Wikipedia

Brant Rosen

Brant Rosen (born February 22, 1963) is an American rabbi and blogger, known for his pro-Palestinian activism.

Rosen in 2009

Biography

Rosen is a native of Los Angeles, California.[1] He is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles[1] and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.[2]

Career and activism

Rosen is the rabbi of Tzedek Chicago, an anti-Zionist synagogue he founded in August 2015.[3] Rosen previously served as the rabbi of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston, Illinois from 1998[4] to 2014,[5] when he resigned, citing increasing tension over his Palestine solidarity activism.[6] After leaving JRC, Rosen became the Midwest Regional Director of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization. In 2019, he left AFSC to serve Tzedek Chicago as its full time rabbi.[7]

Rosen is a former president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and is the co-founder and co-chairperson of the Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council.[8] In 2009, he co-founded the Jewish Fast for Gaza, or Ta'anit Tzedek with Rabbi Brian Walt.[9] Under his leadership, the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation built their new building with an environmentally sustainable design in 2008, becoming the first house of worship to ever receive a Platinum rating by the U.S. Green Building Council.[10] He was the recipient of Chicago Magazine's Green Award for his environmental leadership in 2009.[11]

Writing

Rosen's blog Shalom Rav explores "the intersection between Judaism and social justice, with a particular emphasis on Israel/Palestine." In 2012, Just World Books published his book, "Wrestling in the Daylight: A Rabbi's Path to Palestinian Solidarity,"[12][13] which featured his posts and numerous reader comments from Shalom Rav. Rosen is also the author of the blog Yedid Nefesh, where he posts his poetry and thoughts on Judaism and spirituality. In 2018, Tzedek Chicago published his chapbook of original prayers, "Songs After the Revolution: New Jewish Liturgy." He has contributed op-eds to The Huffington Post,[14] Chicago Tribune,[15] The Forward,[16] Truthout,[17] The Jewish Telegraphic Agency,[18] and other media outlets.[19]

Awards

In 2008, Rosen was named one of the Top 25 Pulpit Rabbis in America by Newsweek magazine.[20] In 2009 he was awarded the "Partner in Justice" Award by Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps[21] and he received the "Inspiration for Hope Award" by the American Friends Service Committee in 2010 for his social justice activism in the Middle East.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b "Local Rabbi Breaks Barriers". Daily Northwestern. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  2. ^ "Rabbi Brant Rosen". Fellowship of Reconciliation. Archived from the original on 2015-04-25. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
  3. ^ Weissman, Sara (2015-08-22). "A New Synagogue In Chicago Is Billing Itself As 'Non-Zionist' | Huffpost Religion". huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
  4. ^ "Brant Rosen, Suburban Chicago Rabbi, Doubles as Firebrand Critic of Israel - Jewish Forward". forward.com. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
  5. ^ "Brant Rosen named new Regional Director for AFSC's Midwest Region - AFSC". afsc.org. 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
  6. ^ "Evanston rabbi quits over pro-Palestinian activism - Chicago Tribune". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  7. ^ "Rabbi Rosen is Now Tzedek's Full Time Rabbi - Tzedek Chicago". tzedekchicago.org. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  8. ^ "Campaigns | JVP's Rabbinical Council". Jewish Voice for Peace. 2010-09-21. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  9. ^ rbguy (2009-07-13). "Ta'anit Tzedek- The Jewish Fast For Gaza". Daily Kos. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  10. ^ "How did we do it? A History... | Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation". Jrc-evanston.org. 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  11. ^ "The Builder - Chicago". Chicagomag.com. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  12. ^ Choose ship-to country. "Wrestling in the Daylight: A Rabbi's Path to Palestinian Solidarity, paperback - Just World Books Webstore". Justworldbooks.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  13. ^ Fisher, Jennifer (2012-09-10). "Evanston Rabbi Turns Blog Into Book On Israel, Palestine - Business - Evanston, IL Patch". Evanston.patch.com. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  14. ^ "Rabbi Brant Rosen". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  15. ^ "A call to moral accounting - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2009-09-27. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  16. ^ "Calling Israel's Discrimination What It Is - Jewish Forward". blogs/forward.com.com. 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  17. ^ "Responding to Anti-Semitic Violence with Solidarity's Sacred Power - Truthout". truthout.org. 2018-10-28. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  18. ^ Rosen, Brant (2012-10-23). "Op-Ed: Christians' letter was reasonable, worded sensitively | Jewish Telegraphic Agency". Jta.org. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  19. ^ "Our Clergy | Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation". Jrc-evanston.org. Archived from the original on 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  20. ^ "Newsweek Ranks America's Top 25 Pulpit Rabbis". Luke Ford. 2008-04-13. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  21. ^ "Avodah Alumni Announcements". archive.constantcontact.com. 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  22. ^ "Middle East Program Annual Benefit | American Friends Service Committee". Afsc.org. 2010-10-24. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
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