186:, the dean of American Jewish historians, noted that Yoffie devoted time as President of the URJ to bringing "old ideas" to Reform Judaism, "urging its rank and file to focus on enriching their spiritual lives and expanding their knowledge of Judaism." During his tenure, he announced two major worship initiatives. The first, in 1999, was designed to help congregations become "houses in which we pray with joy." The second, eight years later, fostered Shabbat observance among individual Reform Jews while encouraging congregations to rethink their Shabbat morning worship. Rabbi Yoffie was also a proponent of lifelong Jewish study and helped synagogues to develop programs that increased Jewish literacy among adults. In 2005, he introduced the
237:. In his remarks he spoke of "a huge and profound ignorance of Islam" by Jews and Christians in North America. He stated that "the time has come to listen to our Muslim neighbors speak, from their heart and in their own words, about the spiritual power of Islam and their love for their religion." He also asked Muslims for more understanding of Judaism: âThe dialogue will not be one way, of course. You will teach us about Islam and we will teach you about Judaism. We will help you to overcome stereotyping of Muslims, and you will help us to overcome stereotyping of Jews.â Rabbi Yoffie later was a supporter of the
281:. During his years as URJ President, he met frequently with Israel's elected officials to present the concerns of the Reform movement and North American Jewry. He has been a prominent advocate of religious freedom and religious pluralism in Israel, arguing that the cause of Judaism can only be advanced by education and persuasion and not by coercion. In an incident that drew international headlines, Rabbi Yoffie in June 2006 declined to meet with Israeli President
66:(URJ), the congregational arm of the Reform movement in North America, which represents an estimated 1.5 million Reform Jews in more than 900 synagogues across the United States and Canada. He was the unchallenged head of American Judaism's largest denomination from 1996 to 2012. Following his retirement in 2012, he has been a lecturer and writer; his writings appear regularly in
310:
and elsewhere, Rabbi Yoffie has addressed broad questions of belief and spirituality in
American life. In particular, he has applied a progressive religious point of view to issues of sin, atheism, and community, as well as contemporary matters such as immigration, health care, and economic justice.
193:
In his recent writings, Yoffie has argued against understandings of
Judaism that are primarily secular or cultural, referring to such Jews as "self-delusional," and suggesting that such understandings mistake a part for the whole and that a religiously-grounded Judaism is essential to assure the
297:
by asking if he would address Reform rabbis by the title "rabbi." While Rivlin did not respond directly to this issue while a candidate, a source close to him responded that he "has always received Rabbi Yoffie respectfully and will continue to have a wonderful relationship with
Diaspora Jews."
268:
in
Washington, D.C., declaring that "the indiscriminate distribution of guns is an offense against God and humanity." Rabbi Yoffie went on to state that "our gun-flooded society has turned weapons into idols, and the worship of idols must be recognized for what it isâblasphemy. And the only
100:, and he was involved in the Reform Movement's Youth organization, the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY). He first held the position of president in the Northeast Region of NFTY before moving on to be the organization's Vice President in 1965â1966.
222:; as the first Rabbi to appear at a university-wide convocation, he talked frankly of areas of agreement and disagreement between Evangelical Christians and Jews. Yoffie first spoke on shared values of family and morality before defending
842:
260:
As
President of the URJ, Rabbi Yoffie spoke to a wide variety of social justice issues. He opposed the death penalty, supported LBGT rights, and was a prominent spokesperson for
311:
In "What it Means to be a
Liberal Person of Faith" and in other widely read articles, he has suggested that progressive religion has a vital role to play during a time of "
97:
857:
456:
166:
On June 10, 2010, Rabbi Yoffie announced his intention to step down from the post of president of the URJ at the age of 65, in June 2012. He was succeeded by
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872:
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and launched
Movement-wide dialogue programs with both Christians and Muslims. In 2005, he was the first Jew to address the Churchwide Assembly of the
131:(ARZA). In 1992 he became vice president of the URJ and director of the Commission on Social Action. In addition, he served as executive editor of the
182:
Rabbi Yoffie has been a proponent of increased traditionalism within Reform
Judaism, encouraging a greater focus on Jewish text study and prayer. Dr.
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Rabbi Yoffie has devoted much of his public life to working on behalf of the Jewish state and promoting close ties between Israel and
801:
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223:
612:
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On August 21, 2007, Rabbi Yoffie was the first leader of a major Jewish organization to speak at the convention of the
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127:, before joining the URJ as director of the Midwest Council in 1980. In 1983 he was named Executive Director of the
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798:, Interview by Aron Hirt-Manheimer, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Fall 1996
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405:
Once a Critic, New Leader of Reform
Judaism Promises Change, by Josh Nathan-Kazis,
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120:
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He is married to Amy
Jacobson Yoffie. The couple has two children, and reside in
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In contrast to these above interfaith efforts, Yoffie strongly disagrees with
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curriculum to teach sexual ethics to teens in Reform camps and congregations.
124:
356:
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613:"Auschwitz And The Mosque Near Ground Zero: The Problems With This Analogy"
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institutions. In 2014, Rabbi Yoffie challenged the presidential candidate
804:, Interview by Aron Hirt-Manheimer, Union for Reform Judaism, Spring 2012
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after Katsav refused to address Rabbi Yoffie with the title "rabbi". The
269:
appropriate religious response to blasphemy is sustained moral outrage."
152:
717:
419:
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540:
734:
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170:, who had served as the senior rabbi at Westchester Reform Temple in
59:
252:, claiming that it lacks "humility, imagination, and curiosity."
752:
796:
Our New President Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie: Teacher of Living Torah
210:. Later that year, he harshly criticized some positions of the
594:
790:
843:
Hebrew Union College â Jewish Institute of Religion alumni
735:"Can Ruby Rivlin get over his disdain for Reform Judaism?"
559:"ELCA Assembly Hears Rabbi On Jewish/Christian Relations"
541:"The Frustrating, Difficult, Never-Ending Search for God"
753:"Yoffie on Rivlin: I hope his views have really changed"
420:
Rabbi Yoffieâs Legacy: âOld Ideasâ for Reform Judaism,
631:"What Atheism Lacks: Humility, Imagination, Curiosity"
241:, and he has been a strong advocate for the rights of
156:
named him # 8 on its list of "50 Influential Rabbis."
147:
named Yoffie the number one Jewish leader in America.
141:
as president of the Union for Reform Judaism. In 1999
214:, but in 2006 he accepted the invitation of the Rev.
264:. He was the only religious leader to appear at the
42:
30:
23:
595:"Remarks to the Islamic Society of North America"
289:does not recognize rabbinic ordinations from non-
103:After high school Yoffie spent his first year at
315:," fear of terrorism, and economic uncertainty.
119:in New York in 1974. He served congregations in
771:"What It Means to be A Liberal Person of Faith"
357:Yoffieâs Legacy: âOld Ideasâ for Reform Judaism
515:"by Rabbi Eric Yoffie at the Houston Biennial"
488:"by Rabbi Eric Yoffie at the Orlando Biennial"
137:magazine. On July 1, 1996, he succeeded Rabbi
8:
718:Katsav Hosts Conservative Amid âRabbiâ Feud
486:Rabbi Eric Yoffie (December 15â19, 1999).
20:
329:
327:
230:, which elicited boos from the students.
129:Association of Reform Zionists of America
96:, where his family belonged to historic
701:"Rabbi Eric Yoffie â We Are For Israel"
513:Rabbi Eric Yoffie (November 19, 2005).
438:by Rabbi Eric Yoffie, December 17, 1999
323:
218:to address the students and faculty of
393:Rabbi Eric Yoffie Announces Retirement
208:Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
424:, by Jonathan D. Sarna, June 16, 2010
395:, eJewish Philanthropy, June 11, 2010
7:
858:Clergy from Worcester, Massachusetts
802:Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie Contemplations
683:"Million Mom March for Gun-Control"
202:Rabbi Yoffie has been a pioneer in
868:People from Durham, North Carolina
14:
873:People from Westfield, New Jersey
459:Sermon at the San Diego Biennial
235:Islamic Society of North America
62:, and President Emeritus of the
791:Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, biography
306:In his recent writings, in the
863:People from Lynbrook, New York
436:Sermon at the Orlando Biennial
273:Views on relations with Israel
1:
334:Forward 50, 2007: Eric Yoffie
198:Views on interfaith relations
853:21st-century American rabbis
848:20th-century American rabbis
577:"Liberty University Speech"
92:Rabbi Yoffie was raised in
889:
838:Brandeis University alumni
443:December 27, 2014, at the
833:Rabbis from Massachusetts
302:Contemporary spirituality
287:Chief Rabbinate of Israel
722:The Jewish Daily Forward
422:The Jewish Daily Forward
407:The Jewish Daily Forward
361:The Jewish Daily Forward
345:The Jewish Daily Forward
144:The Jewish Daily Forward
94:Worcester, Massachusetts
64:Union for Reform Judaism
720:, by Nathaniel Popper,
374:"50 Influential Rabbis"
256:Views on social justice
239:Park51 Community Center
224:church-state separation
828:American Reform rabbis
339:March 1, 2010, at the
139:Alexander M. Schindler
657:"Death Penalty - URJ"
619:. September 28, 2010.
161:Westfield, New Jersey
113:Rabbinical ordination
107:, and graduated from
16:American Reform rabbi
777:. December 13, 2011.
494:on December 27, 2014
461:, December 15, 2007"
204:interfaith relations
178:Views on Jewish life
117:Hebrew Union College
663:on October 31, 2013
547:. January 16, 2013.
347:, November 10, 2006
109:Brandeis University
105:Stanford University
69:The Huffington Post
705:weareforisrael.org
220:Liberty University
111:. He received his
75:The Jerusalem Post
601:. September 2007.
583:. April 26, 2006.
266:Million Mom March
168:Rabbi Rick Jacobs
88:Family and career
50:
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741:. May 26, 2014.
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134:Reform Judaism
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53:Eric H. Yoffie
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775:Eric Yoffie
757:Eric Yoffie
739:Eric Yoffie
687:Eric Yoffie
641:January 25,
599:Eric Yoffie
581:Eric Yoffie
545:Eric Yoffie
262:gun control
25:Eric Yoffie
812:Categories
319:References
125:Durham, NC
43:Occupation
525:March 15,
498:March 15,
471:March 15,
667:April 5,
635:HuffPost
617:HuffPost
563:elca.org
441:Archived
379:Newsweek
337:Archived
291:Orthodox
153:Newsweek
150:In 2009
250:atheism
81:Haaretz
123:, and
78:, and
57:Reform
115:from
60:rabbi
55:is a
46:Rabbi
669:2013
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226:and
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