Arthur Lelyveld
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld (February 6, 1913 - April 15, 1996) was a rabbi within the movement of Reform Judaism
. As well as being a prominent rabbi he also embraced social activism in many forms.
After marrying Toby Bookholtz - an actress and scholar of Shakespeare - he moved to live in Omaha, Nebraska
, where he led a congregation, before moving to New York, where he took on organizational rabbinic roles, including heading up the national Hillel
organization. He served as Rabbi in Cincinnati for a time. He also served as president of the Zionist Organization of America
from 1944.
From 1958 until 1986, he served as rabbi of Fairmount Temple in the Cleveland
suburb of Beachwood, Ohio
. Rabbi Lelyveld was president of the American Jewish Congress
, a 50,000-member organization, from 1966 to 1972. He served as president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
, and of the Synagogue Council of America
.
Unusually, in the Reform movement, he voiced his support for the recognition of the State of Israel in 1946, lobbying Harry S Truman to that end. He was also active in attempts to create harmonious relations between Jews
and blacks
in the United States
. He was active in the registration of black voters in the South during the 1960s. During the Freedom Summer
of 1964 he suffered a concussion when he was beaten with a tire iron by segregationists in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
.
During the Second World War Lelyveld was a pacifist and conscientious objector
, though he did propose sending a Jewish relief force to Europe. He headed the Jewish Peace Fellowship a coalition - formed in 1941 - of a number of groups of Jewish antiwar activists.
Lelyveld retired from the rabbinate in 1986 and died 10 years later.
He had four children. A son Joseph Lelyveld
was the executive editor of the New York Times, and won a Pulitzer Prize
for journalism. His son David Lelyveld is an authority on the frontier tribes of South Asia and is Professor of History at William Patterson University. Another son, Michael S. Lelyveld consults on Russian and Caspian energy. His daughter, Robin Lelyveld is a psychologist. His second marriage, to Teela Stovsky, lasted 35 years.
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
. As well as being a prominent rabbi he also embraced social activism in many forms.
After marrying Toby Bookholtz - an actress and scholar of Shakespeare - he moved to live in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, where he led a congregation, before moving to New York, where he took on organizational rabbinic roles, including heading up the national Hillel
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, working with thousands of college students globally...
organization. He served as Rabbi in Cincinnati for a time. He also served as president of the Zionist Organization of America
Zionist Organization of America
The Zionist Organization of America , founded in 1897, was one of the first official Zionist organizations in the United States, and, especially early in the 20th century, the primary representative of Jewish Americans to the World Zionist Organization, espousing primarily Political Zionism.Today,...
from 1944.
From 1958 until 1986, he served as rabbi of Fairmount Temple in the Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
suburb of Beachwood, Ohio
Beachwood, Ohio
-External links:* *...
. Rabbi Lelyveld was president of the American Jewish Congress
American Jewish Congress
The American Jewish Congress describes itself as an association of Jewish Americans organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad through public policy advocacy, using diplomacy, legislation, and the courts....
, a 50,000-member organization, from 1966 to 1972. He served as president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Central Conference of American Rabbis
The Central Conference of American Rabbis , founded in 1889 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the principal organization of Reform rabbis in the United States and Canada, the CCAR is the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in the world....
, and of the Synagogue Council of America
Synagogue Council of America
The Synagogue Council of America was an organization of American Jewish synagogue associations, founded in 1926, including :*The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America *The Rabbinical Council of America...
.
Unusually, in the Reform movement, he voiced his support for the recognition of the State of Israel in 1946, lobbying Harry S Truman to that end. He was also active in attempts to create harmonious relations between Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
and blacks
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was active in the registration of black voters in the South during the 1960s. During the Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer was a campaign in the United States launched in June 1964 to attempt to register as many African American voters as possible in Mississippi which had historically excluded most blacks from voting...
of 1964 he suffered a concussion when he was beaten with a tire iron by segregationists in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 44,779 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Forrest County...
.
During the Second World War Lelyveld was a pacifist and conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, though he did propose sending a Jewish relief force to Europe. He headed the Jewish Peace Fellowship a coalition - formed in 1941 - of a number of groups of Jewish antiwar activists.
Lelyveld retired from the rabbinate in 1986 and died 10 years later.
He had four children. A son Joseph Lelyveld
Joseph Lelyveld
Joseph Lelyveld was executive editor of the New York Times from 1994 to 2001, and interim executive editor in 2003 after the resignation of Howell Raines. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, and a frequent contributor to the New York Review of Books.In all, Lelyveld worked at...
was the executive editor of the New York Times, and won a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for journalism. His son David Lelyveld is an authority on the frontier tribes of South Asia and is Professor of History at William Patterson University. Another son, Michael S. Lelyveld consults on Russian and Caspian energy. His daughter, Robin Lelyveld is a psychologist. His second marriage, to Teela Stovsky, lasted 35 years.
Further reading
- Omaha Blues: A Memory Loop, Joseph Lelyveld, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005.