Press Release
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly - "Abraham Joshua Heschel"
Abraham Joshua Heschel
Feature, Original Broadcast Date: January 18, 2008 (Show #1120):
The late Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who died at the age of 65 in December 1972, was a theologian, social activist and mystic -- admired and, often, revered by Christians as well as Jews. Generally considered to be one of the greatest religious thinkers of the 20th century, the Warsaw-born Heschel managed to escape from Europe during World War II, finding refuge in both England and the United States. But his experience with racism and violence during the Holocaust compelled him to engage in a very public -- and passionate -- involvement in social activism, from the Civil Rights movement to the Vietnam War.
Using excerpts from a new documentary "Praying With My Legs" produced by New York filmmaker Steve Brand, Bob Abernethy looks at the life and contributions of Rabbi Heschel through the powerful recollections of those who knew him. "I was seeing someone who was immersed in his own religious tradition and was at the same time charmingly ecumenical and open to others," says Catholic priest and anti-Vietnam war activist Daniel Berrigan, who became friends with the Rabbi. "I began to understand that the two went together -- that if you were a person of deep faith you were open to others and you didn't draw lines or borders and say we're inside the circle and others are out. He was one of the chosen who believed that everyone was chosen."
Featured (in alphabetical order):
Father Daniel Berrigan. S.J., Human Rights Activist)
Dr. Arnold M. Eisen, Chancellor, Jewish Theological Seminary, New York
Peter A. Geffen, Founder, Abraham Joshua Heschel School, New York City
Dr. Arthur Green, Rector, The Rabbinical School, Hebrew College
Dr. Susannah Heschel, Eli Black Professor of Jewish Studies, Department of Religion, Dartmouth College
Sylvia Heschel, Wife of the late Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
Professor Edward Kaplan, Author, "Spiritual Radical: Abraham Joshua Heschel in America"
Andrew Young, Human Rights Activist
Rabbi Morton M. Leifman, Vice President Emeritas, Jewish Theological Seminary, New York
The late Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who died at the age of 65 in December 1972, was a theologian, social activist and mystic -- admired and, often, revered by Christians as well as Jews. Generally considered to be one of the greatest religious thinkers of the 20th century, the Warsaw-born Heschel managed to escape from Europe during World War II, finding refuge in both England and the United States. But his experience with racism and violence during the Holocaust compelled him to engage in a very public -- and passionate -- involvement in social activism, from the Civil Rights movement to the Vietnam War.
Using excerpts from a new documentary "Praying With My Legs" produced by New York filmmaker Steve Brand, Bob Abernethy looks at the life and contributions of Rabbi Heschel through the powerful recollections of those who knew him. "I was seeing someone who was immersed in his own religious tradition and was at the same time charmingly ecumenical and open to others," says Catholic priest and anti-Vietnam war activist Daniel Berrigan, who became friends with the Rabbi. "I began to understand that the two went together -- that if you were a person of deep faith you were open to others and you didn't draw lines or borders and say we're inside the circle and others are out. He was one of the chosen who believed that everyone was chosen."
Featured (in alphabetical order):
Father Daniel Berrigan. S.J., Human Rights Activist)
Dr. Arnold M. Eisen, Chancellor, Jewish Theological Seminary, New York
Peter A. Geffen, Founder, Abraham Joshua Heschel School, New York City
Dr. Arthur Green, Rector, The Rabbinical School, Hebrew College
Dr. Susannah Heschel, Eli Black Professor of Jewish Studies, Department of Religion, Dartmouth College
Sylvia Heschel, Wife of the late Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
Professor Edward Kaplan, Author, "Spiritual Radical: Abraham Joshua Heschel in America"
Andrew Young, Human Rights Activist
Rabbi Morton M. Leifman, Vice President Emeritas, Jewish Theological Seminary, New York