Head of U.S. Reform movement announces retirement
Rabbi Eric Yoffie says he will retire in two years, when he will have completed 16 years in office.
By Cnaan Liphshiz Tags: Israel US Jewish worldThe head of the Reform movement in the U.S., Rabbi Eric Yoffie, announced over the weekend that he would retire in two years, when he will have completed 16 years in office.
According to Rabbi Uri Regev, the Israel-based director of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, Yoffie announced his retirement in advance to ensure a proper selection process for his successor.
"The fact that Rabbi Yoffie reads and communicates in Hebrew has undoubtedly afforded him a profound understanding of the complexities of the Israeli reality," Regev said.
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Head of the Reform movement in the U.S. Rabbi Eric Yoffie. |
| Photo by: Union for Reform Judaism |
Regev described the Reform leader as "a true friend of Israel."
Several months ago, Rabbi Yoffie urged Israel to cease construction in East Jerusalem, saying the diplomatic row between Israel and the United States has made this a difficult time for American Jewry.
"This has been a difficult and complicated time for us as American Jews," said Yoffie. "We have a number of mandates at the moment: We proclaim our love for Israel in unmistakable terms, and we work to prevent the current situation from spiraling out of control and causing a deep rift between Israel and the United States."
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It is about time Reform movement retire
He is quite ignorant of Jewish texts not sure why they call him Rabbi???
Let's hope his successor smarts up and goes back to their religious/communal core.
I am disgusted by the hatred and ignorance in the majority of these comments. Rabbi Yoffie was a true friend to Israel and of the Jewish people. How dare you say such disgusting things about Rabbi Yoffie and the Reform movement, a serious, G-d and Torah centered system for many. Any way a Jew comes to Judaism is a blessing.
Anyone who calls for the division of Jerusalem is not a Rabbi. If his right hand withers, I will understand why.
in his entire career will be his retirement....
Though I am orthodox and I have many disagreements with Yoffe and reservations about the movement he leads, I have no doubt he acted in the best interest of the Jewish people as he perceived it in good conscience. I wish every Jew in the US and for that matter everywhere lived their lives through the prism of what he/she perceives is best for his people and his 2000 year old tradition. I hope he has an enjoyable retirement and joins us in Israel with as many of his co-religionists as he can get to come. Beshaa Tova.
The vast majority of Jews in the U.S. are not going to "live their lives through the prism of what he/she perceives is best for his people and his 2000 year old tradition." We just don't have an ethnocentric world view, and we are not going to acquire one.
...if I bet good money that most of these talkbacks will not be printed out, framed--and then displayed in Los Angeles' MUSEUM of TOLERANCE?
Yoffie stood with Israel on the flotilla and the Gaza war; took the lead among liberals to remember the importance of defending the country even as he worked with IMPJ in Israel to promote the rights of mitkademet and masorti streams of Judaism.
I hope his successor is as great a friend of Israel and that Israel stops doing all it can to alienate American Jews, whether Modern Orthodox, Reform or Conservative. We need to stand together.
the man was always clueless about middle east facts and history
Don't rejoice too much. His successor will have the same philosophy. In the US, Reform has far more members than other Jewish denominations and many more of its members are involved in progressive political and social movements. They constantly take positions that are unacceptable to Orthodox and Conservative Jews - and then complain because those other denominations don't accept them. I fear they will continue in that path.
Is that a real religion? I thought it's a sub- committee in the Democratic Party.
With such friends who needs enemies!
The simple fact that his "comfort" as an American Jew is his reasoning for pushing Israel into unthinkable concessions that not only threaten the lives of every Jew in Israel but also would cede our historic capital is disgusting. Rabbi Yoffee should retire now, not 2 years away, in the eyes of Israelis, he has done nothing but damage to the Reform movement's standing.
Who makes demands of Israel because "diplomatic row between Israel and the United States has made this a difficult time for American Jewry", IOW, "you risk your life so that I should have an easier time"? What kind of a friend is that?
yofife yoffie yoffie!!
this guys a failure, only taught the jewish people how to reject god even more.....
He has opposed a strong Israel for as long as he has been the spokesman of the American Jewish left... let him go to Uhm Al-Faham, or Jenin, or Ramallah, and annouce his retirement - his Arab friends will feast on him