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Eric H. Yoffie is a Reform rabbi, and past president of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), the congregational arm of the Reform movement in North America, which represents an estimated 1.5 million Reform Jews in more than 900 synagogues across the United States and Canada. He was the unchallenged head of American Judaism’s largest denomination from 1996 to 2012.〔(Forward 50, 2007: Eric Yoffie ), ''The Jewish Daily Forward'', November 10, 2006〕 Following his retirement in 2012, he has been a lecturer and writer; his writings appear regularly in ''The Huffington Post'', ''The Jerusalem Post'', and ''Haaretz''. ==Family and career== Rabbi Yoffie was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, where his family belonged to historic Temple Emanuel, and he was involved in the Reform Movement's Youth organization, the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY). He first held the position of president in the Northeast Region of NFTY before moving on to be the organization's Vice President in 1965-1966. After high school Yoffie spent his freshman year at Stanford University, and graduated from Brandeis University. He received his Rabbinical ordination from Hebrew Union College in New York in 1974. He served congregations in Lynbrook, NY, and Durham, NC, before joining the URJ as director of the Midwest Council in 1980. In 1983 he was named Executive Director of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA). In 1992 he became vice president of the URJ and director of the Commission on Social Action. In addition, he served as executive editor of the ''Reform Judaism'' magazine. On July 1, 1996, he succeeded Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler as president of the Union for Reform Judaism. In 1999 ''The Jewish Daily Forward'' named Yoffie the number one Jewish leader in America.〔(Yoffie’s Legacy: ‘Old Ideas’ for Reform Judaism ), ''The Jewish Daily Forward'', March 23, 2011〕 He is married to Amy Jacobson Yoffie. The couple has two children, and reside in Westfield, New Jersey. On June 10, 2010, Rabbi Yoffie announced his intention to step down from the post of president of the URJ at the age of 65, in June 2012.〔(Rabbi Eric Yoffie Announces Retirement ), eJewish Philanthropy, June 11, 2010〕 He was succeeded by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, who had served as the senior rabbi at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, NY.〔(Once a Critic, New Leader of Reform Judaism Promises Change, by Josh Nathan-Kazis, ''The Jewish Daily Forward'', March 23, 2011 )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Eric Yoffie」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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