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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 539

Liberal Judaism

Rabbi Walter Jacob, center, ordains three rabbis during a ceremony at the Pestalozzi strasse Synagogue in Berlin, Novemer 4, 2010. (Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images/via JTA)
October 30, 2024, 3:10 am
Walter Jacob, Pittsburgh rabbi who helped revive Reform Judaism in Germany, dies at 94
Descending from a 400-year-old line of rabbis, the scholar whose family fled the Holocaust returned to foster a Liberal Jewish renewal that grew to over 30 communities countrywide
By Beth Kisseleff
Illustrative: Cantors and rabbis are ordained at a ceremony at Berlin’s Rykestrasse synagogue, September 5, 2024. In all, 55 candidates have been ordained since Geiger College opened in 1999. (Toby Axelrod/ JTA)
September 13, 2024, 8:15 am
Riven by scandal and uncertainty, a German Jewish community welcomes moment to celebrate
As Abraham Geiger College marks the graduation of 8 rabbis and cantors, its future remains precarious following its founder’s departure after accusations of misconduct
By Toby Axelrod
Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg holds a sign reading 'Health and safety is a human right' at the launch of the Cabricanecos Campaign in early March. (JFREJ)
June 26, 2022, 2:48 am
In NY, Liberal rabbis demonstrate for workers’ rights and a Hasidic company listens
Impromptu bargaining session part of a larger campaign that pairs left-wing Jewish activist organizations T’ruah and Jews for Racial & Economic Justice with Laundry Workers Center
By julia GERGELY
Illustrative: A service at the Abraham Geiger College in Potsdam near Berlin. (photo credit: Margrit Schmidt)
June 3, 2022, 2:58 pm
Interim head of scandal-ridden German seminary doesn’t commit to replacing top rabbi
Gabriele Thöne says she is committed to a thorough investigation, but is mum about Rabbi Walter Homolka, who is at the center of allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of power
By Toby Axelrod
Illustrative: A Jewish wedding with chuppah in Vienna 2007. (CC BY SA 2.5 Gryffindor)
October 7, 2020, 2:06 pm
UK liberal rabbis allow interfaith couples to marry under a traditional canopy
Becoming first Jewish movement in Britain to permit interfaith nuptials beneath a chuppah, group says move aims to recognize and celebrate the diversity of Jewish life in 2020
By Marcy Oster
The building that used to house the Langside Synagogue in Glasgow, Scotland, pictured in 2017. (Courtesy of Michael Mail/The Foundation for Jewish Heritage via JTA)
December 20, 2019, 11:25 pm
Scottish queer-friendly Jewish group wants to use abandoned Orthodox synagogue
Irn-Ju asks owners who bought Langside Synagogue in 2014 to let them pray there, citing ‘a resurgent Jewish community that needs a space’
By JTA
Andrew Mandel, right, founded Yom HaTzedek after seeing how few Jews came to protests and advocacy work, contrasted with the masses that "begrudgingly attend" synagogue for the High Holidays. (Lev Gringauz)
May 11, 2019, 6:59 pm
Is the Jewish world ready for a new holiday? ‘Day of Justice’ backers think so
New festive day in development seeks to merge social justice with religious life, backed by mainstream American Jewish community
By Lev Gringauz
The Maccabees, as depicted by the Polish artist Wojciech Stattler (1800–1875) (Public domain via Wikimedia Commons)
December 6, 2018, 2:12 am
Were the Maccabees religious extremists? Experts say it’s modern-day spin
The Hannukah heroes’ militarism may not sit well with American Jewish dovishness, but their extreme actions should be considered in the context of their time, scholars argue
By Ben Sales
Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay speaks at a conference held by the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem on March 11, 2018.(Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 28, 2018, 9:41 pm
Gabbay backs call to recognize non-Orthodox Jews after US synagogue shooting
But Zionist Union chair also rapped by deputy minister for calling on US Jewish community ‘to immigrate more and more to Israel, because this is their home’
By JTA and ToI Staff
MK Michael Oren. (Tomer Neuberg/FLASH90)
October 28, 2018, 11:55 am
Deputy minister: Recognize non-Orthodox Jews after US synagogue shooting
Michael Oren says Diaspora Affairs Minister Bennett should not ‘suffice with condolences’ on his trip to Pittsburgh
By ToI Staff
Yonatan Gher
July 19, 2018, 3:00 pm
Yonatan Gher
Arrest me: I too officiated at non-Orthodox weddings
They came for a Conservative rabbi. How much more will it take for liberal Jewish leadership to say enough is enough?
David Barak-Gorodetsky
May 22, 2018, 10:11 am
David Barak-Gorodetsky
Post-secular healing for Israel and the Diaspora
When an Orthodox shul you don’t go to doesn’t cut it anymore
Students pose with signs at J Street U's West Coast workshop, a gather of top West Coast leaders for training and strategy meetings on UCLA's campus. (courtesy)
April 28, 2018, 9:28 am
How ‘controversial’ J Street U keeps liberal Jewish students in the fold
For young Jews looking for something between disaffiliation and traditional advocacy, the progressive campus group is an increasingly important home for engagement on Israel
By Tracy Frydberg
Natalie Portman (L) has said her reason for skipping the Genesis Prize ceremony involves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Getty Images via JTA)
April 25, 2018, 3:08 am
Does Natalie Portman’s snub of Netanyahu make her the face of liberal Zionism?
In a celebrity media environment, ‘It means a lot more for the debate when Natalie Portman says it,’ says J Street’s Jeremy Ben Ami
By Ron Kampeas
Esther Thorpe, left, who identifies as non-binary, had a gender-neutral b’nei mitzvah ceremony with the help of student rabbi Gabriel Webber. (Courtesy of Miriam Taylor Thorpe)
March 2, 2018, 3:28 am
Non-binary teen celebrates UK’s first gender-neutral ‘b’nei mitzvah’
Student rabbi draws on practices in progressive US communities to establish coming of age ceremony in England for youth who don’t identify as either male or female
By Josefin Dolsten
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