he asked. “If not, then we will see more violence.”
At Hillel, Rabbi Hirschfield addressed how to build a strong Jewish identity on campus while deepening the spiritual sensitivity of others, and shared a story about a young Evangelical woman who said that she found the Hillel the safest place to explore religious tensions.
For many, Rabbi Hirschfield’s visit opened the door to new discussions and dialogues on how we view religion and religious beliefs. Steps are underway for a second program featuring Rabbi Hirschfield next year. Part of that event will include a guest lectureship in the Department of Religious Studies.
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