Michael Lerner (rabbi)
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Michael Lerner is a rabbi and liberal religious/political activist, best known for being the editor of the left-wing Jewish bimonthly, Tikkun.
Lerner has described his form of Judaism as being "Jewish Renewal," and as "positive Judaism." He fights against what he sees as ethnocentric attitudes among others Jews. His publications encourage Jews, Muslims and Christians to embrace what he calls a "responsible attitude to the world."
Michael Learner considers himself to be a Zionist, though he strongly disaproves of mainstream Zionism, which he views as a form of Jewish ethnocentrism that denies the historical experience of the Palestinians in service to advocating a Jewish homeland. He and the Tikkun Community oppose the continued occupation of the disputed territories. Most Zionists consider his critique of Zionism to be anti-Zionist.
He believes that Israel should be a homeland for Jews and Palestinians living together under a unitary state. Until that can be achieved he supports a two-state solution with the return of Israel to the pre-1967 borders and dismantling the Israeli West Bank barrier. He advocates the adoption of the Geneva Accords, as the peace agreement that best embodies his ideal of coequal states.
Rabbi Learner believes that a lack of trust, caused by the violence of both sides is the key impediment to the establishment of a Palestinian state
Lerner has a rabbinic ordination from the Aleph Alliance for Jewish Renewal (http://www.aleph.org/).
Recently, Lerner accused the anti-war group ANSWER of anti-Semitism, on the grounds that his support for the existance of Israel influenced their decision to bar him from speaking at their rallies against the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[1] (http://www.tikkun.org/magazine/index.cfm/action/tikkun/issue/tik0305/article/030512a.html)
External links
- Tikkun community website (http://www.tikkun.org/)
- Tikkun magazine (http://www.tikkun.org/magazine/)
- Interview (http://www.wie.org/j19/lernerintro.asp)