Rabbi David Reiner and his wife, Ashley Susan Heller, a software consultant
Rabbi David Reiner will be the new spiritual leader of Temple Shearith Israel, the Reform Jewish synagogue at 46 Peaceable Street.
Rabbi Reiner will assume this month, following Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer, who is departing to lead a congregation in New Jersey.
“We are thrilled to have Rabbi Reiner come to our community and join our TSI family,” said Joan Isman, co-president of the temple. “He is a dynamic and inspiring leader, and his warmth, intelligence, insight and enthusiasm will ensure that our congregation continues to grow and prosper.”
After a comprehensive nationwide search process over nearly a year, Rabbi Reiner was chosen from more than 40 candidates.
“Rabbi Reiner brings a very strong combination of pulpit experience, Jewish scholarship, teaching, and community leadership to the rabbinate,” said Gale Berman, co-chair of the Rabbi Search Committee. “He embraces warm and sincere personal and professional relationships. In short, Rabbi Reiner exemplifies the core values of TSI.”
The search process included several rounds of interviews, both on-site and through Skype. There were candidate presentations to the temple board of directors, and weekends spent with various community leaders. The Rabbi Search Committee, comprised of 15 diverse members of the congregation, unanimously recommended Rabbi Reiner. This was followed by a unanimous vote from the board of trustees.
Rabbi David Levy Reiner had been the rabbi at Temple Beth-El in Geneva, N.Y., and the Hillel rabbi at the University of Rochester.
He graduated cum laude from the University of Rochester and was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, from which he also received a master’s in Hebrew letters.
He studied at Harvard Divinity School and is on the Human Rights Commission in Geneva and the board of the Commission on Christian Jewish Relations of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester in Rochester.
Rabbi Reiner is the son of the esteemed Rabbi Fred Reiner, rabbi emeritus of Temple Sinai in Washington, D.C., and the late Dr. Sherry Levy-Reiner, former director of development for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
Rabbi Reiner is well known in the Rochester region for his numerous religious and community activities.
He is married to Ashley Susan Heller, a software consultant for Ariba, an office management software provider.
“I am honored and humbled to serve as the rabbi of Temple Shearith Israel,” said Rabbi Reiner. “I look forward to working with and inspiring members of this vibrant community towards communal and individual growth through meaningful conversations, creative educational programs, and dynamic worship opportunities. Ashley and I are excited to become part of such a wonderful and welcoming community.”