Rabbi Bruce Aft

Rabbi Bruce Aft has served Temple B’nai Israel since 2020.  Rabbi Aft previously had been the spiritual leader at Adat Reyim in Springfield, VA from 1991 until June, 2020.  He grew up in the Chicago suburbs and developed an early love for Judaism — and the Chicago White Sox.  He played on the University of Illinois varsity reserve team for a few years, and then turned his attention to the rabbinate and social work, receiving an MSW from Temple University, ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and eventually an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. 

Now in semi-retirement, Rabbi Aft is a visiting scholar at George Mason University (GMU) in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. He also works with the Jewish students at GMU and lectures for the Learning and Retirement Institute at the university.  He is the President of the community board for Operation Understanding DC. He also serves as a visiting lecturer at Greenspring Village and a Chaplain for the Jewish Social Service Agency.

Rabbi Aft also continues to have a part-time pulpit, serving small congregations in the South through the Institute for Southern Jewish Life ISJL).

Over the past 30 years Rabbi Aft was active with BBYO and helped staff March of the Living.  He served as President of the Board of Jewish Education of Greater Washington and was a board member for the Federation.  Rabbi Aft and his wife Sue currently volunteer for the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy where he has not yet been offered a contract to pitch.  In retirement he and Sue look forward to visiting their four children and five grandchildren much more often. 

Please check Rabbi Aft’s blog at https://rabbibruceaft.blogspot.com