Arnold Jacob Wolf
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf (March 19, 1924 – December 23, 2008) was an important American Reform Rabbi, and a longtime champion of peace and progressive politics.
, a BA in philosophy from the University of Cincinnati
. His rabbinical studies were at Hebrew Union College
in Cincinnati and he was ordained in 1948. While at HUC, he served as secretary to Abraham Joshua Heschel
.
He served a stint as an assistant to his uncle, Rabbi Felix Levy, at Temple Emanuel in Chicago, then he served as a Navy chaplain in Japan during the Korean War
. A near crash in a seaplane that landed safely in the water was a life-altering experience.
in Highland Park, Illinois
, where he remained until 1972.
Rabbi Wolf marched in Selma, Ala., for civil rights and he traveled to Washington together with his temple members to protest the Vietnam War. In 1967, FBI agents attended and recorded one of his anti-war sermons.
Congregation Solel established an annual Holocaust remembrance weekends starting in the 1960s, making it one of the first synagogues in the United States to initiate the practice.
He was known for bringing speakers as diverse and contemporary as Rev. Martin Luther King and defendants in the Chicago Seven
conspiracy trial.
He believed that "The core teaching of Torah for him had to do with justice, and one sometimes had to speak about that in ways that people didn't care to hear," and that "I am Adonai your God" was not a promise but a challenge to be lived up to every moment in every action."
He allowed his congregation to write its own prayer book and make decisions previously reserved for the rabbi. He capped membership at 400 and banned bar mitzvahs.
, the school's chaplain. In 1975 he was the first official Jewish representative ever invited to the World Council of Churches
world assembly in Nairobi, Kenya
He was the founder and leader of the organization for peace in the Middle East Breira
, A Project of Concern in Diaspora-Israel Relations, that supported a two-state solution
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
. Founded in 1973, the organization dissolved in 1977, having been the target of criticism from pro-Israel groups in the United States.
in Kenwood
, Chicago's oldest Jewish congregation, from 1980 to 2000.
Wolf received a Brotherhood Award for his civil rights work from the National Council of Christians and Jews in 1962. When the same group later gave a humanitarian award to then President Ronald Reagan
, Rabbi Wolf returned his award, saying, "If Ronald Reagan is a humanitarian, then I’m not.
Rabbi Wolf celebrated his bar mitzvah at age 83, never having observed the rite at age 13 as Reform Judaism did not practice the ceremony at the time. The rabbi acknowledged that he was nervous about performing in public, as this was the first time he would be chanting
the torah
. The celebrations included a series of lectures by Wolf and other rabbis.
Rabbi Wolf died at age 84 on December 23, 2008 in Chicago
of an apparent heart attack
.
, whose home is across the street from the K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Temple where Rabbi Wolf served for decades.
Rabbi Wolf had supported Obama's campaign for the Illinois Senate
in 1996, telling him that "Mr. Obama, someday you will be vice president of the United States". Obama laughed, responding "Why vice president?"
Biography
Wolf received an associate's degree from the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, a BA in philosophy from the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
. His rabbinical studies were at Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
in Cincinnati and he was ordained in 1948. While at HUC, he served as secretary to Abraham Joshua Heschel
Abraham Joshua Heschel
Abraham Joshua Heschel was a Polish-born American rabbi and one of the leading Jewish theologians and Jewish philosophers of the 20th century.-Biography:...
.
He served a stint as an assistant to his uncle, Rabbi Felix Levy, at Temple Emanuel in Chicago, then he served as a Navy chaplain in Japan during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. A near crash in a seaplane that landed safely in the water was a life-altering experience.
Congregation Solel
In 1957 he helped launch Congregation SolelCongregation Solel
Congregation Solel of Highland Park, IL was one of the first Reform synagogues in the North Shore of Chicago and currently serves about 500 households.-Founding:...
in Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park is a suburban municipality in Lake County, Illinois, United States, about north of downtown Chicago. As of 2009, the population is 33,492. Highland Park is one of several municipalities located on the North Shore of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.-Overview:Highland Park was founded...
, where he remained until 1972.
Rabbi Wolf marched in Selma, Ala., for civil rights and he traveled to Washington together with his temple members to protest the Vietnam War. In 1967, FBI agents attended and recorded one of his anti-war sermons.
Congregation Solel established an annual Holocaust remembrance weekends starting in the 1960s, making it one of the first synagogues in the United States to initiate the practice.
He was known for bringing speakers as diverse and contemporary as Rev. Martin Luther King and defendants in the Chicago Seven
Chicago Seven
The Chicago Seven were seven defendants—Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, and Lee Weiner—charged with conspiracy, inciting to riot, and other charges related to protests that took place in Chicago, Illinois on the occasion of the 1968...
conspiracy trial.
He believed that "The core teaching of Torah for him had to do with justice, and one sometimes had to speak about that in ways that people didn't care to hear," and that "I am Adonai your God" was not a promise but a challenge to be lived up to every moment in every action."
He allowed his congregation to write its own prayer book and make decisions previously reserved for the rabbi. He capped membership at 400 and banned bar mitzvahs.
Yale
After leaving Congregation Solel, Rabbi Wolf spent eight years as Jewish chaplain and Hillel director at Yale University, where he could have found an activist compatriot in Rev. William Sloane CoffinWilliam Sloane Coffin
William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was an American liberal Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ....
, the school's chaplain. In 1975 he was the first official Jewish representative ever invited to the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
world assembly in Nairobi, Kenya
He was the founder and leader of the organization for peace in the Middle East Breira
Breira (organization)
Breira full name "Breira: A Project of Concern in Diaspora-Israel Relations" was an organizational founded to express a left-wing position on Israel in 1973 and it lasted until 1977.-History:...
, A Project of Concern in Diaspora-Israel Relations, that supported a two-state solution
Two-state solution
The two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the consensus solution that is currently under discussion by the key parties to the conflict, most recently at the Annapolis Conference in November 2007...
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
. Founded in 1973, the organization dissolved in 1977, having been the target of criticism from pro-Israel groups in the United States.
K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Temple
He led K.A.M. Isaiah Israel TempleK.A.M. Isaiah Israel Temple
KAM Isaiah Israel is the oldest Jewish congregation in Chicago, with its oldest core founded in 1847 as Kehilath Anshe Ma'arav ....
in Kenwood
Kenwood, Chicago
Kenwood, located on the South Side of the City of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the 77 well-defined Chicago community areas.Kenwood was part of Hyde Park Township, which was annexed by the City of Chicago in 1889....
, Chicago's oldest Jewish congregation, from 1980 to 2000.
Wolf received a Brotherhood Award for his civil rights work from the National Council of Christians and Jews in 1962. When the same group later gave a humanitarian award to then President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, Rabbi Wolf returned his award, saying, "If Ronald Reagan is a humanitarian, then I’m not.
Rabbi Wolf celebrated his bar mitzvah at age 83, never having observed the rite at age 13 as Reform Judaism did not practice the ceremony at the time. The rabbi acknowledged that he was nervous about performing in public, as this was the first time he would be chanting
Cantillation
Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
the torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
. The celebrations included a series of lectures by Wolf and other rabbis.
Rabbi Wolf died at age 84 on December 23, 2008 in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
of an apparent heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
Support for Barack Obama
He was vocal in his support for Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, whose home is across the street from the K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Temple where Rabbi Wolf served for decades.
Upon hearing of Rabbi Wolf’s death, President-elect Obama issued a statement, calling the rabbi a "dear friend," whose absence would be deeply felt in his hometown and beyond: "Throughout Chicago and in Jewish homes across our country, Rabbi Wolf’s name is synonymous with service, social action, and the possibility of change".
Rabbi Wolf had supported Obama's campaign for the Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
in 1996, telling him that "Mr. Obama, someday you will be vice president of the United States". Obama laughed, responding "Why vice president?"
External Links
- Articles by Arnold Jacob Wolf on the Berman Jewish Policy Archive @ NYU Wagner
- Obituary, 2009 in Sh'ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility Vol.39/no.659.