About Rabbi Shafner

Rabbi Hyim Shafner became the Rabbi of Kesher Israel: The Georgetown Synagogue, in Washington D.C. in August 2017. Prior to Kesher Israel, he served as Rabbi of Bais Abraham Congregation in Saint Louis, Missouri, for 13 years, as Campus Rabbi at St. Louis Hillel at Washington University for eight years, and for a year as Rabbi of India under the auspices of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.  

Rabbi Shafner has Smicha (rabbinical ordination), a Masters degree in Social Work (MSW), and an MA in Jewish philosophy, from Yeshiva University in New York City. Additionally, he also holds a Certificate in Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute.  

Rabbi Shafner is the author of the Everything Jewish Wedding Book (2nd edition), as well as many articles and book chapters in the area of Talmudic narrative, Jewish law and thought, and Jewish community building and vision.  He is married to Sara Winkelman and they have three adult children.

Contact Rabbi Shafner by email at rabbi@kesher.org, or by calling the Shul Office at (202) 333-2337.