David Rosen (rabbi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids David Rosen |
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|---|---|
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| Religion | Judaism |
| Alma mater | Yeshivat Har Etzion |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | |
| Born | David Shlomo Rosen 1951 (age 73–74) Newbury, Berkshire, England |
| Spouse |
Sharon Rothstein
(m. 1973) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents |
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| Senior posting | |
| Predecessor | Isaac Cohen |
| Successor | Ephraim Mirvis |
| Position | Chief Rabbi |
| Synagogue | Ireland |
| Began | 1979 |
| Ended | 1985 |
| Residence | Jerusalem |
David Shlomo Rosen (born 1951) is a British-Israeli rabbi who has spent his life working to build peace between different religions. A rabbi is a Jewish religious leader and teacher. Rosen is known for his work in what is called "interfaith dialogue," which means helping people from different faiths, like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, to talk and understand one another.
He was the Chief Rabbi of Ireland from 1979 to 1985. After that, he moved to Israel, where he lives now. He has worked for the American Jewish Committee (AJC) as its International Director of Interreligious Affairs. He is also a special advisor to the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, a place that brings together a mosque, a church, and a synagogue.
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Early Life and Career
David Rosen was born in Newbury, England. His father, Rabbi Kopul Rosen, started a Jewish boarding school called Carmel College. David and his two brothers, Jeremy and Michael, also became rabbis. He studied in Israel and was officially ordained as an Orthodox rabbi.
Time in South Africa
In 1973, Rosen moved to South Africa. By 1975, at just 24 years old, he became the rabbi of the largest Orthodox Jewish community in Cape Town. This was during a time called apartheid, a system where the government separated people by race and denied basic rights to non-white citizens.
Rosen believed that apartheid was wrong and went against the teachings of Judaism. He often gave sermons about this and tried to get his community to stand against racial segregation. He bravely spoke out, even when it was dangerous.
- He refused to attend an event honoring the Prime Minister, B.J. Vorster.
- He received anonymous death threats, and the police tapped his phone.
- He helped start the Cape Inter-Faith Forum, which brought together Jews, Christians, and Muslims. This was one of the few ways people of different races could meet at the time.
Because he spoke out against the government, his work permit was not renewed. He had to leave South Africa after five years.
Moving to Ireland and Israel
After leaving South Africa, Rosen was appointed Chief Rabbi of Ireland in 1979. He served there until 1985, when he made aliyah (moved to Israel). He now lives in Jerusalem and continues his work in building bridges between different religions.
Working for Peace Between Religions
Rabbi Rosen is a major figure in interfaith relations. He believes that people from different religions should respect and learn from each other.
He is an international president of an organization called Religions for Peace. He is also the only Jewish representative on the board of the KAICIID Dialogue Centre, an interfaith center started by the King of Saudi Arabia.
In 2015, he met with leaders of the Orthodox Christian church. He asked them to make a statement that the Jewish people were not rejected by God. He said this would help fight old prejudices against Jewish people.
Awards and Honors
Rabbi Rosen has received many awards for his work in promoting peace and understanding.
- Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great (2005): The Pope gave him this high honor for his work in improving relations between Jews and Catholics. He was the first Israeli citizen and Orthodox rabbi to receive it.
- Raphael Lemkin Human Rights Award (2006): He received this for founding the organization Rabbis for Human Rights.
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) (2010): Queen Elizabeth II gave him this honor for his service.
- Hubert Walter Award (2016): The Archbishop of Canterbury awarded him this for his work in interfaith cooperation.
His Views and Beliefs
On Apartheid
Rosen explained why he opposed apartheid in South Africa. He said the system took away people's basic human rights. This went against his religious belief that every person is created in the image of God and deserves freedom and dignity.
On Israel
Rosen believes that one of Israel's greatest achievements is its democracy. He notes that most of its people came from countries that were not democratic. However, he also thinks there should be more discussion in Israel between traditional Jewish beliefs and modern ideas.
He also supports allowing civil marriage in Israel. Currently, only religious marriages are performed. He argues that forcing non-religious couples to have a religious ceremony can push them away from their traditions.
On Jerusalem
Rosen writes that Jerusalem is deeply important to Jewish people's religious life and hopes. But he also recognizes that the city is holy to Christians and Muslims as well. He believes that when people respect each other's connection to Jerusalem, the city can truly live up to its name, which means "city of peace."
Personal Life and Vegetarianism
Rabbi Rosen is married to Sharon, and they have three daughters and six grandchildren.
He is also a vegetarian and the honorary president of the International Jewish Vegetarian and Ecology Society. He is a strong critic of factory farming, where animals are often treated cruelly. He argues that eating meat produced in such ways is not acceptable under Jewish law (halachah). He also believes that the environmental damage caused by meat production is a strong moral reason for Jews to become vegan.
See also
- History of the Jews in Ireland
- Jewish vegetarianism
