Walter Homolka

Walter Homolka (born 21 May 1964 in Landau an der Isar) is a German rabbi.

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and Rabbi Walter Homolka in 2007

Homolka studied in Munich, London, Lampeter and Leipzig and has a PhD from King's College London. He is an adjunct full professor at the University of Potsdam and rector at its Abraham Geiger College, which was founded in 1999. On 14 September 2006, Homolka ordained the first three rabbis in Germany since the Holocaust at the New Synagogue of Dresden. Rabbi Homolka is chairman of the Leo Baeck Foundation and an executive board member of the World Union for Progressive Judaism.

In 2007, Homolka established the Jewish Institute of Cantorial Arts, of which he is the president. A member of the French Legion of Honour, he is widely published internationally and holds a variety of distinctions. The Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion conferred upon him a "Doctor Humanarum Litterarum" honoris causa.

Homolka is active in Jewish-Christian dialogue as a guest at the Central Committee of German Catholics. In 2008, he condemned the new Good Friday Prayer instituted by Pope Benedict XVI.[1]

Conversion

Homolka is a convert to Judaism.[2] He explained that his conversion took place because he was fascinated by the concept of a hidden God in Judaism, and also because he opposed and wanted to leave the "Catholic spiritual monopoly" of his family and social environment.[3]

Sexual abuse scandal

In May 2022, several newspapers in Germany featured a series of in-depth reports on sexual misconduct by Homolka and his husband, including inappropriate behaviour that was targeted at students of the Abraham Geiger College he founded and where he served as rector. As a result, Homolka was forced to announce he was temporarily stepping down from all his roles.[4]

Honours and awards

References
  1. "Leading German Rabbi Condemns Pope's Good Friday Prayer"
  2. Axelrod, Toby (14 September 2022). "Is there such a thing as too many converts to Judaism? The debate roils German Jewry". Times of Israel. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  3. Walter Homolka, der ehrgeizige Öko-Rabbiner wird Kultur-Chef der Deutschen Bank Taggespiegel. 12 January 2000, Mrs Malthe Leming. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
  4. "Reform German rabbi steps down after being accused of sexual misconduct".
  5. "Reply to a parliamentary question" (PDF) (in German). p. 1759. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  6. "Reply to a parliamentary question" (PDF) (in German). p. 1438. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
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