International Rabbinic Fellowship

The International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF) is a Modern Orthodox rabbinical organization founded by Rabbis Avi Weiss and Marc D. Angel in 2007.^[1][2][3] The group is open to Orthodox rabbis, including graduates of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Yeshivat Maharat, and is the only Orthodox rabbinical association to admit women rabbis as members.^[1] The group's current president is Rabbi Yonah Berman and its Executive Director is Rabbi Jason Herman.

Overview

IRF began as a fellowship of Orthodox rabbis and spiritual leaders with a more open and accessible view of Orthodox Judaism.^[4][5] The IRF views itself as a counterpart to the Rabbinical Council of America and is one of the main association of Modern Orthodox rabbis.^[6][7] In 2018, the association reportedly consisted of approximately 250 members.^[8] 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.^[9] Alternatively, the IRF is evidence of a shifting trend, within modern Orthodoxy, away from fundamentalism.^[10]

The IRF supports the ordination of women and their role in the clergy^[11] and since 2012 has admitted female members.^[7] Prior to this decision, in December 2010, the group had voted against such a proposal.^[12][13] 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.^[14]

Publications

• "Halakhic Realities: Collected Essays on Organ Donation" (ed. Zev Farber). Maggid Books, 2017. ISBN 9781592644070
• "Halakhic Realities: Collected Essays on Brain Death" (ed. Zev Farber). Maggid Books, 2016. ISBN 9781592644063