Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D. (born December 28, 1965) is an American political scientist who is serving as the 10th and current President of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, where he is also Professor of Political Thought. His research has focused primarily on the concepts and history of political representation; exploring how institutional design and reform (e.g., of voting, redistricting, and qualifications for office) can strengthen democracy and advance justice.
Education Rehfeld graduated magna cum laude from the University of Rochester in 1989 with a B.A. in philosophy, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. “President Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D.,” Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion WebsiteYanna Hotter, “Andrew Rehfeld Is New President of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion,” American Israelite, December 26, 2018 In 1994, he earned a Master of Public Policy at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.Keylen Ralph, “Labor, Work, Action: Andrew Rehfeld MPP’94 and the Human Condition,” University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, June 17, 2019 He earned his Ph.D. in political sciences at the University of Chicago in 2000 under the direction of Cass Sunstein (chair), Charles Larmore, and Susan Stokes.
Career Following his graduation from the University of Rochester in 1989, Rehfeld began an early career in Jewish communal service, working for the Union for Reform Judaism in New Jersey, and serving with Rabbi Leon Morris in Mumbai, India, and Eastern Europe as part of the Jewish Service Corps of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.Josefin Dolsten, “In a First, Reform Rabbinical School Won't Be Led by a Rabbi,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, December 18, 2018
From 2001 to 2019, Rehfeld was a member of the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis, where he held a primary appointment in the department of political science and (from 2007 to 2010) served as its director of undergraduate studies.“Three Things to Know about Hebrew Union College and Its New President, Andrew Rehfeld,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 25, 2019Ann Thompson, “Meet the New Leader of Hebrew Union College,” WVXU Local News, October 25, 2019 He held secondary appointments in Social Thought and Analysis, American Studies, and a courtesy appointment in Law.Josefin Dolsten, “In a First, Reform Rabbinical School Won't Be Led by a Rabbi,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, December 18, 2018 He was awarded a Fulbright scholarship in 2011, and has held visiting faculty appointments at the University of Chicago and Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali "Guido Carli" (LUISS) in Rome. In 2002, Rehfeld founded and directed the interdisciplinary workshop on politics, ethics, and society (WPES) at Washington University in St. Louis.
In 2012, Rehfeld was appointed the 12th President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis,“Jewish Federation of St. Louis Elects Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D. as New Chief Executive,” JFed St. Louis News, June 27, 2012Matthew Hibbard, “Jewish Federation of St. Louis Names Andrew Rehfeld as CEO,” St. Louis Business Journal, June 27, 2012 serving until 2019. He reoriented the institution toward a collaborative, community-development approach,“The Remarkable Rehfeld Record,” STL Jewish Light, December 27, 2018 and successfully launched a campaign to rebuild the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum.Josefin Dolsten, “In a First, Reform Rabbinical School Won't Be Led by a Rabbi,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, December 18, 2018
Hebrew Union College Presidency Rehfeld was elected as the 10th President of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in December 2018 and began service in April 2019.“Andrew Rehfeld Ph.D. Elected 13th President of HUC-JIR,” Jewish Insider, December 18, 2018 A formal inauguration ceremony was held in the historic Plum Street Temple in Cincinnati, OH, now the Isaac M. Wise Temple, on October 27, 2019.Josefin Dolsten, “Reform Movements Rabbinical School Inaugurates a Former Jewish Federation Leader as Its President,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, October 29, 2019 Rehfeld is the first lay person (non-rabbi) to serve in the position. In his Inaugural Address, President Rehfeld stated, “HUC drives the development of ideas and leadership that strengthen the Jewish Public Sphere: the institutions that form the canvas of communal life upon which we as a people realize our collective values to serve the highest Good and the Holy, and lead our world to Justice.” Reflecting on the changing Jewish community, he noted, “Our Jewish communities are becoming far more diverse than in the past. We are multi-racial; inter-faith; inter-denominational; non-denominational; inter-gendered; inter-oriented; multi-ideological. We must prepare our students to lead communities who are themselves not always ready to embrace this change.”“Presidential Inauguration Address of Andrew Rehfeld,” Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, October 30, 2019
In partnership with Hebrew Union College's Board of Governors, Rehfeld is leading a strategic planning process focused on five key goals: advancing educational excellence, strengthening student support, growing our impact, achieving fiscal sustainability, and ensuring a sacred and respectful culture. He stated, “We are planning for a meaningful and sustainable future -- a future where Judaism thrives because of the extraordinary leaders we bring forth. We are at a crossroads. We recognize that change is inevitable and we welcome it. Our vision and determination will secure our promising Jewish future.”“Now is the Time,” Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, April 7, 2022
Rehfeld is a staunch advocate for sacred and respectful environments at Hebrew Union College, stating, “We must continue to combat all abuses of power, bias, and discrimination, including on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disabilities, national origin, and other important personal characteristics. It is our sacred responsibility to create a safe and respectful environment at the College-Institute, recognizing that all of us, in all of our diversity, are created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God.” Under his leadership he has initiated two significant reviews of the culture at HUC, including leading HUC's Board to engage in a process of reconciliation, that resulted as a first step to the historic Morgan Lewis Investigation Report of November 2022.“HUC Presidential Task Force on Safe and Respectful Environments,” Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, September 26, 2019
Rehfeld is deeply committed to the academic environment as a venue for fostering difficult conversations as articulated in his 2009 Convocation Address at Washington University.“2009 Convocation Address by Andrew Rehfeld at Washington University in St. Louis,” Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 2009
He has written widely on issues of social justice and Jewish ethical values,“Kehillah and Byachad Newsletter: Messages from the President,” Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, 2021 the challenges of the pandemic,“Points of Inflection and Infection: On the authenticity of Reform Judaism and its use in responding to our current crisis,” Scriptions, 2021 and seminary education.“Hannukah Greeting from President Rehfeld,” Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion He has lectured on liberal Judaism and Zionism“Liberal Judaism and Zionism Panel,” Shalom Hartman Institute, July 16, 2019 and the future of seminary education,Yehuda Kurtzer and Andrew Rehfeld, “The Great American Rabbi Shortage,” The Times of Israel, April 15, 2022 and has championed HUC's commitment to Israel“A Message from the President,” Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, May 21, 2021 and the Jerusalem campus's programs training Israeli Reform clergy and pluralistic educators, advancing tolerance and understanding among Jewish, Muslim, and Christian educators in Jerusalem, and educating North American rabbinical, cantorial, and education students to build bridges of mutual responsibility with world Jewry.“The Teacher's Lounge: Advancing Tolerance in Jerusalem and Rikma,” Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, December 18, 2018
Personal life Rehfeld was born in Baltimore, MD, and spent his early childhood raised in Ventnor, NJ. His mother, Beverly Rehfeld, an accomplished Public Relations professional, was the founder of the Atlantic County Citizens Council on the Environment.“Andrew Rehfeld and Edward Rehfeld,” Stockton Foundation Scholarship His father, R. Rex Rehfeld, was a career military officer, serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Korean war from 1950 to 1951. He resigned his commission as Major in 1963 and was an investment advisor until his retirement in 2015.“Rex Rehfeld,” Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Science His stepmother, Ruth Wolf Rehfeld, (d. 2003) was born in Aachen, Germany and fled with her immediate family in 1939, losing most of her other relatives to the concentration camps. She was a leader in the Baltimore civic and Jewish community, serving as the founding director of the Northwest Baltimore corporation, and founding the Baltimore BLEWS, a group promoting dialogue between Blacks and Jews.Jacques Kelly, “Ruth W. Rehfeld, Longtime Activist Who Championed City Neighborhoods,” The Baltimore Sun, May 14, 2003
Rehfeld is married to Dr. Miggie Greenberg and they have two children.Ryan Torok, “Hebrew Union College Appoints New President,” Jewish Journal, December 18, 2018
Selected publications Andrew Rehfeld - google scholar 2017. "On Representing". Journal of Political Philosophy. (Peer reviewed article) June.Andrew Rehfeld, “On Representing,” Journal of Political Philosophy, September 21, 2017
2018. "Representation and the US Constitution". In, Cambridge Companion to the US Constitution. Karen Oren and John Chapman, Eds. New York: Cambridge University Press. (Book chapter)
2011 "The Child as Democratic Citizen". Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (Vol. 633, January 2011)
2010 "Offensive Political Theory Perspectives on Politics. Vol. 8. June. 465–486
2008 "Jephthah, the Hebrew Bible, and John Locke's Second Treatise on Government". Hebraic Political Studies (3:1 Winter 2008)
2005 The Concept of Constituency: Political Representation, Democratic Legitimacy and Institutional Design. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2005)
Additional speeches, writings, and videos http://huc.edu/about/presidents-office/president-rehfelds-speecheswritings
References