The Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah is named in honor of Rabbi Solomon B. Freehof, Ph.D. (that’s him in the picture). One of the outstanding scholars of the North American Reform movement during the 20th century, Rabbi Freehof was the movement’s preeminent teacher of halakhah. Throughout his halakhic writing, including eight published volumes of responsa and thousands of answers to individual inquiries, Rabbi Freehof emphasized the enduring connections between Reform Jewish religious practice and the sources of the Jewish legal tradition. The Freehof Institute seeks to continue his work. We are a research center devoted to studying and defining the progressive character of the halakhah in accordance with the principles and theology of liberal Judaism. The Institute seeks to establish the ideological basis of progressive halakhah and its application to the ritual, social, political, and ethical issues of our time. We sponsor symposia and scholarly publications that facilitate a broad range of discussion, open new vistas, and enable readers to appreciate the dynamic nature of the Jewish legal tradition.
If you would like to help support the Institute and its work, please consider becoming a member. Contact the president of the Institute: Dr. Walter Jacob, 4905 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA.
To keep up to date on our activities, visit our website and our Facebook page.