Robert Silvers, Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Robert Silvers has served as rabbi of Congregation B’nai Israel (a URJ affiliated congregation of 1200 families) in Boca Raton, Florida since his ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion in 1997. In addition to his pulpit responsibilities, Rabbi Silvers is especially proud of the pastoral work and care that he provides not only to his own congregation, but also to the greater local community as a volunteer Chaplain for PBSO (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office).

Rabbi Silvers was a featured lecturer at Florida Atlantic University for the URJ Religious Action Center’s Consultation on Conscience; a visiting guest scholar at St. Vincent Roman Catholic Seminary; and has been an integral member of a community-wide Jewish-Evangelical Christian dialogue. Rabbi Silvers has also taught for, and staffed,the March of the Living, and also teaches in the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School.In recognition of his work for K’lal Yisrael, Rabbi Silvers was chosen to participate in a Rabbinic seminar and retreat on “Religious Pluralism - Judaism in the 21st Century” sponsored by CLAL, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership.

Rabbi Silvers has served as President of the Palm Beach County Board of Rabbis and as President of the Greater Boca Raton Religious Leaders Association, an interfaith coalition of clergy. Rabbi Silvers is also a member of NATE (National Association of Temple Educators) and ARC (Association of Rabbis and Cantors).

Rabbi Silvers has lived in South Florida for the past 26 years. His greatest pride and joy is being husband to Ava (having just celebrated their 27th Anniversary) and father to his two children, Jason (a graduate of Tulane University) and Jenna (a junior at UCF).His interests include sports, travel, and the reading and collecting of Jewish (Biblical,Talmudic, Midrashic, Kabbalistic, and especially Chasidic) stories and parables.

Click here to read some of Rabbi Silvers’ sermons.