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36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism
Rabbi Asher Z. Lopatin
“Rabbi Lopatin is an intellectual, but his legacy is in what he accomplished on the ground: building a warm and growing community, a mikvah, a community day school and a non-profit kosher restaurant; bringing a female clergy member on staff; collaborating with rabbis from other denominations; speaking against worker abuse, and building relations with the…
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36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism Rabbi Brent Spodek
“I first met Rabbi Brent Spodek in 2010, about a year before he became the rabbi of Beacon Hebrew Alliance. As a recent arrival to our town, he was soon awakening a dormant but spiritually hungry community of Jewish children and adults with his monthly Shabbat sing-alongs, contemplative hikes and Talmudic study groups in his…
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36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism Rabbi Bradd Boxman
“During the six years Bradd was in town, my wife grew close to her faith and had her bat mitzvah at the age of 50. Bradd taught her and presided at the event. I couldn’t be more proud. There is another way he made a difference. I am a practicing attorney with a full-time job….
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36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism Rabbi Janet Marder
“Rabbi Janet Marder’s work with interfaith couples is truly inspirational. I will never forget her High Holiday thank you and hug on the bimah to our non-Jewish spouses several years ago. She has similarly reached out to our LGBT community, ex-Soviet émigrés, Israelis, veterans and people with disabilities. Recognizing that participation is critical, and that…
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36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism Rabbi Shira Stutman
“The congregation Rabbi Shira built at Sixth & I is large, thriving, innovative and almost entirely filled with Jews in their 20s and 30s. She’s the EXACT right rabbi at the exact right time, making a home for young Jews that is both intellectually and theologically challenging while also being contemporary and popular. Also, she…
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36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism Rabbi Valerie Cohen
“Upon moving to Jackson last June, I was expecting to find a dearth of Jewish life and Jewish learning. Instead, I found the complete opposite: a weekly Talmud class; a weekly Torah study; Reform-style Friday night services; Conservative-style Saturday morning services, and diverse events and speakers almost every Shabbat — supported and organized by Rabbi…
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36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism Rabbi Yosef Wolvovsky
“Rabbi Yosef Wolvovsky’s energy and motivation have created a community committed to the beauty of traditional Judaism. Originally numbering hardly a minyan of individuals, today it’s not unusual to find 60 or 70 at a community function. The rabbi’s followers come from a wide range of backgrounds and represent points of view that can be…
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36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn
“I met Rabbi Cukierkorn this year, 30 years after discovering my Sephardic Jewish roots. I spent 30 years investigating my surname, searching the archives, hearing stories of family and how we come to Costa Rica and why. That was 30 years of receiving “NO” for an answer every time I tried to get close to…
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36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism Rabbi Juan Mejía
“I am the religious leader of a small Jewish community in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Our group has for many years consisted of American expats. Several years ago, a few Mexican nationals began coming to our Shabbat services, wanting to reclaim what they felt to be a Jewish heritage. These “B’naiAnusim” — many from…
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36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism Rabbi Lisa Edwards
“I became Jewish under the guidance of Rabbi Edwards. She is not just a rabbi of a synagogue; she finds time to be the personal rabbi for each individual. She leads our LGBT community through all our struggles, and she is always on the forefront for equal rights, justice and tzedakah. Rabbi Edwards inspires me…
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36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism Rabbi Adam Mintz
“When my significant other and I were having relationship trouble, Rabbi Mintz met us almost at midnight at his apartment — in his pajamas! He proceeded to counsel us for months at no charge. I know that he has done similarly for other members of our community. Rabbi Mintz has also been my chief mentor…
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