Rabbi Daniel Hillel Freelander serves as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Union for Reform Judaism. A gifted musician and keen observer of the North American Jewish scene, he has been on the staff of the Union since 1975, supervising virtually every aspect of the Union’s programs and operations. He has served as a regional youth advisor and director of NFTY, regional director of the Union’s New Jersey–West Hudson Valley Council and executive editor of Reform Judaism magazine. He currently supervises all URJ administrative and financial operations, as well as oversees the Movement’s camping and Israel travel programs and the URJ Press and Transcontinental Music Publications.
Well known for lecturing on trends in Reform congregational life, including worship and music, Rabbi Freelander was the guiding force behind the growth of URJ Biennial conventions. A lifelong musician, Rabbi Freelander has, together with his friend, Cantor Jeff Klepper, composed and recorded dozens of popular Jewish melodies as part of the group Kol B’Seder. Their musical contributions include the well known “Shalom Rav” and “Lo Alecha.”
Freelander is a native of Worcester, MA, and a graduate of Trinity College and the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion. A lifetime Reform Jew, he is an alumnus of NFTY, Eisner Camp and Kutz Camp. He serves on the boards of the Zamir Choral Foundation and Odyssey Networks, an interfaith media group. Rabbi Freelander is married to Rabbi Elyse Frishman of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in Franklin Lakes, NJ. Rabbi Frishman served as editor of the Movement’s new siddur, Mishkan T’filah. They have three grown children and live in Ridgewood, NJ.
Rabbi Daniel Hillel Freelander serves as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Union for Reform Judaism. A gifted musician and keen observer of the North American Jewish scene, he has been on the staff of the Union since 1975, supervising virtually every aspect of the Union’s programs and operations. He has served as a regional youth advisor and director of NFTY, regional director of the Union’s New Jersey–West Hudson Valley Council and executive editor of Reform Judaism magazine. He currently supervises all URJ administrative and financial operations, as well as oversees the Movement’s camping and Israel travel programs and the URJ Press and Transcontinental Music Publications.
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