Obama Names Reform Jewish Leader as Ambassador for Religious Freedom

U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday appointed long-time U.S. Reform Judaism leader Rabbi David Saperstein as the State Department's ambassador at large for international religious freedom.

• Insulting Reform Judaism Won't Bring Israel, Diaspora Closer
• No, Judaism Never Stands Still
• Rabbi Made Religious Freedom Ambassador

I am grateful that Rabbi Saperstein has chosen to dedicate his talent to serving the American people at this important time for our country. I look forward to working with him in the months and years ahead, Obama said in a statement.

Saperstein, 66, has been in charge of the U.S. Reform movement's political activities, carried out through its Religious Action Center, since 1974. He is also an adjunct professor of First Amendment church-state law and Jewish law at Georgetown University. He delivered the invocation at the concluding session of the 2008 Democratic Convention, at which Obama was nominated for president.