David Saperstein (rabbi)

Saperstein was born in New York City. 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.[4]

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 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.[5]

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.[6][7]

He has co-chaired the Coalition to Preserve Religious Liberty,[8] and serves 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 U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.[9]

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.[10] In February 2009, he was named to President Obama's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.[11] Saperstein is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center.[12]

He is married to four-time Peabody Award winning journalist Ellen Weiss.[13] They are the parents of musician Daniel Saperstein.[14]

He is a graduate member of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity.[15]

• Religious Action Center

Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Nathan Saperstein.

• Text of Rabbi Saperstein's invocation at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
• Appearances on C-SPAN