Last updated on: 9/23/2015 | Author: ProCon.org

Eric H. Yoffie Biography

Title:
President Emeritus of the Union for Reform Judaism
Position:
Pro to the question "Is a Two-State Solution (Israel and Palestine) an Acceptable Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?"
Reasoning:

“My hope is that the government of Israel, with the support of the American Jewish community, will do everything necessary to demonstrate her commitment to a two-state solution and a Jewish and democratic Israel… And while I may not agree with all of J Street’s positions, your commitment to and advocacy for the two-state solution, the peace process, and the issues surrounding settlements are an important contribution to both American politics and American Jewish politics.”

“Rabbi Yoffie’s Remarks to J Street Convention October 2009,” Union for Reform Judaism, urj.org, Oct. 26, 2009
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • President, Eric Yoffie LLC, July 2012-present
  • President Emeritus, Union for Reform Judaism, 2012-present
  • President, Union for Reform Judaism, June 1996-June 2012
  • Vice President, Union for Reform Judaism, July 1992-June 1996
  • Director of the Commission on Social Action, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, July 1992-June 1996
  • Executive Editor, Reform Judaism, 1992
  • Executive Director, Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA), 1983-1992
  • Director, Midwest Council, Union for Reform Judaism, July 1980-June 1983
  • Rabbi, Judea Reform Congregation, Durham, NC, July 1976-June 1980
  • Assistant Rabbi, Temple Emmanuel, Lynbrook, NY, July 1974-June 1976
Education:
  • Rabbinical Ordination and Masters of Hebrew Letters, Hebrew Language and Literature, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), 1974
  • BA, Political Science and Jewish Studies, Brandeis University, 1969
Other:
  • Twitter handle: @EricYoffie
  • Has lectured at DePaul University, Florida State University, and the University of Arizona
  • Has presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and appeared on Fox News and CNN
  • Has been published in TIME, Jerusalem Post, Huffington Post, and Haaretz
  • Awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (DHL) by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in 2012
  • Awarded an honorary degree by Assumption College, Worcester, MA
Quoted in:
  1. Should the Israeli Fence/Wall Exist?