Marc Schneier

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Marc Schneier
Marc Schneier.JPG
Born (1959-01-26) January 26, 1959 (age 66)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation Rabbi

Marc Schneier (born January 26, 1959) is an American rabbi and president of The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. Schneier previously served as vice-president of the World Jewish Congress. [1]

Contents

Career

In 1999, Schneier authored the book Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Jewish Community which is the first reference to the Letter to an Anti-Zionist Friend, an open letter allegedly written by Martin Luther King Jr. which was later determined to be a hoax. [2]

First Gathering of European Muslim and Jewish leaders in Brussels, December 2010 - left to right: Grand Mufti Mustafa Ceric - European Council President Herman Van Rompuy - Rabbi Marc Schneier - Imam Dr. Abdujalil Sajid Interreligious-Meeting - Mustafa Ceric - Herman Van-Rompuy-Marc-Schneier - Abdujalil Sajid - Brussels 2010.jpg
First Gathering of European Muslim and Jewish leaders in Brussels, December 2010 – left to right: Grand Mufti Mustafa Ceric – European Council President Herman Van Rompuy – Rabbi Marc Schneier – Imam Dr. Abdujalil Sajid

Schneier has also worked together with Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR), the American Muslim advocacy organization, which the organized American Jewish community has long viewed as "out of bounds" for its alleged ties to the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas and its broader anti-Israel activity and rhetoric. [3] [4]

In 2013, Schneier co-authored with Imam Shamsi Ali the book Sons of Abraham: A Candid Conversation about the Issues That Divide and Unite Jews and Muslims. [5]

In a 2018 interview with The Times of Israel , Schneier said that he was "of course" a Zionist, adding, "I’m passionate about Israel. You know, I’m all for dialogue, but cross a line with me on Israel, I’m like a rabid dog." Schneier further elaborated to the Times that "Israel is not some 70-year-old political aspiration for the Jewish people. It’s [...] at the very core of Judaism for 3,300 years," and compared a Jew distancing themselves from Israel to a Muslim abandoning halal practices. [6]

Regarding the Abraham Accords, Schneier enumerated Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Oman, Syria and Lebanon, as countries that may normalize relations with Israel in the near future. However, he indicated that "There's going to be very little movement in the Arab world until… Israelis recognize that everyone wants to see a Palestinian state – even if only symbolic." [7]

Personal life

Sheikh Omar Abu-Namous, Rabbi Marc Schneier, and Imam Samer Alraey opening the U.S. national gathering of imams and rabbis on November 7, 2007, sponsored by Schneier's Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and the Islamic Cultural Center of New York in New York City FFEU Imams and rabbis.jpg
Sheikh Omar Abu-Namous, Rabbi Marc Schneier, and Imam Samer Alraey opening the U.S. national gathering of imams and rabbis on November 7, 2007, sponsored by Schneier's Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and the Islamic Cultural Center of New York in New York City

For his 50th birthday, his fourth wife, Tobi Rubinstein-Schneier, arranged for a 400 lb. endangered Asian lion to be donated in his honor at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. [8] The lion was renamed "Rabbi Marc".

Schneier married his 5th wife, on October 6, 2013. [9]

Schneier married his 6th wife, Simi Teitelbaum, in 2017. [10]

In February 2018, it was reported that the State of Florida has ordered Schneier pay $5,000 a month for $64,594 in unpaid child support he owes to his third wife for the care of their then-19 year old son. [11]

He is the son of Rabbi Arthur Schneier.

References

  1. ↑ Ravid, Barak (April 21, 2014). "Abbas expected to send message of condolence for Holocaust victims". Ha'Aretz.
  2. ↑ "Letter by Martin Luther King a Hoax". CAMERA. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  3. ↑ "We Don't CAIR To Talk to You". The Forward. December 18, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Rabbi Crosses Communal Line to Work With Controversial Muslim Group". The Forward. June 18, 2016.
  5. ↑ Kellner, Mark A. (November 21, 2013). "KELLNER: Rabbi, imam plead for understanding in 'Sons of Abraham'". Washington Times.
  6. ↑ Borschel-Dan, Amanda (March 15, 2018). "A rabbi in King Hamad's court preaches Torah of interfaith tolerance". Times of Israel . Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  7. ↑ Borschel-Dan, Amanda (March 15, 2018). "A rabbi in King Hamad's court preaches Torah of interfaith tolerance". Times of Israel . Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  8. ↑ Birkner, Gabrielle (February 4, 2009). "The Rabbi That Roared". The Forward.
  9. ↑ Nemes, Hody (November 29, 2013). "Marc Schneier Gets Married (Again!) — and RCA May Move To Resolve Dispute". The Forward.
  10. ↑ "Prominent NY rabbi accused of owing child support". The Jerusalem Post . February 10, 2019. ISSN   0792-822X . Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Prominent NY rabbi accused of owing child support". The Jerusalem Post. February 10, 2019.
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