Rabbi Michael “Mickey” Rosen, who founded a network of progressive Orthodox synagogues in Israel, has died.
Rosen died Sunday night from injuries sustained three weeks ago in a fall. He was in his late 50s and suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative neurological disorder commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He spent his final weeks in a coma.
In 1992, Rosen founded the Yakar-Center for Tradition and Creativity in Jerusalem, which gained popularity with its combination of tuneful prayer services and commitment to social action. A second synagogue later opened in Tel Aviv.
Rosen was ordained in 1973 and earned a doctorate from London University in 1994, according to a brief biography on the Yakar Web site. He was the author of “The Quest for Authenticity,” a book about the Chasidic master Rabbi Simcha Bunim.
His brother, Rabbi David Rosen, chairs the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations.
Rosen was buried Monday in Jerusalem. He is survived by his wife and six children.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
