Born on July 25, 1945, in Seattle, Washington, Rabbi Marc D. Angel was raised in the local Sephardic Jewish community. He moved to New York for higher education, earning a B.A. from Yeshiva College in 1967, rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in 1970, and an M.S. from Yeshiva University in 1970, along with a Ph.D. He married Gilda Schuchalter, a freelance writer, on August 23, 1967; they have three children: Jeffrey, Ronda, and Elana. Angel began his rabbinic service at Congregation Shearith Israel in 1969, serving until his retirement as Rabbi Emeritus. He is also co-founder of the International Rabbinic Fellowship. A prolific Sephardic scholar and author, he has authored or edited nearly 40 books and hundreds of articles on Jewish topics. In 2007, he founded and became Director of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, promoting an intellectually open, compassionate Orthodox Judaism through its journal Conversations. Recognized for his efforts to bridge traditional Orthodoxy with modern thought, Angel has been succeeded at Shearith Israel by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik. His work emphasizes Sephardic heritage, rational inquiry, and inclusivity within Orthodox Judaism.