In the News
April 30, 2013
September 28, 2011
Rabbi Denise L. Eger named one of LA Magazine's 50 Women Game Changers
July 22, 2011
Joint Statement in Response to
Yehuda Levin on the Death of Leiby Kletzky
The murder
of Leiby Kletzky was a tragic event that has brought together people of all
faiths and creeds in grief and heartache. Young Leiby's death reminds us that
consolation comes from all peoples, not just peoples of a particular
stripe.
The
disgusting attribution made by Yehuda Levin, that young Leiby's death happened
because of the recent acceptance of same sex marriage in the state of New York
is a bastardization of Jewish law and a deep insensitivity to the family of
this innocent and sweet child. Yehuda Levin's public displays are an
abomination.
Some in the
Jewish faith might be opposed to marriage for gay men and lesbians while others
celebrate this law as a watershed moment of our religious history . In essence,
those differing views are the beauty of Judaism; different colors and voices
that make the tapestry and harmony of the Jewish religion. As our
Sages teach: “These and these are the voice of the Living God.” But, no one in
our tradition can take any comfort in the senseless death of this young boy, regardless
of his religion, background or orientation.
Our good
senses might tell us to ignore such fringe behavior exemplified by Yehuda
Levin. However, trivializing the murder of this boy undermines the very core
principles that are undeniably part of our Jewish faith. For this reason, we
cannot sit by silently while the props and garb of Judaism are being used in
disguise to espouse un-Jewish behavior.
We condemn,
without reservation, these deeply painful correlations of Leiby's death. We
offer our condolences to the Kletzky family. May Leiby Kletzky's soul be bound
in the bond of life. May his memory be a blessing.
Rabbi
Denise L. Eger, Congregation Kol Ami, West Hollywood, CA
Rabbi
David-Seth Kirshner, Temple Emanu-El, Closter NJ
June 28, 2011
Click here to read Rabbi Denise Eger's blog post, "Preparing for Same-Gender Weddings" republished in the the Jewish Journal.
May 26,
2011
Temple member and attorney Laura Brill wrote the following Op-Ed that
appeared in the Orange County Register on the anniversary of California
Supreme Court decision upholding Prop 8. Mazel Tov!
Laura W. Brill: It's time for Prop. 8 opponents to re-engage
May 26, 2011|By Laura W. Brill
This week marks the two-year anniversary of the California Supreme Court's
unfortunate decision upholding Proposition 8 as a valid exercise of the state's
initiative process. A coalition argued that under the state Constitution,
members of a minority group cannot be stripped of the fundamental right to marry
based on the vote of a bare majority. The court, however, disagreed.
Click here for the full article.
Past Kol Ami President Speaks at HUC Graduation
Our past president Cary Davidson a member of the Union for Reform Judaism Board
of Trustees and Vice Chair of the URJ West District and member of the HUC-JIR
Board of Overseers for th LA Campus delivered these remarks at the recent
graduation ceremonies of HUC-JIR. Master Degrees were conferred in the areas of
Jewish Education, Hebrew Letters, NonProfit Management and Doctoral degrees were
conferred in each of those areas as well. Thank you Cary for representing us
Click here for a full transcript of Cary's remarks.
May 17,
2011
L.A. leaders visit White House in
honor of Jewish American Heritage Month
By Julie Gruenbaum
Fax - JewishJournal.com
Four leaders of the Los Angeles Jewish community were among about 200 people
who met President Barack Obama during a White House reception in honor of Jewish
American Heritage Month.
Click here for the full article about Rabbi Eger's trip to the White House.
April 29,
2011Interview with Lesbian Rabbi Denise Eger
By Brandy Black - TheNextFamily.com
With our theme being “Religion” in
the month of April, I made a call to Rabbi Denise Eger whom I saw at the Human
Rights Campaign Gala this year. We were able to talk a bit about how her
influence as a lesbian Rabbi has helped the Jewish community and LGBT
folks.
Click here for the full article.
Reform Jewish Rabbinate Elects New Leader
As president, Rabbi Stein is the senior governing officer of the CCAR
Board of Trustees. He is joined by six other officers: President-Elect
Rabbi Richard Block (Cleveland, OH), Vice-President of Financial Affairs
Rabbi William Kuhn (Philadelphia, PA); Vice-President of Leadership
Rabbi Amy Schwartzman (Falls Church, VA); Vice President of Member
Services Denise Eger (Los Angeles, CA), Vice-President of Organizational
Relationships Rabbi David Stern (Dallas, TX); and Vice President of
Programs Rabbi Robert Loewy (New Orleans, LA).
For full article Click
Here
Forty
New Orlinian Christian, Muslim and Jewish Clergy Engage Over Each Other's Texts
and the Challenges They Present
Interfaith
Dialogue at Convention of Reform Rabbis Yields Insights, Bonds
NEW
ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwire - March 29, 2011) - More than 40 New Orleans Muslim,
Jewish and Christian clergy from a spectrum of denominations and movements
joined the convention of the world's Reform rabbis to engage in a dialogue on
potentially divisive texts, utilizing them as an avenue for exploring wider
issues.
The
goal of the event, which took place at the 122nd annual convention of
the Central
Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), was to renew mutual
understanding and reach new insights about interreligious approaches to
addressing societal problems and advancing civil society.
The
New Orleans clergy sat in circles with attendees of the convention, which
includes 500 Reform rabbis from all over North America. (CCAR is the
professional organization of nearly 2,000 Reform rabbis, the world's largest
group of Jewish clergy.) The starting point of each discussion was a critical
look at select texts, including Ecclesiastes 12 and 13, Galatians 3, Babylonian
Talmud Berkhot 6b, Qur'An 9:5 (Repentance) and Qur'An 3:110 (Family of
Imran).
Among
the reflections shared:
We
are not alone in struggling with our own texts. Clergy of different faiths find
commonalities in shared struggles.
Dialogue
is particularly valuable in our divisive era.
Religious
leaders of different faiths experience the same God, but in distinct ways.
Interreligious
dialogue elevates a spirit of cooperation, which is especially important, given
the destructiveness of intolerance.
Openness
is extraordinary and brings a deeper appreciation of other denominations and
movements.
Event
leaders included Rabbi Robert H. Loewy of Congregation Gates of Prayer in
Metairie, LA; Imam Omar Suleiman, Imam of Masjid Abu Bakr (Jefferson Muslim
Association) in New Orleans; Reverend Don Frampton, Senior Pastor of St. Charles
Avenue Presbyterian Church in New Orleans; Rabbi Denise L. Eger, Rabbi of
Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood, CA.
This
program was made possible by the generous support of the Leichtag Family
Foundation as well as Men for Reform Judaism.
Note
to Journalists: To attend the CCAR Convention, obtain schedule of events or to
arrange a conversation with the leaders of the CCAR, please contact Itay
Engelman at Sommerfield Communications at 212-255-8386 or itay@sommerfield.com.
About
the Central Conference of American Rabbis 2011 Convention
The
122nd annual Central Conference American Rabbis convention is taking
place in New Orleans, Louisiana, through March 30. More than 500 Reform Rabbis
have gathered to share plans to build and maintain communities. Highlights
include sessions on interfaith dialogue, sustainability and custodianship of the
Earth.
About
The CCAR
The
Central Conference of American Rabbis, founded in 1889, is the oldest and
largest rabbinic organization in North America. As the professional organization
for Reform Rabbis, the CCAR projects a powerful voice in the religious life of
the American and international Jewish communities. The CCAR has a rich history
of giving professional and personal support to Reform rabbis, providing them
opportunities for study, professional development and spiritual growth
throughout their careers, and into retirement. The CCAR is uniquely positioned
to meet the ever-changing needs of the Reform Jewish community. For more
information please visit the CCAR's website at http://ccarnet.org/.
"Remembering Debbie Friedman: Rabbi Denise L. Eger," featured in the Jewish Journal
Rabbi Eger featured in article "Report Shows Rise in Hate Crimes Against Jews"
Rabbi Eger featured in the Jewish Daily Forward Sisterhood 50!