David Ellenson

David Ellenson was a prominent American rabbi and academic administrator who played a key role in the Reform movement of Judaism. Born in 1947, he went on to become a respected leader in his field, holding various distinguished positions throughout his career. Notably, he served as the president of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) from 2001 to 2013, and later held the title of chancellor emeritus until his passing in 2023.

In addition to his presidency at HUC-JIR, Ellenson was also the director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies and a visiting professor of Near Eastern and Judaic studies at Brandeis University. Following the death of his successor, Aaron D. Panken, Ellenson briefly served as interim president of HUC-JIR until the inauguration of Andrew Rehfeld, the institution's 10th president. Through his various roles, Ellenson demonstrated his commitment to Jewish scholarship and education, leaving a lasting impact on the Reform movement and the academic community.