For the second consecutive year, Newsweek has named Rabbi Naomi
Levy in its ranking of the top 50 most influential rabbis in
America. The list is a virtual "Who's Who" of America's foremost
rabbis. A complete list is available in
Newsweek's online
edition.
Rabbi Levy is the bestselling author of To Begin Again and Talking to God, and through her work at Nashuva, she has become a leading rabbinic voice, reaching out to unaffiliated Jews, disaffected Jews, interfaith families, gay and lesbian Jews, and Jews of color and drawing them back to soulful prayer and active responsibility for our world.
Created by Michael Lynton, Sony Pictures CEO, Gary Ginsberg, of Newscorp., and Jay Sanderson, of JTN Productions
(and incoming president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los
Angeles), the list reflects the diversity in Jewish leadership today. The authors of the list created a scoring system. Criteria for the selection included: Are the rabbis known nationally/internationally? Do they have a media presence? Are they leaders within their communities? Are they considered leaders in Judaism or their movement? Do they have political/social influence? Have they made an impact on Judaism in their career? Have they made a "greater" impact?
In a time of unprecedented Jewish unaffiliation, the Newsweek list offers us insight into which leaders are speaking to American Jews today. The three judges hope their list will "launch a debate about the future of American Judaism."
|