Alan Silverstein
Encyclopedia
Alan Silverstein is an American Conservative
rabbi
and the spiritual leader of Congregation Agudath Israel since 1979. He received a master of Hebrew letters in rabbinics from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
and a Ph.D. in Jewish history from its Institute for the Advanced Study in Humanities and was ordained by its Rabbinical School. He also earned a master’s degree in Jewish history from Columbia University
.
He was vice president of the National Council of Synagogues; president of the West Essex Clergy Association; president of the MetroWest Board of Rabbis and of the Rabbinical Assembly
’s New Jersey Region; president of the New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders; and served as a member of the National Rabbinic Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal
. From 1993 to 1995 he was president of the International Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative Movement. From 2000 - 2005 he was president of the Masorti Olami
(World Council of Conservative/Masorti
Synagogues).
A nationally renowned lecturer, Rabbi Silverstein has written numerous articles and booklets on intermarriage, conversion and the Arab-Israel conflict.
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and the spiritual leader of Congregation Agudath Israel since 1979. He received a master of Hebrew letters in rabbinics from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
and a Ph.D. in Jewish history from its Institute for the Advanced Study in Humanities and was ordained by its Rabbinical School. He also earned a master’s degree in Jewish history from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
He was vice president of the National Council of Synagogues; president of the West Essex Clergy Association; president of the MetroWest Board of Rabbis and of the Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbinical Assembly
The Rabbinical Assembly is the international association of Conservative rabbis. The RA was founded in 1901 to shape the ideology, programs, and practices of the Conservative movement. It publishes prayerbooks and books of Jewish interest, and oversees the work of the Committee on Jewish Law and...
’s New Jersey Region; president of the New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders; and served as a member of the National Rabbinic Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal
United Jewish Appeal
The United Jewish Appeal was a Jewish philanthropic umbrella organization that existed from its creation in 1949 until it was folded into the United Jewish Communities, which was formed from the 1999 merger of United Jewish Appeal , Council of Jewish Federations and United Israel Appeal, Inc.In...
. From 1993 to 1995 he was president of the International Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative Movement. From 2000 - 2005 he was president of the Masorti Olami
Masorti Olami
Masorti Olami builds, renews and strengthens Jewish life throughout the world, with efforts that focus on existing and developing communities in Europe, Latin America, the Former Soviet Union, Africa, Asia and Australia...
(World Council of Conservative/Masorti
Masorti
The Masorti Movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in Israel and other countries outside Canada and U.S. Masorti means "traditional" in Hebrew...
Synagogues).
A nationally renowned lecturer, Rabbi Silverstein has written numerous articles and booklets on intermarriage, conversion and the Arab-Israel conflict.