Avi Shafran

Who is Avi Shafran?

Abraham Shafran is a Haredi rabbi who serves as the Director of Public Affairs for Agudath Israel of America. Agudath Israel was established to meet the needs and viewpoint of many Haredi Jews. He is also a contributing writer to Cross-Currents, an online journal of Orthodox Jewish thought and opinion. He was also once involved with Ami, an Orthodox Jewish weekly newsmagazine, but no longer is.

Shafran is widely known in the Jewish world as a writer and lecturer. He is the author of a weekly column that is syndicated in the Jewish media in the United States and other anglophone countries, as well as in English language publications in Israel. Many of his articles are directed at a wider Jewish audience, including less observant Jews, and are designed to explain this tradition.

He has been critical of the Jewish Conservative movement's claim of halachic legitimacy. He publicly opposes the possibility of Israel recognizing the legality of Reform and Conservative personal status ceremonies.

His columns are often available at the Jewish World Review and regularly posted at Cross-Currents.com and at RabbiAviShafran.com.

Shafran was a teacher and principal at The Providence Hebrew Day School in Rhode Island prior to his appointment at the Agudah organization. He presently resides in Staten Island, New York.