Michael Lerner (Rabbi)
Michael Lerner is a critic of conservative Israeli policies, best known for being the editor of the left-wing Jewish monthly, "Tikkun".Lerner has described his form of Judaism as being "Jewish Renewal", and as "positive Judaism". He fights against what he sees as ethnocentric attitudes among others Jews. His publications encourage Jews, Muslims and Christians to embrace what he calls a "responsible attitude to the world".
He is a strong supporter of Zionism, which he views as a form of affirmative action for the Jewish people. He is also on the left-wing of the political spectrum, and supports groups such as Peace Now.
Lerner was given a controversial private Rabbinic ordination by "Jewish Renewal" Rabbis. Presently, these rabbinic ordinations are only recognized by those within the Jewish Renewal community and within Reconstructionist Judaism. These ordinations are rejected as invalid by all of Orthodox Judaism, the Reform movement's Central Conference of American Rabbis, and by the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly.
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