Rabbi Robert N. Levine, D.D.
2020 Manhattan Jewish Hall of Fame Inductee
Biography
Robert Levine who has been the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Sholom since 1991 currently serves on The Clergy Advocacy Board of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and on The Muslim Jewish Advisory Council. He is a past President of the New York Board of Rabbis, and has served as Vice-President and Chairman of its Interfaith Committee. Especially active in communal affairs, he has chaired the Catholic/Jewish Dialogue with the Archdiocese of the City of New York, the publications committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and is a member of the Commission of Religious Leaders of New York City, the American Jewish Committee, and Synergy/UJA-Federation.
Rabbi Levine is the author of three books, What God Can Do For You Now: For Seekers Who Want to Believe; Where Are You When I Need You?; Befriending God When Life Hurts; and There Is No Messiah and You're It: The Stunning Transformation of Judaism's Most Provocative Idea.
Rabbi Levine was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1977 and received his Doctor of Divinity Degree in March 2002. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Columbia College. Among his many awards are the New York Board of Rabbis' Maria and Joel Finkle Prize for Rabbi of the Year; the International Humanitarian Award by the World Union for Progressive Judaism alongside Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister of Israel; the Westy Award from the West Side Spirit; the Champion of Choice Award from NARAL; the All Stars Project Bridge Building Award for Leadership in Community Relations; and he was elected into the Manhattan Jewish Hall of Fame in 2020 by the Manhattan Jewish Historical Initiative.
He is married to Gina Stahl Levine and together, they are the proud parents of Judah and daughter-in-law, Emily, Ezra and daughter-in-law, Katie, and grandson, Eli, and Maya and her partner, Ben.
