Yehuda Sarna

Rabbi Yehuda Sarna is the Executive Director of the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at New York University (NYU), the University Chaplain for NYU and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Administration in the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. He attended Yeshivat Har Etzion from 1995-1997 before earning his B.A. in English Literature and Judaic Studies from Yeshiva College. Rabbi Sarna is a 2003 graduate of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He came to NYU in 2002. Since coming to NYU, he has founded the Jewish Learning Fellowship, which offers intensive courses of study for students without yeshiva backgrounds, has worked to strengthen interfaith relationships on the NYU campus and has worked to bridge the different sects of Judaism within NYU.[1]

Rabbi Sarna has received numerous awards for his work. In 2009, he was an honoree at the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus Awards dinner. Additionally in 2009, he was listed as one of the "36-under-36" by The Jewish Week. In 2012, Rabbi Sarna received an award from Temple of Understanding with NYU's Imam Khalid Latif and Chelsea Clinton for their work in, "advancing a new model of integrating interfaith and cross cultural education into campus life." In 2013, he was honored by Yeshivat Har Etzion as "Alumnus of the Year." [2] [3] [4] [5]

In 2019, Rabbi Sarna was appointed Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community of the United Arab Emirates. [6]

He is married to psychologist Dr. Michelle Waldman Sarna and they have 6 children. [7]