Leonard Fein
| Leonard Fein | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 1, 1934 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died |
August 14, 2014 (aged 80) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer, professor, publisher |
| Ethnicity | Jewish |
Leonard J. Fein (July 1, 1934 – August 14, 2014), also known as Leibel Fein, was an American activist, writer and teacher who specialized in Jewish social themes.[1]
Biography
He founded the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy, and was co-founder and for 12 years editor of Moment Magazine.[2] Characterized by Daniel Sokatch of the New Israel Fund as "the father of our Jewish social justice movement",[3] he was the author of four books, editor of two, and wrote extensively for newspapers, magazines, and journals. Since 1990, he wrote a syndicated weekly OpEd column for the Forward newspaper. Fein is also the founder of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, a Jewish hunger-relief organization, started in 1985.[4] Fein taught Political Science at MIT in the 1960s. At this time he was also the Deputy Director of the MIT/Harvard Joint Center for Urban Studies. He joined the Brandeis University faculty in 1970 as a Professor of Politics and Social Policy and the Klutznick Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies.
Fein's books include Where Are We? The Inner Life of America’s Jews, and Israel: Politics and People. He was a contributor to The New York Times, The New Republic, Commentary, Commonweal, The Nation, Dissent and the Los Angeles Times.
Fein died at the age of 80 on August 14, 2014.[5]
He was the brother of Rashi Fein, Litt.D., Ph.D., a famed health economist termed 'a father of Medicare',[6] and Professor of Economics of Medicine, Emeritus, in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School.[7]
Awards
- Ameinu Dreamers and Builders Award, November 2009.
- Honorary doctorate from the Hebrew Union College, 1991[8]
- National Foundation for Jewish Culture award for achievement in Jewish scholarship, 1994.
- Jewish Council on Public Affairs, Chernin Award for lifetime contributions to social justice, 1999.
- University of Chicago Alumni Award for “creative leadership in public service that has benefited society and reflected credit on the University,” 2000.
References
- ↑
- ↑ Latest news briefs from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Cleveland Jewish News, July 27, 2004. Accessed July 29, 2011
- ↑ Daniel Sokatch, obituary piece Leonard "Leibel" Fein, z"l (memorial note), 2014-08-15, nif.org (website of the New Israel Fund). Accessed online 2014-08-15.
- ↑ Dana Evan Kaplan, Contemporary American Judaism: transformation and renewal, New York : Columbia University Press, 2009; ISBN 978-0-231-13728-7; pp. 82-83
- ↑ http://forward.com/articles/204134/leonard-fein-progressive-activist-and-longtime-for/
- ↑ Rashi Fein, a ‘father of Medicare,’ dies, September 9, 2014, 11:52am, in JTA
- ↑ A brother’s tribute to Leonard Fein, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, October 26, 2010
- ↑ Bio of Leonard Fein, Americans for Peace Now, August 11, 2005. Accessed July 29, 2011
External links
- Behavior: Two Voices: A Dialogue on Dissension. Time Magazine, Jan. 31, 1969. Fein and educator Rhody McCoy are interviewed on the relationships between ethnic communities.