Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel is the rabbi of Temple Micah in Washington, DC. He has served in this position since 1983.

Rabbi Zemel is active in a number of local and national organizations. Included among these are his positions on the board of Micah House, a group home for homeless women sponsored by Temple Micah, Operation Understanding D.C. a Black Clergy-Rabbi dialogue group and as a Synagogue 2000 Fellow. He has also served on the national boards of ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America) and the Commission on Social Action of the UAHC (Union of American Hebrew Congregations), and various CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) committees. He currently serves as president of the CCAR Mid-Atlantic Region and the CCAR National Board. Additionally, Rabbi Zemel is a member of the Synagogue 3000 Leadership Network, a select national group of congregational rabbis, cantors, and artists who are working to create sacred communities that are compelling moral and spiritual centers of Jewish life.

Rabbi Zemel pursued his undergraduate education at Brown University and his rabbinic education at the Hebrew Union College -Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem and New York. Upon ordination in 1979, Rabbi Zemel served as assistant rabbi of Temple Israel in Minneapolis, Minnesota for four years.

Rabbi Zemel is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He received his earliest Jewish and secular education at the Anshe Emet Day School. He is married to Louise Sherman Zemel. They have three children.  Finally, and for him most significant, Rabbi Zemel is a devoted, passionate, lifelong fan of the Chicago White Sox.

Israeli Charities

In his Rosh Hashanah sermon in September 2003, the Rabbi referred to Israeli charities that he would particularly recommend as worthy of donations from members and others. In addition, the temple has created an Israel fund to which members can contribute for those Israel-based charities identified as of special interest to Temple Micah.

Recommended Book Lists

The Rabbi has lists of books that he recommends each Jewish home should have, as well as an annual list of books worth reading (and purchasing) in connection with the annual book fair weekend, as well as his sabbatical reading list.

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Rabbi Zemel.