Brad Hirschfield

"I think what religion is really about is finding the greatest possible meaning for yourself and making the biggest possible contribution to human kind that you can in your generation. And sometimes that looks like you’re running away from the tradition and sometimes it looks like you’re coming home to the tradition."

MUSIC

SOURCE: Flickr

Reva L'Sheva  - "This is an orthodox Jew playing music inspired equally by the Bible, Allman Bros and the Grateful Dead. Anyone who can do that has a lot going on."

Grateful Dead - "I've been to more than 100 shows and I don't know any band that captures the spirit of community and love the way they did."

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 "I don’t know if I’m still a dead head. That implies certain things that may not be accurate. But I certainly saw over 100 shows and I learned a lot from those shows. I learned about spiritual connection. I watched people use a vehicle they loved, in that case music, to connect to something that took them beyond themselves. "

Bruce Springsteen - "I love Bruce but not when he's playing folk tunes."

SOURCE: Cox

BOOKS

Souled Out - "Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith and Politics after the Religious Right" by EJ Dionne Jr. is a great book and really what matters more than religion and politics! I always want to talk about the topics you're not supposed to talk about."

The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldiers Education - "This book is a deeply honest account of what's inspiring and damaging about even the best of fights."

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Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln - "Doris Kearns Goodwin is a great storyteller. Smashing idols is an ancient tradition. Lincoln is worth the love but his story is much more complex."

RESTAURANTS

Le Marais - "They have the best french fries in the world. The steaks are good and the beer is cold. What more could you want?"

The Hummus Place - "This place is a chain but it's good. It tastes like Jerusalem."

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Madras Mahal - "They have killer dosos - those pancakes made from chickpeas. They're huge, like the size of trumpets."

"I love places where you eat the surroundings as much as the food.  They can be noisy and raucous - inviting too much scotch and loud conversation, or they can be quiet and romantic.  But I like places that serve an experience, not just dinner."

Pongal - "Their spicy curry will scorch you, but it's well worth the pain."

Judean Hills - "This Kosher restaurant in Riverdale has such good pizza even regular pizza lovers say it's worth it."

Mendy's - "This Kosher chain in pretty reliable. Their pastrami is good and their pea soup is top notch. Make sure they serve it extra hot. I like my soup served from a nuclear reactor."

Golan Heights - "Golan Heights is a little dump in Washington Heights that serves the best Shawarma."

Va Bene - "For a good piece of fish and excellent pasta I swear by Va Bene."

MUSEUMS, NEIGHBORHOODS & CULTURAL CENTERS

Museum of Jewish Hertiage - "They manage to tell sad stories in incredible life affirming ways."

Source: Photo by Melanie Einzig

Wave Hill - "Wave Hill in the Riverdale section of the Bronx is incredibly beautiful, it's a country estate that's available to all."

Cathedral of St. John the Divine - "It seems to be the unfinished cathedral and that's how it should be. It's grand, inspiring and incomplete - indicative of how there is so much more to do."

Ellis Island - "It's the best of the American experience - somewhere across the ocean everyone gets another chance."

SOURCE: Flickr

Times Square - "It's the raw energy of New York. I liked it better before Disneyfication but it's still cool."

Chinatown - "It's insane and fun and so different from what we're used to. Plus they have great food though I only eat at the vegetarian places."

SOURCE: Flickr

Yankee Stadium - "If the new stadium works it will prove that tradition and innovation can co-exist. Personally, I'm reserving judgment."

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - "I challenge anyone to walk through those galleries and not say "Oh my God" over and over again."