Paula Reimers Explained

Paula Reimers (1947–2023) was an American rabbi. In 2008 she was the rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel (Lebanon, Pennsylvania). However by January 2017 she was no longer listed as that Congregation's rabbi.[1] [2] Reimers was one of the first women to be ordained by the Conservative movement’s Jewish Theological Seminary of America.[3]

Biography

Reimers was educated at Barnard College, (A.B., 1969) M.A., Columbia University, (M.A., 1971) and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (M.A., ordination, 1990).[4] Reimers converted from Christianity to Judaism in 1981.[5] [6] [7]

Reimers was politically active in defense of Palestinian rights.[8] In 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Reimers invited several Muslims to join members of Burbank Temple Emanu-El in Burbank, California in their sukkah. In order not to offend the Muslim guests, Israeli flags were removed from among the sukkah decorations, offending some of her congregants. The congregation voted not to renew her contract.[9] [10]

By July 2015, Reimers was on the Rabbinical Council of Jewish Voice for Peace.[11] However as of June 2018, she was no longer listed on that Council.[12]

Reimers, a feminist, opposed using both male and female pronouns in worship.[13] [14]

Reimers spoke out[3] against the Christian missionizing of Ralph Drollinger the former NBA player who now heads Capitol Ministries [15] [16] whose goal is: "Making disciples for Jesus Christ in state legislatures."[3] [17] Reimers further elaborated that:

In my opinion, the 2007 Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast clearly showed state endorsement of one particular religion (Christianity) and one particular sect within that religion (evangelical Protestantism), and even one particular Christian evangelical organization, Capitol Ministries. Many specific indications would lead to this conclusion.[18] [19]

Rabbi Reimers died on June 14, 2023.

Publications

Notes and References

  1. Winding road leads rabbi to Valley, David Mekeel, Lebanon Daily News, December 9, 2006
  2. Web site: Website of Congregation Beth Israel, Lebanon, PA. Website of Congregation Beth Israel, Lebanon, PA. Congregation Beth Israel, Lebanon PA. January 16, 2017.
  3. Web site: jewsonfirst.org "Capitol Ministries: Making disciples for Jesus Christ in state legislatures" (May 15, 2007). 29 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20080509050505/http://www.jewsonfirst.org/07b/capitol_ministries.html. 9 May 2008. dead.
  4. Web site: Lebanon Valley College. 29 October 2014.
  5. “From Jew-by-choice to rabbi: Women forging new paths,” Aleza Goldsmith, August 3, 2001, Jewish Bulletin of Northern California http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/16555/edition_id/325/format/html/displaystory.html
  6. What It Means to Be Jewish: The Voices of Our Heritage, by Ina Abrams and Ina L. Yalof, St. Martin’s Press, 2002, Page 230
  7. Tracy Gordon-Fox, "Rabbi Impressing Her Congregants", Hartford Courant, October 31, 1993.
  8. Christians and a Land Called Holy: How We Can Foster Justice, Peace, and Hope, by Charles P. Lutz and Robert O. Smith, 2006, Fortress Press, p. 151
  9. “The Silencing of the Left?How the quest for a united front may quash the debate on Israel,” by Julie Gruenbaum Fax, The Jewish Journal, Sept. 26, 2002 http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/the_silencing_of_the_left_20020927/
  10. Laura Sturza, "Rabbi Paula Reimers and her former...", Burbank Leader, November 2, 2002.
  11. Web site: Campaigns | JVP's Rabbinical Council | Jewish Voice for Peace . jewishvoiceforpeace.org . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150726031327/http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/campaigns/jvps-new-rabbinic-council-4 . 26 July 2015 . dead.
  12. Web site: Jewish Community Transformation . jewishvoiceforpeace.org . June 18, 2018.
  13. Is God male, female, both or neither? How should we phrase our prayers in response to God’s gender? By Ahuva Zache, I-Torah https://archive.today/20120715190459/http://urj.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=11422
  14. ” God and Gender in Judaism, by Matthew Berke, First Things 64 (June/July 1996): 33-38.
  15. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/misc/where/stories/080805dnspowherenow.7fa8768.html Dallas Morning News: Ex-Mavs center Ralph Drollinger is now living by the book (August 8, 2005
  16. Web site: capmin.org. 29 October 2014.
  17. http://www.dailygotham.com/send/send/3876 dailygotham.com "Religious Intolerance in America"
  18. Web site: jewsonfirst.org "The 2007 Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast: Rabbi Paula Reimers, Congregation Beth Israel, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, May 17, 2007". 29 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20080509050505/http://www.jewsonfirst.org/07b/capitol_ministries.html#reimers. 9 May 2008. dead.
  19. Web site: Rabbi Paula Rimmer: 2007 Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast" (pdf) . 2008-07-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071218170550/http://www.jewsonfirst.org/07b/reimers_prayerbreakfast.pdf . 2007-12-18 . dead .

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