Rabbi David Levin is the newest president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia, a two-year post that will see him serve as the leader of the area’s primary organization for Jewish spiritual leaders.
Levin brings a unique perspective and background to the board. Prior to becoming a community rabbi — he doesn’t serve a single congregation — Levin worked in the world of finance for more than 30 years. This makes him a great candidate in both Jewish spiritual and professional expertise. He emphasized that the board is first and foremost a religious organization, not a business, but that a background in business helps tremendously.
“[As] not-for-profit and religious institutions, we need to be aware of good business practices, otherwise we spend a tremendous amount of time and energy trying to figure out that stuff, often squandering precious resources,” he said. “My background gives me a sense as to how things get structured and what should be, in terms of efficient running.”
So, what would make a successful financier pursue a profession as a rabbi? Levin said that he decided that he wanted to take on a role that was community-first.
“Our work in the religious community and for the board of rabbis is about serving people — it’s not about profits or the bottom line,” he said. “I have to be aware of the bottom line, but I can’t be a servant to it, because I’m in service to my institution, which is in service to the Jewish people.”
The Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia primarily serves as a touchpoint for the many rabbis in the Delaware Valley. It’s a place for them to meet and converse, and to decide how to act in concert when the situation requires it. Levin said that right now is as challenging a time to be a rabbi as any. Geopolitical issues aside, American Jews are suffering at the hands of antisemitism from their own peers. In 2024, the Anti-Defamation League reported an 893% rise in reported antisemitic incidents over the past decade. Just this week, two Jews were gunned down by a terrorist shouting “Free Palestine” in Washington, D.C.
“We have basically an opportunity for the rabbinic community to find space together. And what that means is essentially a group of people who coalesce around Jewish values, a group of people that are committed to supporting each other in the challenging but incredibly rewarding work that we do, and a place where we might be able to leverage our community and access programs,” Levin said.
Levin, who served as vice president until his election to the top post this year, said that the last few years for the board have consisted of internal restructuring and general organization. All of that has prepared them to focus on outward actions moving forward.
Levin said his primary goals are to increase membership, meet more rabbis in the community, create bridges and deepen relationships with other spiritual organizations — Jewish or not — and try to leverage the power that the collection of rabbis brings, rather than working as individuals.
“We spend an awful lot of time arguing about procedural differences and policy differences, but our rabbinic community is still united around Jewish values,” he said. “There’s a lot of work that we can do to help people in the fight against antisemitism, promoting civil rights, promoting a call of unity for Israel and being involved in doing good work within the community.”
Being at the top of any organization is tough, but that’s especially true for Levin, as he will lead a group that is equally intelligent and argumentative. After all, that’s literally the job of a rabbi.
“Our tradition is built around ‘Machloket l’shem shamayim,’ or in other words, argumentation for the sake of heaven,” he said. “The Talmud teaches us in a beautiful way that when two people with different opinions come together and they can discuss their opinions, it’s my opportunity to learn from you and emerge better off as a result.”
Levin said that the best thing that can come from this type of conversation is a realization that both parties can contribute, even if they don’t agree completely.
An organization that serves the entire Philadelphia Jewish Community’s spiritual leadership is one that requires many hands. Levin said that he is proud and humbled to accept the post and that the team around him will be essential to the board’s success.
“Together, we’re poised to do some really good stuff and I’m looking forward to what the next couple of years will bring,” he said.
