Jack Moline to head the Interfaith Alliance
Jack Moline, a rabbi who briefly led the nation’s top Jewish Democratic group, is the new head of the Interfaith Alliance, an advocacy group for the separation of church and state and for progressive causes.
Moline is the first non-Christian to head the Washington-based alliance, which represents more than 75 faith traditions as well as secularists. Ordained
in the Conservative movement, he is rabbi emeritus at Agudas Achim, the Northern Virginia synagogue he led for 27 years.
“He understands the value of bringing together diverse voices and perspectives to challenge extremism and build common ground,” said Helio Fred Garcia, chairman of the Interfaith Alliance board.
Though Moline is now interim executive director, because the appointment was made quickly, the rabbi said the “interim” part of his title could be dropped.
Moline, 62, resigned as director of the National Jewish Democratic Council in December after less than a year on the job. He said it became clear that he wasn’t the right person to lead the council. But he said the Interfaith Alliance is an excellent match.
“I know this organization; I love this organization,” said Moline, who chaired its board from 2006–2008 and was on the search committee that picked the alliance’s last leader, C. Welton Gaddy, who stepped down in December.
Gaddy said of Moline: “I couldn’t be more pleased to have a leader with his qualities guiding the direction of an organization whose mission is probably more important today than it was when it was founded.” —Religion News Service
