Akiva Weingarten

His family on his father's side emigrated from post-World War II Hungary, and his maternal ancestors came from Lithuania.

He was a "critical thinker" from an early age, and asked questions in the yeshivot, which was met with rejection in his Hasidic community.

[2] Akiva Weingarten has been rabbi of the "Migwan" Liberal community in Basel and the city of Dresden since August 2019.

[4] Today, Weingarten supports Jews who have left the Haredi communities to get integrated in a life outside of the strictly religious environment.

[5] In 2017, he founded the liberal Hasidic community "Besht-Berlin", where Kabbalat Shabbat services, Kiddush, and joint study groups were held regularly.