Dr. Rabbi Marc D. Angel is Founder and Director of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals (jewishideas.org), and Editor of its journal, Conversations. He is Rabbi Emeritus of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of New York City. He received his B.A., M.S., Ph.D and rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University, and an M.A. in English Literature from the City University of New York. Among his many books are The Wisdom of Solomon and Us, Maimonides, Spinoza and Us, and a commentary on Pirkei Avot. Angel is a past president of the RCA, and co-founder (with Avi Weiss) as well as founding president of the IRF.