42. Michael White

Rabbi Michael White has long been at the forefront of interfaith outreach on Long Island, and continues to pursue unity between people of different faiths. The senior rabbi at Temple Sinai of Roslyn, White previously served in California before coming to Long Island. While leading his congregation is chief among his duties, White takes his role as a spiritual vessel for the greater Long Island community seriously: He is the vice-chair of the National Joint Commission on Social Action, chair of the Central Conference of the American Rabbis Justice and Peace Committee, and is a member of the President’s Advisory Board of the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the State University of New York-College at Old Westbury Foundation. White has a finger on the pulse of the community, and is especially gifted at identifying when it’s important to intervene and become involved in issues affecting Long Islanders. After last year’s hotly contested presidential election, White convened a meeting with his counterparts in the Muslim community and helped organize a forum focusing on religious tolerance, in which elected officials, law enforcement, and religious leaders gathered to learn from each other and show solidarity. As a result, community leaders plan to hold similar meetings going forward.