Yonat Shimron
Yonat Shimron is an RNS National Reporter and Senior Editor.
All Stories by Yonat Shimron
Harvard Divinity School selects first Black woman as dean
By Yonat Shimron — August 25, 2023
(RNS) — Marla Frederick, a professor of religion and culture at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, will succeed David Hempton, who has served as dean since 2012.
An online assembly attempts to correct March on Washington gender gap
By Yonat Shimron — August 24, 2023
(RNS) — None of the speeches at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom were delivered by women. The “She Speaks” online assembly is intended to lift up the voices of women fighting for racial justice.
Robert Jones’ new book roots white supremacy in 500-year-old papal decree
By Yonat Shimron — August 22, 2023
(RNS) — The Doctrine of Discovery shaped the way America’s white, European Christian settlers saw themselves and their mission and gave rise to uncontrollable outbursts of violence.
An advocate for secular education among Haredi Jews discovers journalism
By Yonat Shimron — August 14, 2023
(RNS) — Naftuli Moster became convinced there needs to be an independent news outlet that holds Haredi leaders and institutions — and especially the rabbinic establishments — accountable.
Are white evangelical pastors at odds with their congregants? A new study says no.
By Yonat Shimron — August 9, 2023
(RNS) — A new study shows white evangelical clergy are as conservative, if not more so, as the people in their churches.
Atheist and agnostic fired for not attending company prayers win $50K in suit
By Yonat Shimron — August 7, 2023
(RNS) — The two workers declined to participate in a daily prayer circle as the company owner read from Scripture.
For many Pittsburgh Jews, Robert Bowers deserves the death penalty
By Yonat Shimron — August 3, 2023
(RNS) — The execution may be years or decades away, if it happens at all, but for the country’s worst act of antisemitism the death penalty sent a message that hatred of Jews should never be tolerated.
He made it out of prison. Now he’s helping others do the same.
By Yonat Shimron — July 27, 2023
(RNS) — Reentry is a huge challenge for many formerly incarcerated, who encounter a combination of laws and rules that block them from jobs, housing and voting. Stanley Frankart is there to help.
Mourning temples’ demise on Tisha B’Av, some Jews see parallels to Israel’s democracy
By Yonat Shimron — July 25, 2023
(RNS) — Many American Jews are in mourning not only for the temples, but, they say, for Israeli democracy, which has been badly tarnished.
Yeshiva University adds a master’s program in Jewish studies for Christians
By Yonat Shimron — July 24, 2023
(RNS) — The program comes at a time when many seminaries and graduate schools are courting students of different faiths.
Pioneering Christian broadcaster Stuart Epperson dies
By Yonat Shimron — July 18, 2023
(RNS) — Epperson and his brother-in-law, Edward Atsinger, built Salem into a radio powerhouse that became a key communication channel for the religious right and a mainstay of the Republican Party.
Rebecca Todd Peters is on a mission to get churches to talk about abortion
By Yonat Shimron — July 13, 2023
(RNS) — A Presbyterian minister and scholar is working to shift the cultural paradigm that abortion is sin.
Geneva College soccer coach fired after expressing support for LGBTQ people
By Yonat Shimron — July 11, 2023
(RNS) — In early April, Kelsey Morrison posted two messages to her Instagram page: ‘Queer people offer precious gifts to the church: Don't miss out’ and ‘Jesus is radically inclusive.’
Report finds a growing exodus of Jews from Russia and Ukraine
By Yonat Shimron — July 7, 2023
(RNS) — If trends continue, both Russia and Ukraine could lose a majority of their Jewish populations in the years ahead, the Institute for Jewish Policy Research reports.
Neland Avenue wasn’t kicked out. Now the church has to decide if it wants to stay.
By Yonat Shimron — July 5, 2023
(RNS) — The Christian Reformed Church didn't show any sign it would relent from its new doctrinal stand that homosexual sex is a sin. That puts the Neland Avenue Church in a tight spot.
