David Saperstein (rabbi)

This article is about the Rabbi. For the billionaire, see David I Saperstein.

David Saperstein
Born	August 5, 1947(1947-08-05) New York
Alma mater	Cornell University
Occupation	Rabbi, Lawyer, Teacher, Lobbyist
Spouse	Ellen Weiss

David Saperstein is a rabbi, lawyer, and Jewish community leader.^[1] He has served as the director and chief legal counsel at the Union for Reform Judaism's Religious Action Center for more than 30 years.^[2] Saperstein succeeded Rabbi Richard G. Hirsch as leader of the Washington D.C.-based political lobbying arm of the North American Reform movement. There, he advocates on a broad range of social justice issues. He directs a staff who provide 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.^[2]

He currently co-chairs the Coalition to Preserve Religious Liberty, and serves on the boards of the NAACP and People For the American Way. In 1999, Saperstein was elected as the first Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.^[3]

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.^[4] In February 2009, he was named to President Obama's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships^[5]

Saperstein lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, former National Public Radio vice president for news Ellen Weiss. They have two sons.^[6]

See also

• Religious Action Center

References

1. ^ Top 50 Influential Rabbis in America, newsweek.com, 4/11/08
2. ^ ^{a b} Official biography from rac.org.
3. ^ http://www.interfaithalliance.org/site/pp.asp?c=8dJIIWMCE&b=120697#Saperstein
4. ^ Democrats Pitch Big Tent in Bid To Draw in the Faithful, by Brett Lieberman, The Jewish Daily Forward, 8/28/08
5. ^ "The Appointees". The Washington Post. 2009-02-06. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/05/AR2009020503169.html. Retrieved 2011-01-08. 
6. ^ Weiss makes v.p. with endorsement of NPR newsroom, by Karen Everhart, Current, 4/9/07

External links

• Text of Rabbi Saperstein's invocation at the 2008 Democratic National Convention

Persondata
Name	Saperstein, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 5, 1947
Place of birth	New York
Date of death
Place of death

This biographical article about an American rabbi is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: American Reform rabbis 21st-century rabbis Living people 1947 births American rabbi stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР? Oconee Ranger District Ovarian fossa Look at other dictionaries: David Saperstein — may refer to: David Saperstein (rabbi), rabbi, lawyer, and Reform Jewish community leader David Saperstein (writer) David I Saperstein, American entrepreneur, billionaire and farmer This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same …   Wikipedia SAPERSTEIN, DAVID N. — SAPERSTEIN, DAVID N. (1947– ), U.S. rabbi. The long time director of the Reform Jewish Movement s Religious Action Center (RAC) in Washington, D.C., Saperstein was an influential leader in the so called Jewish lobby in Washington for more than… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism SAPERSTEIN, HAROLD I. — SAPERSTEIN, HAROLD I. (1910–2001), a leading congregational rabbi of mid 20th century American Reform Judaism. As an undergraduate at Cornell, Saperstein was influenced by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise to enter the Jewish Institute of Religion, from… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism December 2010 Israeli rabbi letter controversy — In December 2010, two open letters signed by rabbis in Israel generated heated controversy within and outside the country. The first letter was a psak din (religious ruling) signed by an estimated 50 rabbis, urged Israeli landowners not to rent… …   Wikipedia Schedule for the 2008 Democratic National Convention — The following is a schedule of the 2008 Democratic National Convention that was held from August 25 to August 27 at Pepsi Center and on August 28 at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.unday, August 24Interfaith gatheringA Democratic… …   Wikipedia People For the American Way — Infobox Non profit Non profit name = People For the American Way Non profit Non profit type = Interest group founded date = 1981 founder = Norman Lear location = Washington D.C. origins = key people = Norman Lear area served = United States focus …   Wikipedia Modern liberalism in the United States — This article discusses liberalism as that term is used in the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries. For the history and development of American liberalism, see Liberalism in the United States. For the origin and worldwide use of the term… …   Wikipedia UNION OF REFORM JUDAISM — (formerly the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC), association of the more than 900 Reform and Liberal congregations of the U.S. and Canada, representing some 1.5 million Jews, with headquarters in New York. Founded in 1873 as the first …   Encyclopedia of Judaism VORSPAN, AL — (1924– ), a leading Jewish spokesperson and author on social justice concerns during the second half of the 20th century. vorspan served as the long time senior vice president for social justice of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism Peter Weller — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Weller. Peter Weller Données clés Nom de naissance Peter Frederick Weller Surnom Pete Naissance 24 juin 1947 ( …   Wikipédia en Français 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”