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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 350

Walter Homolka

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 Walter Homolka, rector of the Abraham Geiger College, in the Liberal Jewish community's synagogue in Hanover, Germany, in December 2016. (Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images/JTA)
September 21, 2023, 11:51 am
Final probe into prominent German Reform rabbi affirms abuse of power allegations
Investigation centers on actions by Rabbi Walter Homolka and his partner; the pair deny all allegations, including of sexual harassment
By Toby Axelrod
Illustrative: A service at the Abraham Geiger College in Potsdam near Berlin. (photo credit: Margrit Schmidt)
March 9, 2023, 2:26 pm
10 months into leadership crisis, more strife over German rabbinical schools’ future
After scandal-ridden Rabbi Walter Homolka left the schools he founded and led, the community that bought him out is sparring with Germany’s biggest Jewish group over funding
By Toby Axelrod
Rabbi Walter Homolka, rector of the Abraham Geiger College, in the Liberal Jewish community's synagogue in Hanover, Germany, in December 2016. (Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images/JTA)
January 30, 2023, 4:36 am
Germany’s liberal rabbinical association expels rabbi at center of sweeping scandal
Decision comes amid investigation into abuse of power, sexual harassment at rabbinical seminary under Rabbi Walter Homolka
By Toby Axelrod
Rabbi Walter Homolka (2-R), Rector of the Abraham Geiger College, rabbi Walter Jacob (R), President of the Abraham Geiger College, and rabbi Denise L. Eger (2-L), President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), in the Liberal Jewish community’s synagogue in Hanover, Germany, in 2016. (Photo by Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images)
January 14, 2023, 4:04 am
In twist, scandal-plagued German rabbi cedes rabbinical schools to Berlin Jews
Walter Homolka suddenly sells stake in two institutions housed in the University of Potsdam after sexual harassment investigation against his husband reveals a wider abuse of power
By Toby Axelrod
Rabbi Walter Homolka, rector of the Abraham Geiger College, in the Liberal Jewish community's synagogue in Hanover, Germany, in December 2016. (Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images/JTA)
December 8, 2022, 10:35 pm
German rabbi exits leadership roles as report confirms allegations against him
Investigators commissioned by main Jewish group find that possibly criminal abuse of power and sexual harassment occurred at liberal rabbinical seminary under Rabbi Walter Homolka
By Toby Axelrod
Rabbi Walter Homolka, rector of the Abraham Geiger College, in the Liberal Jewish community’s synagogue in Hanover, Germany in December 2016. (Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images via JTA)
October 28, 2022, 5:59 pm
German university finds prominent rabbi abused power, but can return to teaching
Walter Homolka investigated by University of Potsdam over allegations of sexual misconduct, abuse of power; report recommends major administrative restructure
By Toby Axelrod
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
A photo of Israeli writer Amos Oz at his house in Tel Aviv from November 2015. Oz was nominated Thursday, April 20, 2017 for the Booker Man International Prize for his novel 'Judas' (Courtesy Dan Balilty/AP)
May 30, 2017, 3:59 pm
Amos Oz honored by Germany’s Reform rabbinical school
Novelist praises Berlin’s attempts to mediate peace, but notes Israel will not have dialogue with those who deny its right to exist
By JTA
In this photo taken Friday, April 22, 2016, Rabbinical student Armin Langer poses for a portrait photo in Berlin, Germany.(AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
May 3, 2016, 5:00 pm
German Jews tussle over whether to welcome or fear Muslim migrants
As debate rages, student says college wrong to boot him for criticizing community leader’s call for immigration cap
By Kristen Grieshaber
Illustrative: A service at the Abraham Geiger College in Potsdam near Berlin. (photo credit: Margrit Schmidt)
November 19, 2013, 8:37 am
German university opening Europe’s first school of Jewish theology
President of Germany hails bachelor’s program as ‘a milestone in the history of science, but also in the history of European Judaism’
By Raphael Ahren
March 24, 2013, 6:56 pm
German Reform movement honors ex-minister
Annette Schavan receives prize for promoting academic study of Jewish theology
Berlin residents wear kippot in solidarity with a local rabbi who was brutally attacked in August 2013 (photo credit: AP/Michael Gottschalk)
September 2, 2012, 6:08 pm
After brutal attack on rabbi, Berliners show solidarity by donning skullcaps
‘The assailants could break my cheekbone but not my will to stand up for interfaith dialogue,’ Rabbi Daniel Alter tells 1,000 Germans at a demonstration against anti-Semitism
By Raphael Ahren
Illustrative: Tools for a circumcision procedure. (Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)
August 24, 2012, 11:29 pm
German Jewish leadership to begin training rabbis as circumcisors
Program seen as possible solution to controversy over court ban of ritual practice; with ironic timing, German postal service announces release of stamp dedicated to circumcision of Jesus
By JTA and ToI Staff
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