Reb David Shneyer

Reb David at Sukkot

Reb David Shneyer has been Kehila Chadasha's spiritual leader and Judaist since our founding in 1978. He studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary and in Israel, earning degrees in Judaic studies from Rutgers Unversity and Baltimore Hebrew College. In 2001 Reb David received his "semicha" ordination from the Aleph Seminary founded by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shlomi.

The immediate past president of Ohalah, the Rabbinic Association of Jewish Renewal Rabbis, Reb David is also a musician and composer of new liturgical music. He is a founder of Yachad, the Jewish Housing Development Corporation, Jews United for Justice, and the Jewish Folk Arts Festival. He is active in the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the Montgomery Countryside Alliance and also Rabbis for Human Rights. In 1990 he founded Am Kolel, an independent and progressive Jewish community that operates Sanctuary Retreat Center and sponsors many events in the larger community.

Contact Information

Email: rebdavids@aol.com
Office phone: (301) 349-2799
Weekend office phone: (301) 231-9067
Emergencies only: (301) 706-5497

Reb David works with the Sofer to repair a Torah. Photos by Diane Jacobstein.

The R&D Committee of the Torah

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 5:22pm — david.shneyer

This week we review Parshat Mishpatim, those chapters from Exodus filled with laws governing human relationships and civil society. Every year for centuries going back to Ezra the Scribe (2400 years ago) we've been doing this. It always impresses me how relevant so many teachings in our Torah are. It also impresses me how many laws challenge us, need further discussion and development. It occurred to me that we are the ongoing Research and Development Committee of the Torah.

On Tu Bishvat, remember Alan Gross!

Wed, 02/08/2012 - 3:29pm — david.shneyer

Happy Tu Bishvat! While most of us have the opportunity and the freedom to feel gratitude for the trees and all that they provide us on this "New Year of the Trees," one member of our community, Alan Gross, cannot celebrate and enjoy nature. He is still sitting in a Cuban prison, arrested for illegal activity in Cuba sponsored by our government through USAID.

Greetings from Israel

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 5:39pm — david.shneyer

This is my last day in Israel. Much has happened since last week.