Paula Reimers

Paula Reimers (1947–2023) was an American rabbi. In 2008 she was the rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel (Lebanon, Pennsylvania). However by January 2017 she was no longer listed as that Congregation's rabbi.[1][2] Reimers was one of the first women to be ordained by the Conservative movement’s Jewish Theological Seminary of America.[3]

Biography

Reimers was educated at Barnard College, (A.B., 1969) M.A., Columbia University, (M.A., 1971) and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (M.A., ordination, 1990.) [4] Reimers converted from Christianity to Judaism in 1981.[5][6][7]

Reimers was politically active in defense of Palestinian rights.[8] In 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Reimers invited several Muslims to join members of Burbank Temple Emanu-El in Burbank, California in their sukkah. In order not to offend the Muslim guests, Israeli flags were removed from among the sukkah decorations, offending some of her congregants. The congregation voted not to renew her contract.[9][10]

By July 2015, Reimers was on the Rabbinical Council of the group Jewish Voice for Peace,[11] a group the ADL has called one of the top 10 anti-Israel groups in the country.[12] However as of June 2018, she was no longer listed on that Council.[13]

Reimers, a feminist, opposed using both male and female pronouns in worship.[14][15]

Reimers spoke out[3] against the Christian missionizing of Ralph Drollinger the former NBA player who now heads Capitol Ministries [16][17] whose goal is: "Making disciples for Jesus Christ in state legislatures."[3][18] Reimers further elaborated that:

In my opinion, the 2007 Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast clearly showed state endorsement of one particular religion (Christianity) and one particular sect within that religion (evangelical Protestantism), and even one particular Christian evangelical organization, Capitol Ministries. Many specific indications would lead to this conclusion.[19][20]

Rabbi Reimers died on June 14, 2023.

Publications
  • "Feminism, Judaism, and God the Mother" (Conservative Judaism, Fall 1993)

References
  1. Winding road leads rabbi to Valley, David Mekeel, Lebanon Daily News, December 9, 2006
  2. "Website of Congregation Beth Israel, Lebanon, PA". Website of Congregation Beth Israel, Lebanon, PA. Congregation Beth Israel, Lebanon PA. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  3. "jewsonfirst.org "Capitol Ministries: Making disciples for Jesus Christ in state legislatures" (May 15, 2007)". Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  4. "Lebanon Valley College". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  5. “From Jew-by-choice to rabbi: Women forging new paths,” Aleza Goldsmith, August 3, 2001, Jewish Bulletin of Northern California
  6. What It Means to Be Jewish: The Voices of Our Heritage, by Ina Abrams and Ina L. Yalof, St. Martin’s Press, 2002, Page 230
  7. Tracy Gordon-Fox, "Rabbi Impressing Her Congregants", Hartford Courant, October 31, 1993.
  8. Christians and a Land Called Holy: How We Can Foster Justice, Peace, and Hope, by Charles P. Lutz and Robert O. Smith, 2006, Fortress Press, p. 151
  9. “The Silencing of the Left?How the quest for a united front may quash the debate on Israel,” by Julie Gruenbaum Fax, The Jewish Journal, Sept. 26, 2002
  10. Laura Sturza, "Rabbi Paula Reimers and her former...", Burbank Leader, November 2, 2002.
  11. "Campaigns | JVP's Rabbinical Council | Jewish Voice for Peace". jewishvoiceforpeace.org. Archived from the original on 26 July 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  12. "ADL Identifies Top 10 Anti-Israel Groups in America".
  13. "Jewish Community Transformation". jewishvoiceforpeace.org. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  14. Is God male, female, both or neither? How should we phrase our prayers in response to God’s gender? By Ahuva Zache , I-Torah
  15. ” God and Gender in Judaism, by Matthew Berke, First Things 64 (June/July 1996): 33-38.
  16. Dallas Morning News: Ex-Mavs center Ralph Drollinger is now living by the book (August 8, 2005
  17. "capmin.org". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  18. dailygotham.com "Religious Intolerance in America" Archived 2008-07-04 at archive.today
  19. "jewsonfirst.org "The 2007 Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast: Rabbi Paula Reimers, Congregation Beth Israel, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, May 17, 2007"". Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  20. "Rabbi Paula Rimmer: 2007 Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast" (pdf)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-12-18. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
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