Spotlight on CLAL
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BUILDING BRIDGES: ABRAHAMIC PERSPECTIVES ON THE WORLD TODAY
First-Ever Interfaith
Series to Air on Bridges Television Network ─ American Muslim TV, November
2006
Conceived by and Featuring a Rabbi, Series Looks at God in the Public Square
With Jewish, Islamic and Christian Leaders
What is the relationship between religion and violence? Must your faith
tradition be wrong in order for mine to be right? What is the role of God in
a democratic society?
Building Bridges: Abrahamic Perspectives on the World Today, a new
series premiering on November 2 at 8:00 pm EST nationwide on Bridges
Television, the first American Muslim TV Network in English, looks at these
and other vital questions about the role of religion in America today.
Conceived by Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, a well-known advocate for religious
pluralism and spiritual diversity, and Vice President of CLAL-The National
Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, this landmark multi-part series
brings religious leaders together from the major faiths ─ Jewish, Christian
and Muslim ─ to answer the tough questions dividing our country and world.
From religion and terrorism to abortion to the role of women, the series
asks leaders to probe their own traditions for insights on the big issues to
create a new listening, understanding, and foundation for bridge building.
"Religion is killing more people than at any time since the Crusades,” said
Hirschfield, a noted speaker at the 2006 Fes Festival of World Sacred Music
and Colloquium in Morocco, and the 2004 Parliament of the World’s Religions
in Barcelona. “This show is a ‘McLaughlin Group with God,’ in which
difference of opinion leads not to denigration, but to exciting
conversation, expanding the boundaries of our thinking while respecting our
different commitments.”
Each episode addresses the tensions and similarities between the traditions,
as well as the conflicts within American society on the key issues
polarizing communities. In addition to Rabbi Hirschfield, featured guests
include: Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, founder of the Islamic House of Wisdom,
Dearborn, MI; Imam Abdullah Bey El Amin, Executive Director of the Council
of Islamic Organizations, Dearborn, MI; Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim chaplain at
Georgetown University, Washington, DC; and Rev. Francis X. Mazur, Diocese of
Buffalo, NY. Ahmed Soliman, Bridges TV newscaster, is the moderator. Airing
on Mondays at 8:00 pm EST and repeated again on Fridays, the series’ topics
include:
● Religion, Violence, and Peace. Whether called crusades, commanded
wars, or jihad, all three of our religions have invoked the name and will of
God in the pursuit of violence. It is too simplistic to claim that such
moves are only made by those who have “hijacked” their respective faiths.
How do we understand the place of violence and war in each of our
traditions? Is anything worth fighting for and if so, what – under what
circumstances? How do we understand each of our tradition’s mandates to
pursue peace?
● Why Religion Matters. What is the role of religion in a world that
is currently witnessing more religious violence than at any time since the
crusades? Is it time to simply give up, not on any one tradition in
particular, but on religion in general? What is it about religion that
contributes not only to the creation of group identity, itself a crucial
element of human identity, but to the good of all mankind?
● God in the American Public Square. What are the implications of
today’s ongoing debates about prayer in public schools, the Ten Commandments
in our courthouses, and other civic concerns? What is the appropriate place
for religion in our nation’s public institutions? How much influence should
our religious communities wield? How do we honor both the religious freedom
that is a hallmark of American culture and the place of our particular
religion in creating a better world?
“Through this series, American audiences will get to see Muslims in a
positive light,” said Imam Abdullah Bey El-Amin. “Bringing together the
three faith traditions for an in-depth look at the issues dividing us is
critical in furthering our understanding of each other. That it was
developed by a rabbi who has become my good friend only speaks to what is
possible when we get together.”
To launch “Building Bridges: Abrahamic Perspectives on the World Today,”
Bridges TV will air the acclaimed documentary “Freaks Like Me” featuring
Rabbi Brad Hirschfield at the 2004 Parliament of the World’s Religions, one
of the largest religious gatherings worldwide, where he explores how “the
faithful” look at themselves and their attitudes and fears towards other
devouts. Filmed in Barcelona, it depicts how the different traditions view
violence, justice, and doubt. (Copies available upon request)
“‘Building Bridges’ is an attempt to bring the three Abrahamic faiths
together for constructive dialogue at a time when there is so much religious
divisiveness, mistrust and misunderstanding,” said Mo Hassan, founder and
CEO of Bridges TV. “Bridges TV tries to reach American Muslim and non-Muslim
audiences with fresh programming to strengthen new and developing bonds.”
Started in 2001, Bridges TV Network was created in response to the
anti-Muslim rhetoric pervasive in the U.S. media post-9/11. Developed for
the American Muslim community, it offers a positive alternative, bringing
diverse quality shows ─ in entertainment, education, children’s programming,
and news ─ to its audiences. Started by Mo Hassan and his wife, Aasyia
Zubair, who were concerned about the impact of negative stereotyping on
their children, Bridges TV today reaches close to two million households
nationwide through its contracts with Comcast, Verizon FIOS, other cable
providers and satellite dish. (A list of markets is available). Based in
Buffalo, NY, Bridges TV attempts to build bridges between American Muslims
and other Americans, thereby healing past relationships and creating new
ones.
To view a trailer,
click here,
“Bridges Premiere,” and click on “play
video.”
l(REAL VIDEO)
The Building
Bridges: Abrahamic Perspectives on the World Today series, airing Monday
nights at 8:30 pm ET (repeated on Thursdays at 10:30 pm ET), is now
available for viewing online at
www.bridgestv.com/freeBTV.asp.
Please note that viewing is only available at broadcast time on Monday.
(REAL VIDEO)
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