Our special guest for Simchat Torah is Rabbi Daniel Hillel Freelander, president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. With offices in New York and Jerusalem, Rabbi Freelander leads the coordinating body of over 1.8 million Jews, representing almost 1000 congregations and 7 regional bodies. Rabbi Freelander served the North American Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) as a staff member since 1975. As a NFTY Director, UAHC Regional Director, North American Director of Program and URJ Senior Vice President, he provided creative vision and management to dozens of programs and projects, including URJ Biennial conferences, music and worship initiatives and publications, camping and Israel programs. He is a native of Worcester, MA, and holds degrees from Trinity College, Hartford and the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York.
Today’s talk focuses on the transition of power between Moses and Joshua, on the importance of Torah-Scrolls, and on the joy of starting the Torah from the beginning every year.
Chag Sameach!
