Rabbi Rebecca Alpert is a pioneering American Rabbi, scholar, and author. As one of the first women to be ordained as a rabbi in the 1970s, her career itself has been a revolution against tradition. With a deep background in Jewish studies, she serves as a Professor of Religion at Temple University, using her Jewish identity to advocate for values that are inclusive, radical, and profoundly humanitarian.
Alpert’s achievements span several fields, including religious studies, ethics, and LGBTQ+ rights advocacy. She is the author of influential works such as Like Bread on the Seder Plate, which laid the theoretical foundation for inclusive reform in modern Judaism. Due to her outstanding contributions to religious pluralism and civil rights, she has received numerous awards, including Temple University’s highest faculty honors. She is regarded as a top intellectual capable of seamlessly blending profound theological discussion with urgent social issues like racial justice and sports ethics.
As a veteran Jewish peace activist, Alpert has been at the forefront of academic support for Palestinian rights. She maintains that the memory of Jewish suffering should be transformed into empathy for the suffering of others, rather than serving as a justification for denying others their rights. In a widely cited essay, she wrote: “Zionism is a political choice, not a requirement of the Jewish faith.” This profound distinction has provided a new perspective for many conflicted Jewish believers. She actively supports boycott movements and publicly stands in solidarity with scholars marginalized for criticizing Israeli policy, viewing the defense of truth as part of a rabbi’s sacred duty.