David Nathan Saperstein is an American rabbi, lawyer, and Jewish community leader who served as United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.[1][2] He previously served as the director and chief legal counsel at the Union for Reform Judaism's Religious Action Center for more than 40 years.[3]
David Saperstein | |
|---|---|
 Saperstein in January 2015 | |
| 4th United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom | |
| In office January 6, 2015 – January 20, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Suzan Johnson Cook |
| Succeeded by | Sam Brownback |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 5, 1947 New York City, U.S. |
| Spouse | Ellen Weiss |
| Alma mater | Cornell University (BA) Hebrew Union College (MHL) American University (JD) |
Early life and education
editSaperstein was born in New York City to Rabbi Harold Saperstein and Marcia Saperstein.[citation needed] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University, Master of Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law at American University, where he graduated summa cum laude.[4]
Career
editSaperstein succeeded Rabbi Richard G. Hirsch as leader of the Washington D.C.-based social justice and lobbying arm of the North American Reform movement. There, he advocated on a broad range of social justice issues. He directed a staff who provided extensive legislative and programmatic materials to synagogues, federations and Jewish Community Relations Councils nationwide, coordinating social action education programs that train nearly 3,000 Jewish adults, youth, rabbinic and lay leaders each year.[3] He has been described as America's most influential rabbi and as the quintessential religious lobbyist on Capitol Hill.[5]
On August 28, 2008, Saperstein delivered the invocation at the Democratic National Convention's final session, before Senator Barack Obama accepted the party's nomination for president.[6]
In February 2009, he was named to President Barack Obama's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.[7] In 2009 Newsweek named him # 1 on its list of "50 Influential Rabbis."[8]
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On July 28, 2014, President Obama nominated Saperstein to be the first non-Christian to hold the post of United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.[1] In December 2014 Saperstein's appointment to the post won U.S. Senate confirmation.[9][10]
He has co-chaired the Coalition to Preserve Religious Liberty,[11] and served on the boards of the NAACP, Common Cause, and People For the American Way.[citation needed] In 1999, Saperstein was elected as the first Chair of the congressionally-created U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.[12]
Saperstein is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught courses on church-state law and on Jewish law for 35 years.[13]
Personal life
editSaperstein is married to four-time Peabody Award winning journalist Ellen Weiss.[14] They are the parents of musician Daniel Saperstein and journalist Ari Saperstein.[15] His brother is Jewish historian and rabbi Marc Saperstein.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Obama Names First Non-Christian Ambassador For Religious Freedom". HuffPost. July 28, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ Newsweek Staff (April 11, 2008). "Top 50 Influential Rabbis in America". Newsweek. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ a b Official biography from rac.org.
- ^ "President Obama Announces Another Key Administration Post". White House. July 2, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Religious freedom: Rabbi to the rescue, The Economist.
- ^ Democrats Pitch Big Tent in Bid To Draw in the Faithful, by Brett Lieberman, The Jewish Daily Forward, 8/28/08
- ^ "The Appointees". The Washington Post. February 6, 2009. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
- ^ "50 Influential Rabbis". Newsweek. April 3, 2009.
- ^ US Senate approves rabbi as freedom of faith envoy, The Times of Israel, December 15, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2014
- ^ Rabbi David Saperstein confirmed as U.S. Ambassador for Religious Freedom, AL.com, December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014
- ^ University, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown. "David Saperstein". berkleycenter.georgetown.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "The Interfaith Alliance Masthead Rotator". Archived from the original on July 2, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2007.
- ^ Georgetown Law Faculty Profile page. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
- ^ "David Saperstein | Miller Center". millercenter.org. May 16, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Flasher: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert. YouTube.
External links
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