Monday, July 28, 2014

Obama To Nominate Rabbi David Saperstein As Ambassador-At-Large For International Religious Freedom

The White House today announced President Obama's intention to nominate Rabbi David Saperstein to be Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.  Here is Rabbi Saperstein's biography as set out in the White House press release:
Rabbi David Nathan Saperstein is Director and Counsel of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, where he has served since 1974.  He is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches First Amendment Church-State Law and Jewish Law.  Rabbi Saperstein serves on a number of boards, including The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment.  He was a Member of the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships from 2010 to 2011.  Rabbi Saperstein was a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom from 1999 to 2001, serving as its first Chair from 1999 to 2000.  Rabbi Saperstein received a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.H.L. from Hebrew Union College, and a J.D. from American University.
Rabbi Saperstein will replace Suzan Johnson Cook who resigned last October. (See prior posting.)

UPDATE: According to a July 29 White House release, Rabbi Saperstein's nomination has now been formally submitted to the Senate.