Israel Matzav

Reform movement chooses New Israel Fund board member as leader

The Reform movement has always leaned toward the political left, but its decision to tap Rabbi Richard Jacobs as its new leader signals that it might be shifting its focus toward a slightly different form of political activism.

Jacobs, who will replace Rabbi Eric Yoffie as the head of the Union for Reform Judaism, has played a prominent role in the progressive activist community. He’s a long-time board member at the New Israel Fund, a major funder of left-wing causes as well as some that launched the anti-Israel “lawfare” movement. And while NIF says it no longer finances pro-boycott organizations, it previously contributed to Concerned Women for Peace, Israel Social TV, and Mossawa.

Jacobs is also listed as a member of J Street’s Rabbinic Cabinet, which suggests the controversial lobbying group might become a more influential player in the Reform movement than it’s been in the past.

Yoffie, who led the Reform movement for 16 years, had a notoriously rocky relationship with J Street.

Labels: Eric Joffe, J Street, Peter Beinart, Richard Jacobs, Union for Reform Judaism

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:54 PM