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Yehoyada Amir

Yehoyada Amir is an Israeli Reform rabbi and scholar of Jewish thought, professor emeritus at Hebrew Union College and head of the Regina Jonas liberal rabbinical seminary in Potsdam, Germany.

born 1954Research on Franz RosenzweigTraining Israeli Reform rabbisChairing Israel's Reform rabbinical council

Born: 17 February 1954, Jerusalem
Occupation: philosopher
Education: Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion – New York

Yehoyada Amir was born in 1954 in Jerusalem

Amir was born in Jerusalem in 1954 to a family of liberal rabbis ordained in Germany. His grandfather, Rabbi Menachem Neumark, led the Duisburg community from 1905 until its destruction in the Holocaust in 1942. His father, Rabbi Yehoshua Amir, was ordained in Berlin in 1939.

In 1973 he helped found a service year for city high school graduates with a Scouts group in Yeruham. He then served as an officer in the Artillery Corps. Afterward he led a Scouts troop in Jerusalem and was active in Peace Now, serving as its treasurer, and in Oz VeShalom.

He studied at the Hebrew University and completed a doctorate in 1993 under Eliezer Schweid, on Israeli responses to Franz Rosenzweig. He taught at several institutions and joined Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem in 1999, becoming full professor in 2012 and professor emeritus in 2022. From 1999 to 2009 he headed its Israeli rabbinic program.

He was ordained as a rabbi in 2004, the same year his book on Rosenzweig was published. He chaired the council of Reform rabbis in Israel from 2014 to 2018. Since 2024 he has headed the Regina Jonas seminary in Potsdam.

Yehoyada Amir's life in 8 milestones

1954
Born in Jerusalem.
1973
Co-founded a Scouts service year group in Yeruham.
1993
Completed his doctorate at the Hebrew University.
1999
Began teaching at Hebrew Union College and heading its Israeli rabbinic program.
2004
Ordained as a rabbi and published a book on Franz Rosenzweig.
2014
Elected chair of the council of Reform rabbis in Israel.
2022
Became professor emeritus.
2024
Became head of the Regina Jonas seminary in Potsdam.

Yehoyada Amir served in Artillery Corps

He served as an officer in the Artillery Corps, ending his regular service as a battery commander with the rank of lieutenant. He left the reserves as a deputy battalion commander with the rank of major.

Artillery Corps