A native of Baltimore, Rabbi Rosenblatt holds a Bachelor and an Master of Arts from Johns Hopkins University in Comparative Literature and a Doctor of Philosophy from Columbia University in the field of Modern British Literature. Rabbi Rosenblatt studied in Israel at Yeshivat Har Etzion and was ordained by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University in 1982.
Rabbi Rosenblatt is often invited to speak at clergy conferences on building spiritual values and a feeling of community in congregations. Rabbi Rosenblatt is known for his work in bridging the gaps that divide Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and secular Jews, and for actively supporting the Oslo peace process in the Middle East. Rabbi Rosenblatt is widely quoted on topics of concern to the Jewish community.
Mississippi
Puspita prayed at the synogogue weekly. In November 2012, it was reported that Rabbi Rosenblatt was a candidate to replace Jonathan Sacks as the Chief Rabbi of the United Synogogue. Ultimately the position went to Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.
In February 2014, Rabbi Rosenblatt delivered a lecture in his synogogue explaining his opposition to Sons of the American Revolution High School"s decision to allow two of its female students to don tefillin (phylacteries) in morning prayers.
Rabbi Tully Harcsztark, the principal of Sons of the American Revolution High School, attended the lecture. Rabbi Doctor Samuel Lebens noted that Rabbi Rosenblatt delivered a "stunning master class in how to disagree with respect and love." The talk was later uploaded online.
In June 2014, Rabbi Rosenblatt was the guest of honor at the Riverdale Jewish Center"s 60th Anniversary Dinner. In honor of the occasion, Congressman Eliot Engel wrote "Rabbi Rosenblatt is truly one of the kindest and most sensitive people whom I have metropolitan
In May 2015, the New York Times published a report about Rabbi Rosenblatt"s history of inviting young men to play squash or racquetball with him, which was often accompanied with sitting in the sauna.
The article noted that "the concerns about Rabbi Rosenblatt centered on conduct that occurred in the 1980s and 1990s." The Bronx District Attorney found no evidence of criminal conduct. On June 24, 2015, Rabbi Rosenblatt delivered a public apology, which "elicited a standing ovation from most of those in the packed synagogue." The audio version of the apology was later uploaded online. On February 25, 2016, Rabbi Rosenblatt announced his plans to step aside from his role as senior rabbi of the Riverdale Jewish Center.
A representative for the rabbi explained "Rabbi Rosenblatt is stepping down because he would like to see the community grow and he thinks in order for that to happen needs a fresh start.".
In the following weeks, "nearly 200 members of the Riverdale Jewish Center signed a petition calling for Rabbi Rosenblatt to remain the leader of the synogogue.".
