Arthur Waskow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Waskow
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Arthur Waskow
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| Born | October 12, 1933 |
| Occupation | American author, political activist, and rabbi associated with the Jewish Renewal movement |
| Spouse(s) | Phyllis Berman |
Arthur Ocean Waskow (born Arthur I. Waskow; 1933) is an American author, political activist, and rabbi. He is known for his work with the Jewish Renewal movement. This movement aims to make Jewish life more spiritual, ethical, and modern.
Contents
Arthur Waskow's Early Life and Work
Arthur Waskow was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He studied American history and earned a Ph.D. (a high-level degree) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Working in Government and Research
From 1959 to 1961, Waskow worked for a politician named Robert Kastenmeier. He helped with laws and government work. After that, he joined the Peace Research Institute. This group studied how to create peace in the world.
In 1963, he helped start the Institute for Policy Studies. This institute was a place where people could research and discuss important public issues. He worked there until 1977.
A Voice for Change
In 1968, Waskow was chosen as a delegate for the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. This was a big meeting where the Democratic Party chose its candidate for president. Waskow and his group supported Robert F. Kennedy. After Kennedy was sadly killed, Waskow suggested that Reverend Channing Phillips be nominated for president. Phillips became the first Black American to be nominated at a major party convention.
Waskow also wrote for Ramparts magazine. In 1969, the magazine published his "Freedom Seder." A Seder is a special meal during the Jewish holiday of Passover. Waskow's "Freedom Seder" was unique because it connected the ancient story of the Israelites escaping slavery in Ancient Egypt with modern struggles for freedom. These struggles included the Civil Rights Movement (for equal rights for all people) and the women's movement (for equal rights for women).
Protesting for Peace and Justice
During the 1960s, Waskow was very active against the Vietnam War. He wrote, spoke, and took part in nonviolent protests. He joined "sit-ins" (where people sit in a place to protest) and "teach-ins" (where people gather to learn about and discuss an issue).
He was arrested many times for protesting different things. These included:
- Racial segregation: unfair separation of people based on race.
- The Vietnam War.
- The Soviet Union's unfair treatment of Jews (called Refuseniks).
- South African apartheid: a system of racial separation and discrimination.
- The Iraq War.
In 1967, Waskow co-wrote "A Call to Resist Illegitimate Authority." This important paper supported people who refused to join the military during the Vietnam War. In 1968, he also signed a pledge to refuse to pay taxes. This was a protest against the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
Arthur Waskow's Religious Work
Since 1969, Arthur Waskow has been a leader in the Jewish Renewal movement. This movement tries to make Judaism more alive and meaningful for people today.
Building Communities and Teaching
In 1971, he helped start the Fabrangen Havurah in Washington, D.C. A havurah is a small, informal group of Jews who meet for prayer, study, and community. His experiences there inspired his 1978 book, Godwrestling.
From 1982 to 1989, Waskow taught at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He taught about modern religious ideas and how to be a rabbi. He also taught religion at other colleges like Swarthmore College, Temple University, Drew University, and Vassar College.
The Shalom Center and Jewish Renewal
In 1983, Waskow founded The Shalom Center. He is still its director. At first, the center focused on stopping nuclear war. Later, it started working on protecting the environment and human rights. More recently, it has focused on fighting global warming and the climate crisis.
In 1993, Waskow also helped create ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. He worked for ALEPH, doing research, writing, and speaking, until 2005.
Becoming a Rabbi
In 1995, Arthur Waskow became a rabbi. He was ordained by a special group of rabbis from different Jewish traditions. This showed his wide acceptance across different Jewish groups.
Books and Writings
Waskow has written many well-known books. Some of his most famous include:
- Godwrestling
- Seasons of Our Joy
- Down-to-Earth Judaism: Food, Money, ..., and the Rest of Life
- Godwrestling — Round 2: Ancient Wisdom, Future Paths
He also co-authored books with his wife, Rabbi Phyllis Berman, and other religious leaders. Many of his books connect Jewish teachings with modern issues like healing the world and spiritual journeys. He also edited books about Jewish thought on ecology, showing his deep care for the Earth.
Arthur Waskow's Views and Awards
Arthur Waskow has been a pioneer in many important areas.
Supporting Equality and Peace
He strongly supported women and LGBTQ people having full and equal roles in Jewish life. This included supporting same-sex marriage. He also helped organize opposition to the Vietnam and Iraq wars within the Jewish community and beyond.
Since 1969, after visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories, he has urged for a two-state peace agreement between Israel and Palestine. He believes that the climate crisis and the loss of animal species are very important issues for Jewish people. He also thinks that too much power held by a few very rich people and huge companies is a problem, like the ancient "pharaoh" who oppressed people.
In 2011, he helped inspire "Kol Nidre in the Streets." This was a part of the Occupy Wall Street movement, which protested economic inequality. Since 2012, he has been part of the US National Council of Elders. This group connects older activists with new movements for justice and peace.
Eco-Judaism and Environmental Action
Waskow was a leader in developing "Eco-Judaism." This idea connects Jewish beliefs and practices with caring for the environment. He wrote books like Torah of the Earth: 4,000 Years of Ecology in Jewish Thought.
He also helped organize projects like the Green Menorah and interfaith Seders for the Earth. He ran as a candidate for the World Zionist Congress on the Green Zionist Alliance slate, showing his commitment to environmental issues. He has taken part in nonviolent protests against climate change, even being arrested for his actions.
Honors and Recognition
Arthur Waskow has received many honors for his work:
- In 2007, Newsweek magazine named him one of the fifty most influential American rabbis.
- He received the Rev. Richard Fernandez Religious Leadership Award and the Peace and Justice Award.
- The Forward newspaper named him one of America's "Forward Fifty," recognizing him as a creative leader in American Jewish life.
- In 2014, T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights gave him its first Lifetime Achievement Award as a Human Rights Hero.
- In 2015, The Jewish Daily Forward named him one of "America's most inspiring rabbis."
- In 2017, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College gave him an honorary doctorate degree.
Waskow has also taught as a Visiting Professor at several universities. He taught about Jewish thought, the Book of Genesis, and how Jewish ideas connect with ecology, feminism, and social action. He even taught the first course on Eco-Judaism at a rabbinical seminary.
Arthur Waskow continues to write and speak about social justice through the lens of Jewish Renewal. His papers and writings are kept in historical archives for future study.
