About Elie Kaunfer

Rabbi Elie Kaunfer is president and CEO of the Hadar Institute, an organization committed to furthering Torah, Avodah and Hesed through Jewish learning and community building. A Wexner Graduate Fellow and Dorot Fellow, Elie is the author of Empowered Judaism: What Independent Minyanim Can Teach Us about Building Vibrant Jewish Communities (Jewish Lights). Elie holds a doctorate in liturgy from the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he was also ordained. He has served as faculty for Wexner Heritage, Scholar-in-Residence at the Federation’s General Assembly, and has lectured widely on prayer and building grassroots Jewish communities.