David Saperstein (rabbi)
David Saperstein | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 |
| Spouse | Ellen Weiss |
| Alma mater |
Cornell University (BA) Hebrew Union College (MHL) American University (JD) |
David Nathan Saperstein is an American rabbi, lawyer, and Jewish community leader who served as United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. 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.
Early life and education
Saperstein was born in New York City to Rabbi Harold Saperstein and Marcia Saperstein. 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.
Career
Saperstein 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. He has been described as America's most influential rabbi and as the quintessential religious lobbyist on Capitol Hill.
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.
In February 2009, he was named to President Barack Obama's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. In 2009 Newsweek named him # 1 on its list of "50 Influential Rabbis."
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. In December 2014 Saperstein's appointment to the post won U.S. Senate confirmation.
He has co-chaired the Coalition to Preserve Religious Liberty, and served on the boards of the NAACP, Common Cause, and People For the American Way. In 1999, Saperstein was elected as the first Chair of the congressionally-created U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
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.
Personal life
Saperstein is married to four-time Peabody Award winning journalist Ellen Weiss. They are the parents of musician Daniel Saperstein and journalist Ari Saperstein. His brother is Jewish historian and rabbi Marc Saperstein.