In the International Rabbinic Fellowship world, there are endless aspects that deserve to be explored and discussed. Whether International Rabbinic Fellowship is a person, a topic, a date or any other concept, its relevance and impact on our lives become evident as we delve deeper into its meaning and repercussions. From its origin to its evolution over time, International Rabbinic Fellowship has left its mark on society, culture and history, generating debates, reflections and analyzes that allow us to better understand its importance. In this article, we will delve into the world of International Rabbinic Fellowship to discover its many facets and learn more about its meaning in our current context.
The International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF) is a Modern Orthodox rabbinical organization founded by Rabbis Avi Weiss and Marc D. Angel in 2007 and soon elected Rabbi Barry Gelman as its president. The group is open to graduates of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. The group's current president is Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot. The group is noted for being the only Orthodox rabbinical association to admit women rabbis as members.
IRF began as a fellowship of Orthodox rabbis and spiritual leaders associated with the Open Orthodox stream within Orthodox Judaism. The organization is viewed as a counterpart to the Rabbinical Council of America, an established modern Orthodox association. In 2010, the association reportedly consisted of approximately 200 members. The differentiation of the positions held by the IRF from those held by other Orthodox associations have led some to point to the irrelevance of denominational labels in contemporary Judaism. Alternatively, the IRF is evidence of a shifting trend, within modern Orthodoxy, away from fundamentalism.
The IRF supports the ordination of women and their role in the clergy. Since 2012, it has admitted female members as members to its association. Prior to this decision, in December 2010, the group had voted against such a proposal. The IRF supports the use of a halachic prenuptial agreement, and in 2012 the group passed a resolution stating that member rabbis may only officiate a wedding if the couple has signed such an agreement.