This is the Forward’s coverage of rabbis, the spiritual leaders of Jewish congregations.
Rabbis
The Latest
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Fast Forward First Spanish-Born Liberal Rabbi Ordained
(JTA) — The main rabbinical seminary in Europe for Reform and Masorti Jews ordained the first ever Spain-born Progressive rabbi, the seminary’s spokesperson said. Rabbi Haim Casas, who was born and raised in Cordoba, was ordained at a ceremony in London last week along with six other rabbis of the Leo Baeck College, the institution…
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Opinion The Rabbinate’s Diaspora Blacklist Doesn’t Defend Judaism — It Undermines It
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Over the weekend, JTA and others reported on a “blacklist of rabbis” maintained by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate. The list contains the names of more than 160 rabbis whom the rabbinate does not trust to confirm the Jewish identity of immigrants to Israel. The list, obtained by Itim from the rabbinate after a protracted…
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Fast Forward Chief Rabbi Denies Knowing Of Diaspora Rabbi Blacklist’
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau said in a letter that he did not know of the existence of a blacklist of Diaspora rabbis and that it should not have been released to the public. “The Chief Rabbi was shocked to discover this list. This was done without the rabbi’s knowledge or…
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Fast Forward Here Is The Chief Rabbinate’s ‘Blacklist’ Of 160 American Rabbis
(JTA) — The Israeli Chief Rabbinate has a list of some 160 rabbis it does not trust to confirm the Jewish identities of immigrants. To get married in Israel, immigrants must prove they are Jewish to the Chief Rabbinate, often via a letter by a congregational rabbi attesting to the immigrant’s Jewish identity. This list…
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Fast Forward Israeli Rabbinate ‘Blacklisting’ American Rabbis
(JTA) — Some 160 rabbis, including several prominent American Orthodox leaders, appear on a list of rabbis whom Israel’s haredi Orthodox-dominated Chief Rabbinate does not trust to confirm the Jewish identities of immigrants. Rabbis from 24 countries, including the United States and Canada, are on the list. In addition to Reform and Conservative rabbis, the…
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Fast Forward Lakewood Haredi Rabbi Accused In Sprawling $1M Benefits Scam
A New Jersey rabbi and his wife were arrested with three other Jewish couples for underreporting their incomes to receive government benefits. The couples, including the rabbi’s brother and wife, were arrested Monday in raids that resulted from an investigation into Lakewood, a New Jersey town that is home to a large haredi Orthodox community. More arrests are expected,…
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Fast Forward Orthodox Rabbi Found Dead At Jewish Summer Camp
(JTA) — A haredi Orthodox rabbi was found dead at a Jewish camp in upstate New York. Rabbi Pinchas Elya Weinberger, 38, was found on Monday morning dead in his bed at Kasho Camp in the Town of Wawarsing, New York. An investigation by the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office found that the rabbi died of…
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Fast Forward Israel Moves To Reject Conversions Except By Orthodox Rabbinate
JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Knesset committee has approved the advance of a bill that would require the state to recognize only conversions completed under the auspices of the haredi Orthodox-dominated Chief Rabbinate. The measure would circumvent a March 2016 Supreme Court ruling that allowed those undergoing private Orthodox conversions in Israel to become citizens under…
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News DNA test kits spark a surge of online conversions to Judaism in the U.S.
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Film & TV For ill and for good, this ‘Wicked’ song has become ubiquitous
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News As young Jews move away from Israel, Jewish leaders are reluctant to change their approach
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