A prayer book for radicals by a postzionist rabbi who. Jta a prominent rabbi whose outspoken criticism of israel became too divisive for his congregation announced this week that he is resigning his pulpit. Rabbi brant rosen has written a most powerful book. June 1, 2016 meet the rabbi who renounced zionism and embraced palestinian liberation. Below is an exclusive excerpt from rabbi brant rosen s new book wrestling in the daylight. Rosen previously served as the rabbi of the jewish reconstructionist congregation in evanston, illinois from 1998 to 2014, when he resigned, citing increasing tension over his palestine solidarity activism. Rosen has been on a personal journey ever since israels 20082009 operation cast lead, the brutality of which compelled him to question his beliefs about the state of israel and zionism. May 09, 20 rabbi brant rosen, leader of a jewish reconstructionist community in evanston, illinois takes on the volatile issues of jewish faith, values and the traditional homeland narrative of israel in his. Beerman and the radical imperative to think and act. You and i have had such an incredible relationship, brant. A courageous rabbi shares his journey to palestinian. Brant rosen, a rabbi at the jewish reconstructionist congregation for 17 years, resigned over longstanding tensions over his solidarity with palestinians in their conflict with israel. Im the midwest regional director for the american friends service committee and the rabbi of tzedek chicago. Rabbi rosens shift from insider to outsider was sealed by.
Rabbi brant rosen, leader of a jewish reconstructionist community in evanston, illinois takes on the volatile issues of jewish faith, values and the traditional homeland narrative of israel in his. Rabbi brant rosens 2012 book, wrestling in the daylight. May 15, 2017 wrestling in the daylight is an insightful conversation on zionism initiated by rabbi brant rosen, a prominent jewish activist from chicago, on his socialjustice blog shalom rav. Brant rosen founding rabbi of tzedek chicago, cofounder of jewish voice for peace rabbinical council. Michael spath, about his book wrestling in the daylight and his realization that zionism isnt judaism. Drawing from his blog and from reactions he received from his readers, he illustrates painfully but honestly and clearly his journey toward working for justice for oppressed palestinians. Apr 06, 2012 the following article by rabbi brant rosen appeared on the mondoweiss website. Rabbi brant rosen wrestling in the daylight bsc literature 0 in 2006 rabbi brant rosen, who serves a jewish reconstructionist congregation in evanston, illinois, launched a blog called shalom rav, in which he explored a broad range of socialjustice issues. Titled wrestling in the daylight, the book came out. In 2006, rabbi brant rosen launched a blog called shalom rav, in which he. Thank you rabbi brant rosen for who you are and we look forward to a growing partnership with you in our mutual calling to be gods instruments of truthtelling, justice, and the prophetic ministry of the hebrew prophets, jesus, and muhammad.
May 06, 20 rosen is a congregational rabbi in evanston, illinois, a cofounder and cochair of the rabbinical council of jewish voice for peace, a regular blogger at shalom rav. A rabbis path to palestinian solidarity, is out in a second edition, detailing his decision to leave an evanston, ill. In 2008, rabbi rosen was honored by newsweek as one of the top 25 pulpit rabbis in america. A highly readable chronicle of rabbi brant rosens journey from liberal zionist to active and visionary palestinian solidarity activist. When rabbi brant rosen helped to found congregation tzedekchicago in. Citing divisions over israel, rabbi brant rosen quits. So writes rabbi brant rosen of the blog shalom rav in the introduction to his new book, wrestling in the daylight. A freedom rider bears witness to human rights in israelpalestine. Yedid nefesh poetry and liturgy by rabbi brant rosen.
Brant rosen, rabbi at the jewish reconstructionist congregation in evanston, ill. When brant rosen spoke out against israels occupation of palestine, he lost his jewish. Rosen is the rabbi of tzedek chicago, a nonzionist synagogue he founded in august 2015. A jewish prayer for nakba day, by rabbi brant rosen is shared by brant rosen with a creative commons public domain dedication 1. He is the cofounder and cochair of the jewish voice for peace rabbinical council and the founder, with rabbi brian walt, of the jewish fast for gaza. Wrestling in the daylight is an insightful conversation on zionism initiated by rabbi brant rosen, a prominent jewish activist from chicago, on his socialjustice blog shalom rav. Oct 10, 2012 rabbi brant rosen, a congregational rabbi in evanston, illinois and cochair of the jewish voice for peace rabbinical council, takes on these volatile issues of jewish faith, values and the traditional homeland narrative of israel in a new book. This entry was posted in god, human rights, judaism, peace, pesach, poetry, prayer, spirituality on april 18, 2016 by rabbi brant rosen. Jun 01, 2016 features june 1, 2016 meet the rabbi who renounced zionism and embraced palestinian liberation. Jul 26, 2017 this year, rabbi brant rosen wrote a new interpretation of eichalamentations, the biblical book that is traditionally read on tisha bav. Brant rosen is the founding rabbi of tzedek chicago and author of the book wrestling in the daylight. Below is an exclusive excerpt from rabbi brant rosens new book wrestling in the daylight. Sep 06, 2014 israelbashing illinois rabbi, brant rosen, quits congregation reconstructionist leader says hes a lightning rod for division in community because of his propalestinian stance.
He is the cofounder of the jewish voice for peace rabbinical council and the author of the book wrestling in the daylight. When brant rosen spoke out against israels occupation of. Brant rosens book is a journey of a rabbi who moves from believing in liberal zionism, to questioning it to eventually abandoning it, in favor of humanist values of equality for all, irrespective of religion. Apr 08, 2016 why millennials flock to chicagos nonzionist synagogue for its 300 new members, trendy lincoln squares tzedek congregation is a way to be jewish without compromising their devotion to. Evanston rabbi quits over palestinian activism chicago tribune. Evanston rabbi quits over palestinian activism chicago.
In 2006, rabbi brant rosen launched a blog called shalom rav, in. Before coming to afsc, he served as a congregational rabbi for over 20 years. A jewish prayer for nakba day, by rabbi brant rosen. An interview with rabbi brant rosen, founder of the united statess first. Rabbi brant rosen will read and discuss selections from his new chapbook, songs after the revolution, described by poet kevin coval as a prayer book for radicals by a postzionist rabbi who urges us to look deeply at our false piety and communal hypocrisy in america and palestine. Meet the rabbi who renounced zionism and embraced palestinian. A tribute to rabbi brant rosens prophetic voice for justice.
Join us june th as we welcome back rabbi brant rosen in conversation with his cocontributor ben lorber to the new book reclaiming judaism from zionism. Its written from the perspective of a person living in a nottoodistant dystopian future. Rabbi brant rosen is the midwestern regional director of the american friends service committee and the rabbi of the congregation, tzedek chicago. Wrestling in the daylight 2nd edition just world books. After israels brutal military attack on gaza in 20082009, rosen began to question his lifelong zionist beliefs. In one of the writings from that book, andre aciman, a jew from alexandria, egypt reflected on the comfort of a park in manhattan where he often went to sit and ponder and yearn and feel his exile. Skokie, il rabbi brant rosen of the jewish reconstructionist congregation has turned his blog into a book on israelpalestine relations. Brant rosen s book is a journey of a rabbi who moves from believing in liberal zionism, to questioning it to eventually abandoning it, in favor of humanist values of equality for all, irrespective of religion. May this present situation open doors to a larger stage for brants prophetic leadership. In 2012, just world books published his book, wrestling in the daylight. A rabbis path to palestinian solidarity just world books 2012.
Your child will ask why do we observe this festival. A rabbis path to palestinian solidarity, which featured his posts and. Prior to afsc and tzedek, i served as a congregational rabbi at jewish reconstructionist congregation from 1992 to 2014. Why millennials flock to chicagos nonzionist synagogue. A rabbi s path to palestinian solidarity, recently released by just world books. Aug 17, 2017 rabbi brant rosens 2012 book, wrestling in the daylight. This new text is a collection of personal narratives from forty different jewish activists and scholars. Elliss exile and the prophetic feature for mondoweiss.
I caught up with rabbi rosen on facebook to ask him some questions about his lamentation for a new diaspora. A rabbis path to palestinian solidarity, published in 2012 by just. Rabbi lynn gottlieb, author of she who dwells within and a world beyond borders haggadah about the author. Sep 04, 2014 brant rosen, a rabbi at the jewish reconstructionist congregation for 17 years, resigned over longstanding tensions over his solidarity with palestinians in their conflict with israel. And as you all know, your leader here at tzedek is an ideal guide for you on this path. Apr 02, 2020 poetry and liturgy by rabbi brant rosen. If youve heard of rabbi brant rosen, chances are that you know about his vocal and principled stance on the israelipalestinian conflict. Rabbi brant rosen is the midwestern regional director of the american friends service committee and the rabbi of the congregation tzedek chicago. A gripping and intimate memoir chronicling a young woman who became an iconic figure after joining the armed wing of algerias national liberation movement to combat her countrys french occupiers. With tisha bav upon us, rabbi brant rosen has released his contemporary take on the biblical book of lamentations lamentation for a new diaspora. His writings, poems and prayers can be found in his blogs shalom rav and yedid nefesh.
Rabbi turns blog into book on israel, palestine skokie, il. Brant rosen born february 22, 1963 is an american rabbi and blogger, known for his activism. In one of the writings from that book, andre aciman, a jew from alexandria, egypt reflected on the comfort of a park in. A rabbis path to palestine solidarity rabbi brant rosen. In my previous post, i explored how zionism has historically fed off of antisemites and antisemitic regimes to justify the need for a jewish state.