Speaker Profile Rabbi Mark Dratch

Rabbi Mark Dratch is the founder of JSafe (The Jewish Institute Supporting an Abuse-Free Environment). In 2010 he was named as one of Newsweek's Top 50 Rabbis in America. He was number 13 on Newsweek's list in 2013. Dratch is a graduate of Yeshiva University (Yeshiva College, 1979; RIETS (rabbinic ordination), 1982; Ferkauf Graduate School (Jewish Education), 1982); and received an MSW from Wurzweiler School of Social Work (2012). In September, 2012, Mark Dratch was appointed as Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America.

Dratch served as a congregational rabbi for 22 years. Congregations include: Congregation Agudath Sholom, Stamford, Connecticut; Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, Toronto, Ontario; Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, New York, New York; Boca Raton Synagogue, Boca Raton, FL (Dratch was the founding Rabbi); Congregation Beth Israel, Schenectady, New York. He also served as the Webbe Rebbe - answering "Ask the rabbi" questions addressed to the Orthodox Union on its web site.

He was a Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America, served as chairman of its task force on rabbinic improprieties and was responsible for spearheading and formulating policy guidelines for responding to allegations against member rabbis. He was a member of the RCA Executive Board and a member of the Orthodox Caucus.

He was an Instructor of Jewish Studies and Philosophy at the Isaac Breuer College of Yeshiva University and the camp Rabbi of Camp Morasha. Dratch has published articles, in English and Hebrew-language journals, on the interface between Jewish law and contemporary society. He wrote a series of articles on Jewish ethical issues for the Ethics Project of the Orthodox Caucus. His chapter, "A Community of Co-Enablers: Why Are Jews Ignoring Traditional Jewish Law by Protecting the Abuser?" appears in "Tempest in the Temple: Jewish Communities and Child Sex Scandals" A. Neustein, ed. (Brandeis University Press, 2009) and his chapter, "I Do? Consent And Coercion in Sexual Relations" appears in "Rav Chesed: Essays in Honor of Rabbi Dr. Haskel Lookstein," R. Medoff, ed., (Ktav, 2009). His paper dealing with the Jewish views on domestic violence was originally distributed through the Rabbinical Council.

In 2005, Rabbi Dratch founded JSafe: The Jewish Institute Supporting an Abuse Free Environment for which he served as CEO until his appointment as Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America. Dratch was a member of the Clergy Task Force on Abuse of Jewish Women International, a member of the Leadership Time of the FaithTrust Institute, a member of the Editorial Board of the (now defunct) Journal of Religion and Abuse. He also lectures on matters of domestic violence, child abuse, and professional abuse in the Jewish community.

Speaker's Resources

Examining the Impact of Covid on the Mental Health of the Jewish Family

Dr. Rivka Schwartz, Rabbi Mark Dratch, Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann, Yoetzet Halacha Laurie Novick
Audio
Jul 11, 2021

Jewish Medical Ethics 2021

Dr. David Pelcovitz, Dr. Rivka Schwartz, Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt, Rabbi Dr. Avraham Steinberg, Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman, Rabbi Mark Dratch, Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann, Yoetzet Halacha Laurie Novick
Program
May 12, 2021

Where Is Orthodoxy Headed?

Dr. Rivka Schwartz, Rabbi Dr. Marc D Angel, Rabbi Mark Dratch, Rabbi Shaul Robinson
Audio
Mar 18, 2015

Where Is Orthodoxy Headed?

Dr. Rivka Schwartz, Rabbi Dr. Marc D Angel, Rabbi Mark Dratch, Rabbi Shaul Robinson
Program
Mar 16, 2015

Keeping our Children Safe - Panel

Judy Klitsner, Rabbi Mark Dratch
Audio
Jan 15, 2009
Audio
Nov 29, 2007