Shmuly Yanklowitz

Shmuly Yanklowitz (born 1981) is a rabbi, activist, and author. In March 2012 and March 2013,[1] Newsweek[2] and The Daily Beast listed Yanklowitz as one of the 50 most influential rabbis in America.[3]

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz

Recognition

In addition,The Forward named Yanklowitz one of the 50 most influential Jews of 2016 and also one of the most inspiring rabbis in America.[4][5][6] In 2020, Yanklowitz was named a "Hero of Dialogue" by the international group KAICIID.[7]

Educational and professional background

Yanklowitz was ordained as a rabbi at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, received a second rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, the chief rabbi of Efrat, and a third rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo of Jerusalem. He earned a master's degree at Harvard University in Leadership and Psychology and a second master's degree in Jewish Philosophy at Yeshiva University. Yanklowitz earned a Doctorate from Columbia University in Epistemology and Moral Development and has taught seminars at UCLA Law School and Barnard College.[8][9]

Yanklowitz worked in corporate and non-profit consulting and was the Director of Panim JAM in Washington D.C., training others in leadership and advocacy. While in rabbinical school, Yanklowitz served at four different Orthodox congregations. Following his ordination, Yanklowitz served as Senior Jewish Educator and Director of Jewish Life at UCLA Hillel from 2010 to 2012.[10] Yanklowitz has served as a delegate to the World Economic Forum.[11][12][13] From August 2012 to May 2013, Yanklowitz served as the Senior Rabbi of Kehilath Israel Synagogue in Overland Park, Kansas. In July 2013, he became Executive Director, then later President and Dean, of Valley Beit Midrash in Phoenix, Arizona.[14][15]

Activism

Yanklowitz is the founder of multiple nonprofit organizations that engage in activism:

  • He founded Uri L'Tzedek, an Orthodox social justice organization.[16]
  • He founded SHAMAYIM: Jewish Animal Welfare (previously known as The Shamayim V'Aretz Institute), an animal welfare spiritual activist center.[16][17]
  • He founded YATOM: The Jewish Foster & Adoption Network.[18][19]
  • He founded Torat Chayim, a "progressive-minded" Orthodox rabbinic association.[20][21]
  • In 2012, Yanklowitz co-founded “Jews for Human Rights in Syria"[22][23] and has worked closely with Syrian refugees.[24]
  • Yanklowitz founded and leads the Jewish social justice group Arizona Jews for Justice.[25][26][27]

Yanklowitz has advocated for a regulated organ market,[28] cadaveric organ donation, as well as for living kidney donation. Yanklowitz is a kidney donor.[29][30]

Phoenix mayor Greg Stanton appointed Yanklowitz to be a commissioner on the Phoenix Human Relations Commission.[31][32] Yanklowitz has organized the Jewish community for the abolition of the death penalty.[33][34][35] Yanklowitz is a leading advocate for increased Jewish-Muslim dialogue.[36] Yanklowitz's organization YATOM provides "educational programs and provides small grants" to families in the adoption/fostering process.[37]

Yanklowitz has been an advocate for racial justice[38][39][40] including calling for police reform,[41] prison reform,[42] and slave reparations.[43][44]

Asylum Seeker and Refugee Relief

Yanklowitz has advocated for refugees and asylum seekers at the Southern Border of the United States calling the need to assist asylum seekers a "spiritual revolution";[45] Yanklowitz is critical of the mistreatment of asylum seekers.[46] Through Uri L'Tzedek[47] and Arizona Jews for Justice,[48][49] Yanklowitz and partners have raised awareness on the issue and have led campaigns to collect supplies for asylum seekers released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Yanklowitz launched The Mask Project, which employs immigrant mothers to make masks for populations such as the Navajo Nation and the homeless.[50][51]

Documentary

A film crew followed Yanklowitz for over a year to produce a PBS documentary named The Calling, a documentary series that follows seven Muslims, Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and Jews as they train to become professional clergy. The program aired in the United States in December 2010.[52]

Yanklowitz was featured in the 2019 documentary "A Prayer for Compassion."[53]

Jewish Veganism

Yanklowitz is vegan.[54] Under Yanklowitz's direction, the SHAMAYIM: Jewish Animal Welfare launched the Synagogue Vegan Challenge in Summer 2017.[55][56][57]

Yanklowitz has written extensively on questions of Jewish veganism and vegetarianism. He has argued that Jewish animal ethics can encompass both speciest frameworks and more egalitarian frameworks.[58] Yanklowitz has opposed the shackle-and-hoist method of slaughter.[59]

In 2017, Yanklowitz was one of the rabbis who signed a statement by Jewish Veg encouraging veganism for all Jews.[60]

Written Works

Yanklowitz's books include the following:

  • The Book of Jonah: A Social Justice Commentary (CCAR Press) - 2020
  • The Soul of Activism: A Spirituality for Social Change (Changemaker Books) - 2019
  • Jewish Veganism and Vegetarianism: Studies and New Directions (ed.) (State University of New York Press)  - 2019
  • Kashrut & Jewish Food Ethics (ed.)(Academic Studies Press) - 2019
  • The Jewish Spirituality of Service: Giving Back Rather Than Giving In! (Indie Publishing, LLC) - 2018
  • Pirkei Avot: A Social Justice Commentary (CCAR Press) - 2018
  • A Torah Giant: The Intellectual Legacy of Rabbi Dr. Irving Greenberg (ed.) (URIM Publications) - 2018
  • Postmodern Jewish Ethics: Emerging Social Justice Paradigms (Indie Publishing, LLC) - 2017
  • Torah of the Street, Torah of the Heart (Indie Publishing, LLC) - 2016
  • Existing Eternally, Existing Tomorrow: Essays on Jewish Ethics & Social Justice (Indie Publishing, LLC) - 2015
  • The Jewish Vegan (ed.) (Indie Publishing, LLC) - 2015
  • SPARKS! Bringing Light Back into the World (Indie Publishing, LLC) - 2014
  • Soul Searching: A Jewish Workbook for Spiritual Exploration and Growth (Indie Publishing, LLC) - 2014
  • Bringing Heaven Down To Earth: Jewish Ethics for a Complex and Evolving World  (Indie Publishing, LLC) - 2014
  • Spiritual Courage: Vignettes on Jewish Leadership for the Twenty-First Century  (Indie Publishing, LLC)  - 2014
  • The Soul of Jewish Social Justice (URIM Publications) - 2014
  • Epistemic Development in Talmud Study - 2013
  • Jewish Ethics & Social Justice: A Guide for the 21st Century (Derusha Publishing, LLC) - 2012

Yanklowitz's writing has been described as challenging Jews to seek social justice.[61][16][62][63] Regarding Jewish Ethics & Social Justice, Peter L. Rothholz wrote that “in language that is at once passionate and direct, the author tackles a number of delicate subjects head on and makes practical suggestions for dealing with them.”[64] Regarding Pirkei Avot: A Social Justice Commentary, David Ellenson wrote that Yanklowitz "inspires" and "challenges his readers... to improve the world."[65] In its review of the Book of Jonah: A Social Justice Commentary, the Jerusalem Post noted that the book was "refreshing" and "worth your investment of time and effort to understand the Book of Jonah through the lens of social justice."[66]

Personal life

Yanklowitz is married, has four biological children, has fostered children, and lives in Phoenix, AZ.[67] Yanklowitz himself underwent Orthodox conversion to Judaism, as he is the son of a Jewish father and a Christian mother.[68] He is an advocate for greater inclusion of Jewish converts[69][70][71] and for the inclusion of interfaith families.[72]

References
  1. "America's Top 50 Rabbis for 2013 (PHOTOS)". The Daily Beast. March 21, 2013.
  2. "Wolpe heads 'Newsweeks list of 50 top rabbis". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  3. "America's Top 50 Rabbis for 2012". The Daily Beast. April 2, 2012.
  4. "Shmuly Yanklowitz: A Rabbi Leading by Example". The Forward. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  5. "Ivanka Trump tops Forward 50 list of Jews impacting American life". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  6. "Shmuly Yanklowitz". The Forward. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  7. "Faith Communities Provide Much Needed Refugee Relief Services". KAICIID. March 31, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  8. "New Judaic Studies teachers announced". The Boiling Point. June 17, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  9. "Fiat Lux 2010-11 Seminars" (PDF). January 2018.
  10. "Hillel at UCLA".
  11. "List of Participants - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting" (PDF). April 30, 2013.
  12. "Our Man in Davos". www.hillel.org. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  13. Jewish Ethics & Social Justice by Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, retrieved March 27, 2020
  14. "Valley Beit Midrash hires one of 'America's top 50 rabbis'". www.jewishaz.com.
  15. "Staff & Board Of Directors | valleybeitmidrash.org". Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  16. "Orthodox activist outlines a Judaism of the heart | Culture". September 7, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  17. "For Judaism to survive, it has to get out of the shtetl". South African Jewish Report. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  18. "An un-Orthodox approach". New Jersey Jewish News | NJJN. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  19. "A single foster mother? Welcome to life as a mom-to-be – J". J. May 11, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  20. Maltz, Judy (August 27, 2018). "Rallying Against Trump, These Are Not Your Parents' Orthodox Rabbis". Haaretz. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  21. Maltz, Judy (August 1, 2018). "Dozens of Israeli and U.S. Orthodox Rabbis Come Out in Support of LGBTQ Community". Haaretz. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  22. "Rabbis Urge Pelosi To Allow Vote on Bill That Would Sanction Assad Regime". September 30, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  23. "Obama Administration Officials Get Holocaust Museum To Absolve Obama For Ignoring Syrian Genocide". Daily Wire. September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  24. Lakritz, Talia. "An Orthodox Jewish rabbi hosts Syrian refugee families at his Thanksgiving table every year". Insider. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  25. "Passover guides serve up a side of social justice for the seder table". Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  26. "Jewish groups' efforts to help refugees continue". www.jewishaz.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  27. "A call to welcome refugees". www.jewishaz.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  28. Yanklowitz, Shmuly (October 27, 2015). "Give a Kidney, Get a Check". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  29. "Arizona rabbi donates his 'spare' kidney to save young Israeli". Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  30. Myers, Devora (June 22, 2015). "Rabbi Donates Kidney To Save A Stranger's Life". Aplus.
  31. "Phoenix rally shows solidarity for Syrian refugees". jewishaz.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  32. "BC_Detail.jsp". phoenix.gov. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  33. "Orthodox Jewish Organization Calls for an End to Capital Punishment in the U.S." Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  34. Paul, Deanna (October 31, 2018). "Prosecutors want the death penalty for suspect in synagogue massacre. Here's why rabbis oppose it". Washington Post. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  35. "Over 100 Rabbis Denounce The Death Penalty". The Forward. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  36. Woldoff, Leisah. "Jewish-Muslim dialogue group forms for young adults". www.jewishaz.com. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  37. "An Orthodox Jewish multiracial family in Montana wants to break taboos about adoption". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. September 24, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  38. Reiter, Eli. "Orthodox Progressives Finding Their Voices on Racial Justice". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  39. O'Brien, Ellen. "In wake of protests, local Jewish orgs show support for black community". www.jewishaz.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  40. Yellin, Deena. "Americans want faith leaders to stand against racism. Here's how NJ clergy have responded". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  41. Getty. "Black Jews to white Jews: Change your relationship with police". The Forward. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  42. Writer, Ellen O’Brien | Staff. "Arizona prisons replace kosher meals with vegan option". www.jewishaz.com. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  43. Lipman, Steve. "Jews Cautious On Reparations For Blacks". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  44. "A Rabbi's Plea: We Need Slavery Reparations In Order to Move Forward". Yes! Magazine. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  45. Abramsky, Sasha (July 1, 2019). "Trump Is Dumping Asylum Seekers on American Streets—but Solidarity Activists Are Fighting Back". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  46. Gonzalez, Daniel. "Advocates want action from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on detained migrant children in Arizona, Texas". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  47. Chandler, Doug. "From Here To The Border, Trump Policy Outrages Jews". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  48. Michaelson, Shanee (January 23, 2019). "B'nai David-Judea Brings Aid to Arizona Asylum-Seekers". Jewish Journal. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  49. Gelbart, Debra. "Jewish groups' efforts to help refugees continue". www.jewishaz.com. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  50. "The Mask Project offers jobs to unemployed and masks to Arizona's hardest-hit communities". Religion News Service. May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  51. O'Brien, Ellen. "AJJ Mask Project is 'gleam of hope' for vulnerable groups". www.jewishaz.com. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  52. "The Calling". PBS.
  53. Webber, Jemima (November 8, 2018). "New Documentary Explores the Spiritual Side of Being Vegan". LIVEKINDLY. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  54. Yanklowitz, Shmuly (May 29, 2014). "Why This Rabbi is Swearing off Kosher Meat". Wall Street Journal.
  55. "The Synagogue Vegan Challenge". Algemeiner.com. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  56. "Jewish Animal Welfare Group Pushes Synagogues To 'Go Vegan'". The Forward. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  57. "Jewish Animal Welfare Organization Challenges Synagogues To Go Vegan". Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  58. Labendz, Jacob Ari; Yanklowitz, Shmuly, eds. (March 25, 2019). Jewish veganism and vegetarianism : studies and new directions. pp. xviii. ISBN 9781438473611. OCLC 1041228582.
  59. Schwartz, Yaakov. "As Israel bans 'shackle and hoist' slaughter, activists ask: What about the US?". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  60. "Rabbinic Statement". Jewish Veg. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  61. "Judaism Beyond Slogans - Commentary Magazine". Commentary Magazine. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  62. "Rabbi's book examines 'Torah of the Heart'". Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  63. "- Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion". Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  64. Rothholz, Peter L. (2012). Rev. of Jewish Ethics & Social Justice: A Guide for the 21st Century. Jewish Book Council. ISBN 9781935104148. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  65. "Pirkei Avot: A Social Justice Commentary Book Review". RavBlog. January 25, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  66. "The Book of Jonah and biblical social justice". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  67. "Leadership - Valley Beit Midrash".
  68. Shmuly Yanklowitz (November 23, 2014). "Judaism Must Embrace the Convert". The New York Times.
  69. "May 1, 2015 ~ Converting to Judaism | May 1, 2015 | Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly | PBS". Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. May 1, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  70. Arom, Eitan (September 7, 2016). "Orthodox activist outlines a Judaism of the heart — Jewish Journal". Jewish Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  71. Arom, Eitan (July 27, 2016). "The complex, secret path to becoming an Orthodox Jew — Jewish Journal". Jewish Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  72. "Intermarried Jews are not a second Holocaust". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. July 11, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.