Rabbi Steven Exler ‘98 succeeds Rabbi Avi Weiss as Senior Rabbi of HIR

Rabbi Exler succeeds Rabbi Avi Weiss, who has served as the rabbi of HIR for over 40 years. Rabbi Weiss has earned a reputation for being a political activist and a champion of “open” Modern Orthodoxy, and is the founder of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Yeshivat Maharat, the first yeshiva to ordain women as Orthodox clergy.

“We are extremely proud to have a graduate of Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School attain such a prestigious rabbinic position,” said Mrs. Zipora Schorr, Director of Education. “Steven was one of our best and brightest students, with a keen intellect and a warm, endearing spirit. We wish him much haatzlacha as he assumes this challenging new role.” 

Steven attended Beth Tfiloh Community School from kindergarten through high school, as did his sister Lisa Exler ’96, who was one of two students in her BT class to achieve perfect SAT scores. Their mother, Emma Exler, was a beloved teacher who taught in Beth Tfiloh PreSchool for over 20 years.

Steven studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion before attending Brandeis University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Biology. He received an MA in Bible from Bernard Revel Graduate School and studied in the Yeshiva University Beit Midrash and Yeshivat Maale Gilboa in Israel. Steven received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. He and his wife, Shira Billet, are the proud parents of a son, Ilan Shmuel.

We wish Rabbi Exler much success in his new role as Senior Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of RIverdale.