Shmuly Yanklowitz Explained

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

Educational and professional background

Yanklowitz was ordained as an Orthodox 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.

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.[4] Yanklowitz has served as a delegate to the World Economic Forum.[5] [6] In July 2013, he became executive director, then later president and dean, of Valley Beit Midrash in Phoenix, Arizona.[7] [8] Yanklowitz expanded VBM from local to national including setting up a new hub in Denver, Colorado.[9] [10] With VBM, Yanklowitz has promoted religious pluralism.[11]

A film crew followed Yanklowitz for over a year to produce a PBS documentary named The Calling, a 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.[12]

Activism

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

In 2015, Yanklowitz donated his kidney to a stranger.[28] He has advocated for a regulated organ market, cadaveric organ donation, as well as for living kidney donation.[29] [30]

Yanklowitz has organized the Jewish community for the abolition of the death penalty.[31] [32] Yanklowitz's organization YATOM provides "educational programs and provides small grants" to families in the adoption/fostering process.[33] Yanklowitz and the Arizona Jews for Justice team launched a mobile cooling van, with the support of the City of Phoenix, to give relief to the homeless during extreme heat.[34] Yanklowitz and the Arizona Jews for Justice team added the "Let's be Better Humans" humanitarian bus to their outreach approach.[35] Yanklowitz has worked to support people recovering from addiction.[36]

Asylum seekers and refugee relief

Yanklowitz has advocated for refugees and asylum seekers at the Mexico-United States border calling the need to assist asylum seekers a "spiritual revolution";[37] Yanklowitz is critical of the what he claims is the mistreatment of asylum seekers.[38] Through Uri L'Tzedek[39] and Arizona Jews for Justice,[40] [41] 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.[42] [43]

Yanklowitz has led initiatives to support Afghan refugees.[44] [45]

Jewish veganism

Yanklowitz is vegan.[46] Under Yanklowitz's direction, the Shamayim: Jewish Animal Welfare has led the Synagogue Vegan Challenge since the Summer of 2017.[47] [48] [49]

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.[50] Yanklowitz has opposed the shackle-and-hoist method of slaughter.[51]

Yanklowitz was featured in the 2019 documentary A Prayer for Compassion about veganism and spirituality.[52]

Written works

Yanklowitz has published over 25 books.[53]

Personal life

Yanklowitz is married, has four biological children, has fostered children, and lives in Scottsdale.[54] [9] Yanklowitz himself underwent an Orthodox conversion to Judaism, as he is the son of a Jewish father and a Christian mother.[55] He is an advocate for greater inclusion of Jewish converts[56] [57] [58] and for the inclusion of interfaith families.[59]

Recognition

In 2022, Yanklowitz was recognized as one of the top faith leaders to watch by the Center for American Progress.[60] 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.[61] [62] [63] In 2022, Yanklowitz was honored by The Leonard I. Beerman Foundation For Peace and Justice, alongside Dolores Huerta.[64] In 2020, Yanklowitz was named a "Hero of Dialogue" by the international group KAICIID.[65] Yanklowitz spoke at the White House Passover seder and has been a regular at the White House Chanukah events.[66]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Borschel-Dan . Amanda . June 19, 2015 . Arizona rabbi donates his 'spare' kidney to save young Israeli . The Times of Israel.
  2. Web site: 2012-04-03 . Wolpe heads 'Newsweeks list of 50 top rabbis . 2024-04-01 . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . en.
  3. Web site: Editor . LEISAH WOLDOFF Managing . 2013-06-06 . Valley Beit Midrash hires one of 'America's top 50 rabbis' . 2024-04-01 . www.jewishaz.com . en.
  4. Web site: Hillel at UCLA.
  5. Web site: List of Participants - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. 30 April 2013.
  6. Web site: Our Man in Davos. www.hillel.org. 2017-08-12.
  7. Web site: Valley Beit Midrash hires one of 'America's top 50 rabbis'. www.jewishaz.com. June 6, 2013 .
  8. Web site: Staff & Board Of Directors . valleybeitmidrash.org. en-US. 2019-05-14.
  9. Web site: Yudelson . Larry . Just Torah . 2022-08-30 . njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com . en-US.
  10. Web site: Valley Beit Midrash Officially Launches New Denver Hub . 2022-08-30 . Boulder Jewish News . August 8, 2022 . en-US.
  11. Web site: Shannon . Levitt . 2023-10-09 . 'Both these and those,' Phoenix lecture tests Jewish value of conflicting ideas . 2023-10-18 . www.jewishaz.com . en.
  12. Web site: The Calling . PBS.
  13. Web site: 2012-03-21 . Tav HaYosher Celebrates 100th Certified Restaurant . 2022-08-30 . The Forward . en.
  14. Web site: 2010-03-11 . New Restaurant Seal Meets With Approval . 2022-08-30 . The Forward . en.
  15. Web site: Haley . Cohen . 2023-07-18 . Looking out to the wider world, Orthodox Union launches Rwanda relief mission . 2023-10-18 . eJewish Philanthropy.
  16. Web site: Orthodox activist outlines a Judaism of the heart Culture. 2016-09-30. September 7, 2016.
  17. Web site: For Judaism to survive, it has to get out of the shtetl. South African Jewish Report. en-GB. 2017-09-01.
  18. Web site: An un-Orthodox approach. New Jersey Jewish News NJJN. 2018-01-19.
  19. News: A single foster mother? Welcome to life as a mom-to-be – J. 2017-05-11. J.. 2018-01-19. en-US.
  20. News: Rallying Against Trump, These Are Not Your Parents' Orthodox Rabbis. Maltz. Judy. 2018-08-27. Haaretz. 2018-08-27. en.
  21. News: Dozens of Israeli and U.S. Orthodox Rabbis Come Out in Support of LGBTQ Community. Maltz. Judy. 2018-08-01. Haaretz. 2018-08-27. en.
  22. Web site: Rabbis Urge Pelosi To Allow Vote on Bill That Would Sanction Assad Regime. 2016-09-30. September 30, 2016.
  23. Web site: Ghert-Zand. Renee. Activist Phoenix rabbi hosts Syrian refugee family for Thanksgiving. 2021-02-12. www.timesofisrael.com. en-US.
  24. Web site: An Orthodox Jewish rabbi hosts Syrian refugee families at his Thanksgiving table every year. Lakritz. Talia. Insider. 2020-03-27.
  25. News: Passover guides serve up a side of social justice for the seder table. 2017-09-01. en-US.
  26. News: Jewish groups' efforts to help refugees continue. www.jewishaz.com. 2017-09-01.
  27. News: A call to welcome refugees. www.jewishaz.com. 2017-09-01.
  28. Web site: Borschel-Dan . Amanda . June 19, 2015 . Arizona rabbi donates his 'spare' kidney to save young Israeli . The Times of Israel.
  29. Web site: Yanklowitz . Shmuly . I donated a kidney to a stranger. It shouldn't be this tough for others to give . 2024-04-01 . The Arizona Republic . en-US.
  30. Web site: Yanklowitz . Shmuly . 2015-10-27 . Give a Kidney, Get a Check . 2024-04-01 . The Atlantic . en.
  31. News: Prosecutors want the death penalty for suspect in synagogue massacre. Here's why rabbis oppose it.. Paul. Deanna. 31 October 2018. Washington Post. en. 2020-03-27.
  32. Web site: Over 100 Rabbis Denounce The Death Penalty. The Forward. August 11, 2017 . 2020-03-27.
  33. Web site: 2020-09-24. An Orthodox Jewish multiracial family in Montana wants to break taboos about adoption. 2020-10-23. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. en-US.
  34. Web site: 2022-07-04 . Homeless outreach group uses Phoenix funding for mobile cooling van . 2022-08-30 . KJZZ . en.
  35. Web site: Shannon . Levitt . 2022-11-08 . AJJ's big humanitarian bus brings toys, aid and experience . 2023-07-18 . www.jewishaz.com . en.
  36. Web site: Jacobs . Sarah . Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz . 2023-10-18 . Beit T'Shuvah . en-US.
  37. News: Trump Is Dumping Asylum Seekers on American Streets—but Solidarity Activists Are Fighting Back. The Nation. Abramsky. Sasha. 2019-07-01. 2019-07-09. en-US. 0027-8378.
  38. Web site: Gonzalez. Daniel. Advocates want action from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on detained migrant children in Arizona, Texas. 2020-10-23. The Arizona Republic. en-US.
  39. Web site: From Here To The Border, Trump Policy Outrages Jews. Chandler. Doug. jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. June 20, 2018 . en-US. 2019-07-09.
  40. Web site: B'nai David-Judea Brings Aid to Arizona Asylum-Seekers. Michaelson. Shanee. 2019-01-23. Jewish Journal. en-US. 2019-07-09.
  41. Web site: Jewish groups' efforts to help refugees continue. Gelbart. Debra . www.jewishaz.com. February 14, 2017 . en. 2019-07-09.
  42. Web site: The Mask Project offers jobs to unemployed and masks to Arizona's hardest-hit communities. 2020-05-18. Religion News Service. en-US. 2020-05-19.
  43. Web site: AJJ Mask Project is 'gleam of hope' for vulnerable groups. O'Brien. Ellen . www.jewishaz.com. April 28, 2020 . en. 2020-05-19.
  44. Web site: Basnet . Neetish . 'We know what it's like to be persecuted': Jewish nonprofit aids Arizona Afghan refugees . 2022-05-31 . The Arizona Republic . en-US.
  45. Web site: Nicole . Raz . Arizona's Jews turn out to support Afghan refugees . 2022-05-31 . www.jewishaz.com . November 4, 2021 . en.
  46. News: Why This Rabbi is Swearing off Kosher Meat. Wall Street Journal. May 29, 2014. Yanklowitz. Shmuly.
  47. Web site: The Synagogue Vegan Challenge. Algemeiner.com. 2017-07-18.
  48. News: Jewish Animal Welfare Group Pushes Synagogues To 'Go Vegan'. The Forward. 2017-09-01.
  49. News: Jewish Animal Welfare Organization Challenges Synagogues To Go Vegan. 2017-09-01. en.
  50. Book: Jewish veganism and vegetarianism : studies and new directions. Labendz, Jacob Ari . Yanklowitz, Shmuly. 9781438473611. xviii. 1041228582. March 25, 2019 . SUNY Press .
  51. Web site: As Israel bans 'shackle and hoist' slaughter, activists ask: What about the US?. Schwartz. Yaakov. www.timesofisrael.com. en-US. 2020-03-27.
  52. Web site: Webber . Jemima . 2018-11-08 . New Documentary Explores the Spiritual Side of Being Vegan . 2020-04-07 . LiveKindly . en-GB.
  53. Web site: Books by Rabbi Yanklowitz . 2024-03-05.
  54. Web site: Leadership - Valley Beit Midrash.
  55. News: Judaism Must Embrace the Convert. Shmuly Yanklowitz. The New York Times. November 23, 2014.
  56. News: Converting to Judaism. 2015-05-01. Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. 2017-07-19. en-US.
  57. News: Orthodox activist outlines a Judaism of the heart. Arom. Eitan. 2016-09-07. Jewish Journal. 2017-07-19. en-US.
  58. News: The complex, secret path to becoming an Orthodox Jew. Arom. Eitan. 2016-07-27. Jewish Journal. 2017-07-19. en-US.
  59. Web site: Intermarried Jews are not a second Holocaust. 2019-07-11. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. en-US. 2020-03-27.
  60. Web site: 22 Faith Leaders To Watch in 2022 . 2022-05-31 . . en.
  61. News: Shmuly Yanklowitz: A Rabbi Leading by Example. The Forward. 2016-11-15.
  62. Web site: Ivanka Trump tops Forward 50 list of Jews impacting American life. 2016-11-15. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2016-11-15.
  63. Web site: Shmuly Yanklowitz. The Forward. May 15, 2016 . en-US. 2020-03-31.
  64. Web site: 2022-03-09 . The Leonard I. Beerman Foundation For Peace and Justice 2022 Virtual Celebration: Award for Social Justice in Action to Dolores Huerta . 2022-08-30 . Holman United Methodist Church . en-US.
  65. Web site: Faith Communities Provide Much Needed Refugee Relief Services. 2020-03-31. KAICIID. en. 2020-04-08.
  66. Web site: Lowenfeld . Jonah . 2010-12-15 . The rabbi and his 'calling' . 2023-04-21 . Jewish Journal . en-US.

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