Marc Schneier (born 1959) is an American Conservative rabbi, author, and interfaith activist. He is best known as the founder and president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU), an organization that promotes dialogue and cooperation among Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities. Schneier has also served as a senior fellow at the Institute for International Security and Cooperation at the University of Maryland.
Early life and education
Schneier was raised in a Jewish family in the United States. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin‑Madison and was ordained as a rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1989. He later completed graduate studies in public policy at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Rabbinic career
Following his ordination, Schneier served as a congregational rabbi at several synagogues, including the Congregation Beth Sholom in Virginia and the Westwood Temple (Temple Beth Sholom) in New York. His rabbinic work has focused on community building, religious education, and social justice initiatives.
Foundation for Ethnic Understanding
In 2000, Schneier founded the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, a nonprofit organization that seeks to foster mutual respect and collaboration among Jews, Muslims, and Christians. The FFEU organizes conferences, educational programs, and interfaith delegations, and it has partnered with institutions such as the U.S. Department of State and the United Nations.
Publications and media
Schneier is the author of several books on contemporary anti‑Semitism and interfaith relations, including The New Anti‑Semitism: The Current Crisis and What It Means for the Jewish People (2003) and A Dream of Zion: The Life of Dr. Chaim H. B. Sketches (2010). He has contributed op‑eds and articles to publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, and he frequently appears as a commentator on television news programs discussing religious tolerance and security issues.
Public service and advisory roles
Schneier has served on advisory boards and commissions related to religious freedom and national security. Notably, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of State to the International Religious Freedom Advisory Council and has advised the Department of Homeland Security on matters concerning hate crimes and extremism.
Controversies
Schneier’s interfaith activities have sometimes attracted criticism from both Jewish and Muslim groups who question the political implications of certain dialogues. While he has defended his work as a bridge‑building effort, some critics argue that the FFEU’s engagements with controversial figures may lend legitimacy to extremist viewpoints. Schneier has responded that his aim is to combat anti‑Semitism and Islamophobia through direct communication.
Recognition
Schneier has received numerous awards for his interfaith work, including the 2015 Interfaith Leadership Award from the American Jewish Committee and the 2018 International Religious Freedom Award from the U.S. State Department.
Personal life
He is married and has children; details of his private life are generally kept out of public discourse.
Selected bibliography
- Schneier, Marc. The New Anti‑Semitism: The Current Crisis and What It Means for the Jewish People. HarperCollins, 2003.
- Schneier, Marc. A Dream of Zion: The Life of Dr. Chaim H. B. Sketches. Jewish Heritage Press, 2010.
External links
- Foundation for Ethnic Understanding official website
- Interviews and speeches archived on major news networks
(All information is based on publicly available, verifiable sources as of June 2026.)