Moshe Kletenik
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Moshe Kletenik is an American
rabbi
. He was born in Chicago in 1954 to Rabbi Shya and Rochelle Kletenik. After studying in the Hebrew Theological College
and Yeshivas Brisk of Chicago, he received "Yoreh Yoreh" semicha
from Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik
and completed his BA at Roosevelt University
in mathematics. Rabbi Kletenik received semicha
in the areas of gittin and Even Ha'ezer and "Yadin Yadin" semicha
from Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz
in 2004 and 2009 respectively.
He has served as a congregational rabbi, at Shaare Torah Congregation of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
and presently in Seattle at Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath
Congregation. Rabbi Kletenik is also the Rosh Beis Din and Mesader Gittin of the Beis Din for Gittin of the Vaad HaRabbanim of Greater Seattle.
Rabbi Kletenik is President of the Rabbinical Council of America
and a member of the Faith Advisory Board to Governor Christine Gregoire
of Washington State. He has written extensively on contemporary issues of Jewish law, especially Jewish medical ethics, and published in journals such as Hadarom, Hapardes and Aspaklaria and the RCA Sermon Anthology Series which he has co-edited. Rabbi Kletenik lectures at medical ethics conferences such as Bar Ilan University.
Rabbi Kletenik presently heads the Semicha Standards Committee of the RCA. This committee "determine[s] which institutional and private semichot are acceptable for membership in the RCA."
Rabbi Kletenik brokered the conversion deal between the RCA and Israeli Chief Rabbinate. He defended this controversial deal in an editorial.
Under his leadership, the RCA approved a resolution at its April 2010 conference which prohibited the ordination of women as rabbis, as well as "the recognition of women as members of the Orthodox rabbinate, regardless of the title.” The resolution was passed in response to the decision by the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale to ordain Sara Hurwitz with the newly established title 'Rabba', formally recognizing her role as a member of its rabbinical staff.
He is married to Rivy Poupko Kletenik
and has four children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
. He was born in Chicago in 1954 to Rabbi Shya and Rochelle Kletenik. After studying in the Hebrew Theological College
Hebrew Theological College
The Hebrew Theological College, known as "Skokie Yeshiva," is a Yeshiva in Skokie, Illinois which also functions as a private university on campus. The primary focus of the Yeshiva is to teach Torah and Jewish traditions...
and Yeshivas Brisk of Chicago, he received "Yoreh Yoreh" semicha
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
from Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik
Ahron Soloveichik
Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik; was a renowned scholar of Talmud, Halakha and a Rosh Yeshiva; known especially within circles of Orthodox Judaism.-Biography:...
and completed his BA at Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
in mathematics. Rabbi Kletenik received semicha
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
in the areas of gittin and Even Ha'ezer and "Yadin Yadin" semicha
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
from Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz
Gedalia Dov Schwartz
Gedalia Dov Schwartz Gedalia Dov Schwartz Gedalia Dov Schwartz (born 24 January 1925 is an eminent Modern Orthodox rabbi, scholar, and posek (halakhic authority) living in Chicago, Illinois...
in 2004 and 2009 respectively.
He has served as a congregational rabbi, at Shaare Torah Congregation of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and presently in Seattle at Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath
Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath
Congregation Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath is a synagogue in the Seward Park neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It is the oldest synagogue in Washington state.The rabbi is Moshe Kletenik.-History:...
Congregation. Rabbi Kletenik is also the Rosh Beis Din and Mesader Gittin of the Beis Din for Gittin of the Vaad HaRabbanim of Greater Seattle.
Rabbi Kletenik is President of the Rabbinical Council of America
Rabbinical Council of America
The Rabbinical Council of America is one of the world's largest organizations of Orthodox rabbis; it is affiliated with The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, more commonly known as the Orthodox Union, or OU...
and a member of the Faith Advisory Board to Governor Christine Gregoire
Christine Gregoire
Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire is the 22nd and current Governor of the state of Washington, and a member of the Democratic Party. Gregoire defeated Republican candidate Dino Rossi in 2004, and again in 2008. She is the second female governor of Washington...
of Washington State. He has written extensively on contemporary issues of Jewish law, especially Jewish medical ethics, and published in journals such as Hadarom, Hapardes and Aspaklaria and the RCA Sermon Anthology Series which he has co-edited. Rabbi Kletenik lectures at medical ethics conferences such as Bar Ilan University.
Rabbi Kletenik presently heads the Semicha Standards Committee of the RCA. This committee "determine[s] which institutional and private semichot are acceptable for membership in the RCA."
Rabbi Kletenik brokered the conversion deal between the RCA and Israeli Chief Rabbinate. He defended this controversial deal in an editorial.
Under his leadership, the RCA approved a resolution at its April 2010 conference which prohibited the ordination of women as rabbis, as well as "the recognition of women as members of the Orthodox rabbinate, regardless of the title.” The resolution was passed in response to the decision by the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale to ordain Sara Hurwitz with the newly established title 'Rabba', formally recognizing her role as a member of its rabbinical staff.
He is married to Rivy Poupko Kletenik
Rivy Poupko Kletenik
Rivy Poupko Kletenik is a Jewish American female lecturer and educator.She was born in Pittsburgh, PA to Gilda Twerski Novoseller Poupko, scion of the Hasidic dynasty and Rabbi Baruch Poupko, rabbi for over 60 years of in Pittsburgh....
and has four children.