Brant Rosen
Brant Rosen, an American rabbi who led a Jewish synagogue in the US state of Illinois, was
pressured to quit for his criticism of Israeli policy and activism on behalf of the Palestinian people.
Rosen, who is also a journalist, author and blogger, resigned on Tuesday as the head of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Evanston, Illinois,
after 17 years of service.
The rabbi quit because of what he described as
long-standing tensions over his solidarity with Palestinians in their conflict with Israel, though he said the synagogue board did not force him to step down.
"There are members of the congregation who are deeply pained by what I say and do," he said. "This issue is very upsetting, very personal.
It's been very hard for them. That has been affecting the environment in the congregation, and it has been affecting me too."
However, he emphasized that
his activism will continue. "This is a very big part of who I am, and has been for a very long time," Rosen said.
Comment: See a video of Brant speaking below: