Rabbi Michael Lerner

Rabbi Michael Lerner holds a Ph.D. in philosophy (1972) and a second Ph.D. in psychology (1977), is editor of Tikkun www.tikkun.org, executive director of the Institute for Labor and Mental Health, rabbi of Beyt Tikkun Synagogue-Without-Walls in Berkeley, chair of the international Network of Spiritual Progressives, and author of 12 books, most recently Revolutionary Love published by the University of California Press (more info about this book at www.tikkun.org/lj). Lerner was recently described by Professor Cornel West of Harvard U. as “one of the most significant prophetic public intellectuals and spiritual leaders of our generation” and Keith Ellison, Attorney General of the State of Minnesota, says: “The caring society is the only realistic path for humanity to survive, and in Revolutionary Love Rabbi Lerner lays out a powerful and compassionate plan for building that caring society.” Talking about his book Revolutionary Love, Gloria Steinem, a founding editor of Ms. Magazine, says “Michael Lerner takes the universal qualities wrongly diminished as ‘feminine’—caring, kindness, empathy, love—and dares to make them guides to a new kind of politics that can challenge the cruelty, competition, and dominance wrongly elevated as ‘masculine.’ Revolutionary Love opens our minds and hearts to a fully human way of living and governing.”

Jewish Wisdom

Spiritually Transformative, Politically & Environmentally Relevant High Holy Days

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | August 20, 2020

High Holy Days with Rabbi Michael Lerner: A spiritually transformative & politically relevant experience on Zoom.

Politics & Society

A Guide for How Progressives Can Transform July 4th into Interdependence Day

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | June 29, 2020

Turning a militarist nationalist July 4th into a celebration of caring for each other and for the earth.

Politics & Society

How to Overcome Racism

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | June 10, 2020

Rabbi Lerner presents the structural changes needed to beat racism.

Don’t Waste an Economic Meltdown

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | April 29, 2020

While we are still confined to our homes, before we return to our lives as they were before, here’s how we can use our time to build a movement for transformative change.

Israel/Palestine

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Kahol Lavan leader Benny Gantz

An Israeli Coalition Government Which Betrays Judaism

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | April 20, 2020

Gantz joins Netanyahu and plans to annex the West Bank and prevent jail for Netanyahu.

Jewish Wisdom

Haggadah for Beyt Tikkun Liberation Seder

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | April 7, 2020

We are excited to share our 2020 Haggadah for our Beyt Tikkun/Tikkun Liberation Seder.

Jewish Wisdom

A Chanukah and Christmas message—not platitudes

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | December 19, 2019

This holiday season, Rabbi Lerner urges readers of all faiths to celebrate the potentially liberatory elements of their spiritual traditions and practices.

Politics & Society

America’s Public Housing Crisis

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | December 3, 2019

Rabbi Michael Lerner urges readers to tackle climate change and systemic inequality by supporting the Public Housing Green New Deal Act and the ESRA.

Politics & Society

Thanksgiving and the December Holidays Bring Stress to Many

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | November 26, 2019

Rabbi Michael Lerner offers strategies for how we can make a cultural shift this holiday season, one that moves us away from consumerism and toward love.

Politics & Society

How to celebrate Thanksgiving with integrity

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | November 25, 2019

Rabbi Lerner provides some tips for giving thanks while remaining in integrity with our concerns about the wellbeing of Earth and the wellbeing of our fellow humans.

Politics & Society

Anti-Semitism: Two Articles by Bernie Sanders and a College Student

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | November 17, 2019

Rabbi Michael Lerner shares his insightful reflections and analyses on two important articles on anti-Semitism, one from Bernie Sanders and another from a college student.

Jewish Wisdom

Transformation and Forgiveness

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | September 25, 2019

The repentance and forgiveness themes of the Jewish High Holidays are not just for Jews. America needs repentance. Click on the photo below to read more.

Ecological Transformation

ESRA–the Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | August 2, 2019

Tikkun & the NSP’s Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment to the Constitution (ESRA), aims to bring back economic power to ordinary citizens.

Tikkun Daily

Prejudice against Jews Rises in 2019

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | June 27, 2019

A recent report from the Public Religion Research Institute indicates that discrimination against Jews has increased over the past five years.

Politics & Society

Please Read The Poor People’s Campaign Moral Budget

By Rabbi Michael Lerner | June 17, 2019

Please take the time to read the Poor People’s Campaign Moral Budget, and compare it with what any candidate for office seeking your vote is supporting.