Reform Judaism mourns the death of Rabbi Aaron Panken

Reform Judaism is stunned and saddened to learn of the sudden death of Rabbi Dr Aaron Panken z”l.

Rabbi Panken was 12th President of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He died in a plane crash on 5 May.

Today, Sunday 6th May, the Reform Union in New York ordains a new cohort of rabbis and cantors. This year will be a poignant ceremony, and a symbol of Rabbi Panken’s legacy, of strong and passionate Reform Jewish leadership cascading from generation to generation. In those he has inspired, the impact of Rabbi Panken’s leadership will live on.

Our thoughts today are with his close family at this tragic time.