Ariel Stone

Ariel Stone, also called C. Ariel Stone, is the first American Rabbi to lead a congregation in the former Soviet Union, and the first progressive rabbi to serve the Jewish community in Ukraine.^[1][2][3] After serving as Assistant Rabbi of Temple Israel of Greater Miami 1991-1993 with Rabbi Rex Perlmeter, she represented the World Union for Progressive Judaism in Ukraine from 1993 until 1994.^[4][5][6] While in Ukraine she was a rabbi at Congregation HaTikvah in Kiev, and helped in creating progressive congregations in Ukraine.^[7][8] In 1993-1994 she taught Holocaust studies at the University of Central Florida.

Since 2002, Ariel Stone has served as the spiritual leader of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Portland, Oregon.^[9] Stone has a master's degree in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and was awarded a Doctor of Jewish Studies degree from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago in 2010.^[10] As of 2018, she has served as adjunct faculty in the Religious Studies departments of Willamette University of Salem, Oregon, and Portland State University in Oregon.^[11] From 2007-2009 and again from 2015-2017 she was President of the Oregon Board of Rabbis.^[12]

She is the founder of the Portland Interfaith Clergy Resistance, a group of faith leaders committed to justice, compassion and accountability. The Portland Human Rights Commission awarded Ariel Stone the Emily G. Gottfried Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.^[13]

Her books include "Because All is One" and "The Aleph Bet of Death, Dying as a Jew: A Guide for the Dying out of Traditional Sources."

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