FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women and Prayer at the Wall: The State of Religious Pluralism in Israel
Temple Emanuel to host community forum regarding religious pluralism in Israel
featuring Consul General David Siegel and prominent Los Angeles rabbis
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – November 15, 2012 — On Monday, November 26 at 7:00 PM, Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills will host a community forum to share various perspectives about religious pluralism in Israel, precipitated by the arrest of Anat Hoffman at Jerusalem’s Western Wall. Consul General David Siegel will open the evening with introductory remarks and will then be joined by Los Angeles’ leading rabbis, including Rabbi Judith HaLevy, President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California; Rabbi Laura Geller, Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills; and Rabbi Nicole Guzik, Director of the Sinai Temple Israel Center, and Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky of B’nai David-Judea. The forum will be moderated by Rob Eshman, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Tribe Media Corp/Jewish Journal. Also participating will be Jay Sanderson, President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, and Shep Rosenman of LimmudLA, whose mission is to create cross-communal conversations.
This public forum is sparked by the October 16 arrest of Anat Hoffman at Jerusalem’s Western Wall for disturbing the peace, as a result of her leading a prayer service and for singing the Shema holy prayer out loud. This incident has raised concerns and confusion in many Diaspora Jewish communities (Jews who reside outside of Israel), and led to calls from organizations and leaders of the American Jewish Community to change the policy that prevents women from participating as a group in public prayer at the Western Wall.
This open meeting is an opportunity for the Greater Los Angeles Jewish community to discuss the issue of religious pluralism in Israel. Co-sponsors include:
- The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
- Kehillat Israel
- The Board of Rabbis of Southern California
- Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue
- LimmudLA
- Nashuva
- Jewish Journal
- Sinai Temple
- Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
- Stephen S. Wise Temple
- Academy of Jewish Religion
- Temple Akiba
- National Council of Jewish Women
- Temple Beth Am
- Jewish Women’s Conference of Southern California
- Temple Beth El Riverside
- Adat Ari El
- Temple Beth Hillel
- Adat Shalom
- Temple Isaiah
- Beth Chayim Chadashim
- Temple Israel of Hollywood
- Beth Shir Shalom
- Temple Judea
- Congregation Or Ami
- University Synagogue
- Hillel at UCLA
- Valley Beth Shalom
- Hillel at USC
- Wilshire Boulevard Temple
- IKAR
About Temple Emanuel Beverly Hills
Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills is one of Southern California’s largest Reform congregations, serving West and Greater Los Angeles. The synagogue recognizes there is more than one way to be a Jew, with a temple community that includes many single members, interfaith, gay, single parent, multi-cultural and other non-traditional families. Its vision is “Living Judaism:” a Judaism that is alive, changing and vibrant. The clergy includes Rabbi Laura Geller, whomNewsweek named one of America’s Top 50 Most Influential Rabbis, Rabbi Jonathan Aaron, Cantor Yonah Kliger and Rabbi Sara Mason-Barkin. Temple Emanuel’s three award-winning schools include the Early Childhood Center, Day School and Religious School, as well as a broad-based Adult Education Program. Known for its engaging worship offerings, the synagogue offers innovative musical High Holy Day and Friday Night Services, including “Shabbat B’Yachad” and “Shabbat Unplugged.” The Shabbat morning New Emanuel Minyan service is the largest Reform Shabbat morning service in the area. For more information or to inquire about membership, visit Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills at www.tebh.org.
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CONTACT:
Annie Levine 310-409-4634
Annie@tebh.org