Rabbi Binyamin Biber Machar, the Washington DC Congregation

Rabbi Binyamin Biber was born in Des Moines, Iowa, lived in Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Ann Arbor before moving to Washington, DC. where he now lives with his life partner, Catherine Sheehy, who is an advocate for corporate social responsibility and accountability.

Rabbi Binyamin Biber serves Machar, the Washington DC Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism

a community celebrating diversity and learning, and engaging in progressive social action and service. In addition to his pulpit with Machar, he operates Rabbinic Community Services, conducting public advocacy and education, social change organizing, counseling, and Humanistic life-cycle ceremonies, including weddings for intercultural and same-sex couples. Rabbi Biber serves as the elected International Secretary of the Association of Humanistic Rabbis, and is the author of the Association's statement in support of full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. He also is the organizer of SHALom, the Secular Humanist Action League, a currently forming DC-based social action organization for Secular Humanistic Jews and allies.

Ben earned his master's degree in social work (MSW) from the University of Michigan, and his rabbinic ordination from the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism

The American Humanist Association. also accredited Ben as a Humanist Chaplain to serve the needs of the non-Jewish humanist community. As a social worker and teacher experienced in working with all age groups, he serves as a veteran community organizer and educator on peace and justice issues, particularly focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on sexual minority equality and AIDS prevention, as well as on low-income housing and community economic development.

In all of his ceremonial work, he strives to draw upon widely shared human cultural patterns to address common hopes and concerns, and to engage all present in a meaningful way.

Contact Details:
Rabbi Binyamin Biber MSW
home/office phone: 301.563.6341
Email: rav.bibi@verizon.net