Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt has been the rabbi of Congregation B'nai Tzedek since it's inception in 1988. Prior to this he served for seven years as the spiritual leader of Temple Solel in Bowie, Maryland. From 1979-1981 Rabbi Weinblatt served as the associate rabbi at Temple Beth Am in Miami, Florida. Due to the vision and dreams of Rabbi Weinblatt and Symcha, his wife, Congregation B'nai Tzedek has grown and continues to grow in its passion for warmth, friendliness and Jewish knowledge.
Rabbi Weinblatt has long been a leader in community affairs. As a student at the University of Maryland, where he graduated in 1974 with high honors in history, Rabbi Weinblatt served as the Director of State Affairs. As the student liaison to the Maryland State government and legislature, he lobbied and spoke before numerous legislative committees. While at the university he conducted a highly successful voter registration drive, registering over 9,000 new voters in one year. He also chaired the Committee for Jewish Studies and was instrumental in developing the Jewish studies program. In recognition of his achievements, Rabbi Weinblatt was elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Due to his outstanding leadership and community involvement, in 2001 he was chosen as the Washington area ORT “Man of the Year.” He was presented with the “Community Leadership Award” of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington in 2007.
Rabbi Weinblatt attended Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, where he was ordained in 1979, He was President of the senior class. Always interested in human rights, Rabbi Weinblatt and his wife, Symcha, organized demonstrations on behalf of Syrian Jews.
Rabbi Weinblatt is active in a number of local and national organizations. He serves as a Vice Chair of the National Rabbinic Cabinet of the UJC and as a member of the Executive Committee of Israel Bonds. He has served on the boards of the University of Maryland Hillel, the Jewish National Fund, the Jewish Community Council and the Federation of Greater Washington. Rabbi Weinblatt was also the President of the Washington Board of Rabbis and President of the Seaboard Region of the Rabbinical Assembly. He is Chair for the upcoming national convention of the Rabbinical Assembly. Rabbi Weinblatt has given the opening prayer at sessions of the United States Senate, the House of Representatives, both houses of the Maryland State legislature, the inauguration of Maryland’s Governor, Montgomery County Executive and numerous other prestigious gatherings.
As an adjunct professor of Jewish History and Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary since 1992, Rabbi Weinblatt teaches courses in Jewish history and theology. His dynamic leadership, innovative approach to Judaism and reputation as an outstanding teacher and speaker have earned him many honors, including being selected as a Bronfman Fellow by CLAL and as a Senior Rabbinic Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute of Jerusalem.
He has written various articles, poems and Op Ed pieces and is an outspoken and passionate advocate and spokesman for Israel and Jewish causes. Having been voted wittiest in his high school class, he has also written and performed comedy shticks, served as a speaker, auctioneer, and emcee for many local charities.
Rabbi Weinblatt and his wife, Symcha, have four children: Ezra (29), Margalit (27), Micha (24) and Noam (17).
