Balfour Brickner
Encyclopedia
Balfour Brickner a leading rabbi in the Reform Judaism
movement, was rabbi emeritus of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
in Manhattan
when he died.
Rabbi Brickner was a longtime political activist who was involved in the civil rights struggle (he was arrested at the Monson Motor Lodge in St. Augustine, Florida
on June 18, 1964, as part of the largest mass arrest
of rabbis in American history, having gone there at the urging of Martin Luther King Jr.), the Vietnam antiwar movement (traveling to Paris with an interfaith peace group to meet with Viet Cong leaders) and efforts supporting a woman's right to choose abortion.
He lived in Fort Lee, New Jersey
and Stockbridge, Massachusetts
.
Rabbi Brickner was born in Cleveland, Ohio
, where his father, Barnett, led Congregation Anshe Chesed, one of the country's largest Reform congregations. Brickner served in the United States Navy
during World War II
. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati
in 1948, with a bachelor's degree in philosophy. In 1952, he received his rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati.
A year after he was ordained, he moved to Washington, D.C.
, where he founded Temple Sinai. He served there until 1961, when he moved to New York City
for a position in the national headquarters of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now known as the Union for Reform Judaism
. Though described as "a passionate Zionist," he openly aired his criticism of Israel
i policies.
Brickner served on the boards of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. He was selected by New York
magazine as one of its 2003 list of the 50 sexiest New Yorkers, noting that he had "the looks of a rake (wavy silver mane, chiseled jaw) and the soul of a mensch."
Brickner's book Finding God in the Garden (Little, Brown and Company
) was published by in 2002.
On the occasion of the death of Rabbi Balfour Brickner, Dr. Eugene Fisher, Associate Director of the U.S. Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
, wrote that he was “one of the great leaders of Reform Judaism and one of the greatest American religious leaders of the second half of the twentieth century.” Fisher's praise of Brickner was controversial however because of Bricker's role in the pro-choice
movement.
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
movement, was rabbi emeritus of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
The Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a synagogue located at 30 West 68th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan.In 1905, Rabbi Stephen Samuel Wise then serving a congregation in Portland, Oregon, was under consideration as Rabbi of Temple Emanu–El in New York City, but withdrew his name...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
when he died.
Rabbi Brickner was a longtime political activist who was involved in the civil rights struggle (he was arrested at the Monson Motor Lodge in St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
on June 18, 1964, as part of the largest mass arrest
Mass arrest
A mass arrest occurs when the police apprehend large numbers of suspects at once. This sometimes occurs at illegal protests. Some mass arrests are also used in an effort combat gang activity. This is sometimes controversial, and lawsuits sometimes result...
of rabbis in American history, having gone there at the urging of Martin Luther King Jr.), the Vietnam antiwar movement (traveling to Paris with an interfaith peace group to meet with Viet Cong leaders) and efforts supporting a woman's right to choose abortion.
He lived in Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
and Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge is a town in Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,947 at the 2010 census...
.
Rabbi Brickner was born in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, where his father, Barnett, led Congregation Anshe Chesed, one of the country's largest Reform congregations. Brickner served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He graduated 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....
in 1948, with a bachelor's degree in philosophy. In 1952, he received his rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati.
A year after he was ordained, he moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he founded Temple Sinai. He served there until 1961, when he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for a position in the national headquarters of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now known as the Union for Reform Judaism
Union for Reform Judaism
The Union for Reform Judaism , formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations , is an organization which supports Reform Jewish congregations in North America. The current President is Rabbi Eric H...
. Though described as "a passionate Zionist," he openly aired his criticism of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i policies.
Brickner served on the boards of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. He was selected by New York
New York (magazine)
New York is a weekly magazine principally concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to The New Yorker, it was brasher and less polite than that magazine, and established itself as a cradle of New...
magazine as one of its 2003 list of the 50 sexiest New Yorkers, noting that he had "the looks of a rake (wavy silver mane, chiseled jaw) and the soul of a mensch."
Brickner's book Finding God in the Garden (Little, Brown and Company
Little, Brown and Company
Little, Brown and Company is a publishing house established by Charles Coffin Little and his partner, James Brown. Since 2006 it has been a constituent unit of Hachette Book Group USA.-19th century:...
) was published by in 2002.
On the occasion of the death of Rabbi Balfour Brickner, Dr. Eugene Fisher, Associate Director of the U.S. Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
U.S. Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
The Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs is the principal ecumenical and interfaith organization of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops....
, wrote that he was “one of the great leaders of Reform Judaism and one of the greatest American religious leaders of the second half of the twentieth century.” Fisher's praise of Brickner was controversial however because of Bricker's role in the pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
movement.
External links
- Articles by Rabbi Balfour Brickner on the Berman Jewish Policy Archive @ NYU Wagner