Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Senior Rabbi at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, was elected to the Board of Governors of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion on April 16, 2023.
“Rabbi Weiner believes passionately in building Judaism for the 21st century and in healing the world through social justice,” stated HUC-JIR President Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D. “His passion – coupled with his impressive experience and thought leadership – will serve as tremendous assets to the board well into the future.”
Since he took charge in 2001, Temple De Hirsch Sinai has grown to more than 5,000 members and 1,600 families on two campuses. His rabbinate places a special emphasis on interfaith and ecumenical efforts, working closely with the Episcopal and Catholic Dioceses, and creating bonds of partnership and faith with local African American churches.
Rabbi Weiner and his team won the Union of Reform Judaism’s Fain Award for their campaign on gun responsibility. His efforts with other clergy contributed to the founding of the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, which drafted and helped pass several key initiatives, placing Washington State at the forefront of efforts to reduce gun violence.
He is part of the first cohort of Rukin Fellows for 18 Doors, an organization dedicated to embracing and supporting couples and families from multi-heritage backgrounds. He has served on numerous boards, including various committees of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, chaired local rabbinic boards, and on multiple national boards of Jewish organizations.
Rabbi Weiner has served congregations in Baltimore, Maryland and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He teaches and lectures frequently and founded the Center for Religious Wisdom and World Affairs at Seattle University. He is the author of Good God: Faith for the Rest of Us about the dangerous polarization between fanatical faith and soulless secularism. His columns have appeared in The Seattle Times, The Forward, and Haaretz.
Weiner is married to Cindy Tepper Weiner, and they are the proud parents of Julia and Benjamin.