Brant Rosen (born February 22, 1963) is an American

rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...

and

blog A blog (a truncation of "weblog") is a discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete, often informal diary-style text entries (posts). Posts are typically displayed in reverse chronological order ...

ger, known for his pro-Palestinian activism.

Biography

Rosen is a native of

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. He is a graduate of the

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

and the

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) is a Jewish seminary in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. It is the only seminary affiliated with Reconstructionist Judaism. It is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Associa ...

Career and activism

Rosen is the rabbi of

Tzedek Chicago Tzedek Chicago is a progressive synagogue in Chicago. It is one of the first synagogues in the United States to officially declare itself anti-Zionist. History Tzedek Chicago was founded in 2015 in Lincoln Square by the former Reconstructioni ...

, an

anti-Zionist Anti-Zionism is opposition to Zionism. Although anti-Zionism is a heterogeneous phenomenon, all its proponents agree that the creation of the modern State of Israel, and the movement to create a sovereign Jewish state in the region of Palestine ...

synagogue he founded in August 2015. Rosen previously served as the rabbi of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in

Evanston, Illinois Evanston ( ) is a city, suburb of Chicago. Located in Cook County, Illinois, United States, it is situated on the North Shore along Lake Michigan. Evanston is north of Downtown Chicago, bordered by Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, Wil ...

from 1998 to 2014, when he resigned, citing increasing tension over his Palestine solidarity activism. After leaving JRC, Rosen became the Midwest Regional Director of the

American Friends Service Committee The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Religious Society of Friends (''Quaker'') founded organization working for peace and social justice in the United States and around the world. AFSC was founded in 1917 as a combined effort by Am ...

, a

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belie ...

organization. In 2019, he left AFSC to serve Tzedek Chicago as its full time rabbi. Rosen is a former president of the

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association (RRA) founded in 1974, is the professional association of rabbis affiliated with Reconstructionist Judaism. It has approximately 300 members, most of whom are graduates of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical ...

and is the co-founder and co-chairperson of the Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council. In 2009, he co-founded the Jewish Fast for Gaza, or

Ta'anit A ta'anit or ta'anis (Mishnaic Hebrew: תענית) is a Fasting, fast in Judaism in which one abstains from all food and drink, including water. Purposes A Jewish fast may have one or more purposes, including: * Atonement for sins: Fasting is n ...

Tzedek with Rabbi Brian Walt. 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 The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), co-founded by Mike Italiano, David Gottfried and Rick Fedrizzi in 1993, is a private 501(c)3, membership-based non-profit organization that promotes sustainability in building design, construction, and op ...

. He was the recipient of ''Chicago'' Magazine's Green Award for his environmental leadership in 2009.

Writing

Rosen's blo
''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," which featured his posts and numerous reader comments from ''Shalom Rav.'' Rosen is also the author of the blo
''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 ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...

'', ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

'', ''

The Forward ''The Forward'' ( yi, פֿאָרווערטס, Forverts), formerly known as ''The Jewish Daily Forward'', is an American news media organization for a Jewish American audience. Founded in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily socialist newspaper, ' ...

'', ''

Truthout Truthout is a non-profit news organization which describes itself as "dedicated to providing independent reporting and commentary on a diverse range of social justice issues". Truthout's main areas of focus include mass incarceration, prison abo ...

'', ''

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) is an international news agency and wire service, founded in 1917, serving Jewish community newspapers and media around the world as well as non-Jewish press, with about 70 syndication clients listed on its web ...

'', and other media outlets.

Awards

In 2008, Rosen was named one of the Top 25 Pulpit Rabbis in America by ''

Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis (businessman), Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print m ...

'' magazine. In 2009 he was awarded the "Partner in Justice" Award by

Avodah ''Avoda'', or ''Avodah'' (), literally means "work, worship, and service" in Hebrew. In a modern context, usually referring to business-type activities, it can also mean agricultural work and, more traditionally, serving God. Original meaning In ...

: The Jewish Service Corps and he received the "Inspiration for Hope Award" by the

in 2010 for his social justice activism in the Middle East.

References

External links

Shalom RavYedid NefeshAmerican Friends Service CommitteeTzedek ChicagoJewish Reconstructionist CongregationJust World Books' biography of Brant RosenKBCS Interview with Brant RosenWBEZ interview with Brant RosenTruthout Interview with Brant Rosen
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rosen, Brant American Reconstructionist rabbis Jewish American writers Jewish anti-racism activists Jewish peace activists Writers from Evanston, Illinois Writers from Los Angeles Living people 1963 births 21st-century American Jews Jewish anti-Zionism in the United States Anti-Zionist rabbis