Rabbis debate issues on Portland airwaves

By Paul Haist

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KXL radio in Portland has begun airing what its producers say is the first-ever radio show hosted by two rabbis.
"Hirschfield and Kula, Intelligent Talk Radio" was first broadcast at midnight on Dec. 2 and at the same time a week later on Dec. 9.
The program will continue in that time slot for the foreseeable future.
A KXL spokesman said the station was "testing out" the program and may move it to an earlier time slot if listeners like it. He said it was too early to have any listenership figures for the program.
The program is produced and distributed by the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, known generally by the acronym CLAL.

It features CLAL Vice President Rabbi Bradley Hirschfield and CLAL President Rabbi Irwin Kula.
The show's producers say it offers today's newsmakers as guests for lively talk on the issues of the day.
"Going beyond religion, and bringing their own unique perspectives, 'Hirschfield and Kula' provides listeners with an alternative to the usual left-and right-wing banter, finding the hidden agendas buried deep on both sides of the divide," says a CLAL announcement.
The program is said to cover "the American spiritual, cultural and political landscape?(and provide) a perspective missing from today's airwaves."
The first local broadcast of the program addressed the question, "Is it time to bring back the draft?" Oregon talk-show host and noted conservative Lars Larson was the guest contributor.
The second program asked the question, "Is the Christian right dead?" and featured author Patrick Hynes whose most recent book is "In Defense of the Religious Right: Why Conservative Christians Are the Lifeblood of the Republican Party and Why That Terrifies the Democrats."
The upcoming Dec. 16 program will feature Boyce Watkins, an assistant professor of management and finance at Syracuse University, in a discussion of the recent shooting and stabbing over PlayStation 3 sales.
Apart from his business expertise, Watkins is a highly regarded scholar and writer on higher education. His most recent book is "What If George Bush Were a Black Man."
KXL is at 750 on the AM radio dial.