Rabbi Aaron Bisno, a graduate of Washington University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, where he was ordained in 1996 and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 2021 for his 25 years of rabbinic service, is Rodef Shalom Congregation’s Frances F. & David R. Levin Rabbinic Scholar and Rabbi in Residence at Calvary Episcopal Church.  He is executive director and founder of the Center for Interfaith Collaboration.

When Rabbi Bisno arrived in Pittsburgh in June 2004, his task was clear: return a sense of stability and confidence to Rodef Shalom Congregation’s Rabbinic Office, and begin the essential work of guiding the historic, multi-generational congregation back to the center of Reform Jewish life, all the while preparing Rodef Shalom to embrace the 21st century. Thus, between 2004 and 2010, the focus of Rabbi Bisno’s activities and relationships was internal.

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In 2010-2011, he co-led an interfaith pilgrimage to Rome and Israel with Catholic Bishop David Zubik. This experience was so impactful for Pittsburgh interfaith relations that Pope Benedict XVI awarded Rabbi Bisno the papal honor of a Benemerenti Medal.

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Additionally, in 2011, Rabbi Bisno began championing “Courageous Conversations” in both local and national Jewish social media. Rabbi Bisno posited the then-novel and counterintuitive idea that congregational life must be premised upon a spirit of collaboration. In Pittsburgh, this led to shared religious services with Temple Sinai (Reform) and the founding of the Jewish Joint Education Program (J-JEP), an interdenominational religious school, with Beth Shalom (Conservative). 

Following the tragic events of October 27th, 2018, Rodef Shalom Congregation welcomed the Tree of Life - Or L’Simcha (Conservative) and Dor Hadash (Reconstructionist) congregations into our building, as well as a diverse cross-section of minyanim and spirituality groups with whom we partner.

Even with the profound changes long underway in Jewish life and in every sector of our economy and society, we are now met with challenges more significant than any in Rodef Shalom’s more than 160-year-long history. Yet, as a result of shared leadership and building upon a vision and strategy established years ago, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rodef Shalom is presciently positioned and uniquely ready to continue playing its historically indispensable role within Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. 

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These seismic structural changes will take longer still to unfold and to be realized in full. Between now and then, what is required? Continued steady and courageous leadership are needed. For the last 16 years, this is what Rodef Shalom Congregation has enjoyed, and today, Rabbi Bisno and Rodef Shalom are recognized as partnered thought leaders.



Our shared mission and tasks remain the same as they ever were: Transforming Rodef Shalom into a 21st century Congregation, and successfully transitioning to a new generation of rabbinic leadership for the future.