Rabbi Hyim Shafner is the Rabbi of Kesher Israel in Washington, DC. Prior to coming to Kesher Israel, he served as Rabbi of Bais Abraham Congregation in Saint Louis, Missouri, for 13 years, as Campus Rabbi at the 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 in the area of Talmudic narrative, Jewish law and thought, and community building and vision.