REGNER, SIDNEY L.

REGNER, SIDNEY L. (1903–1993), U.S. Reform rabbi and organizational executive. Regner was born in New York City and received his B.A. from the University of Cincinnati in 1924. In 1927, he was ordained at *Hebrew Union College, which also awarded him an honorary doctor of divinity degree in 1954. His career in the congregational rabbinate (1927–54) was spent at Temple Oheb Sholom in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he also served on the executive committees of the Jewish Community Council (1935–54) and the Central Atlantic States Region of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds (1943–47); on the Governor's Committee on Children and Youth (1953–54); and as president of the Council of Social Agencies (1942–44). Long active in the *Central Conference of American Rabbis – as financial secretary (1939–52), executive board member, and chairman of its Committee on Publication (1952–54) – he became the ccar's first executive vice president when the position was created in 1954. In this capacity, he represented the Reform movement's rabbinical association on the governing body of the *World Union for Progressive Judaism, the executive committee of the *Synagogue Council of America, and in meetings with heads of other national Jewish organizations. He also supervised the ccar's publications, edited the yearbook and served ex-officio on joint commissions with the *Union of American Hebrew Congregations. Under his leadership, the ccar became a recognized professional association with annual regional kallot (study retreats) in addition to its annual convention. He retired in 1971, becoming executive vice president emeritus (1971–93). A lifelong peace activist, he was elected vice president of the Jewish Peace Fellowship in 1980.

[Bezalel Gordon (2^nd ed.)]