Biography

Rabbi Daniel Sayani’s path to the rabbinate began later in life. He was not raised in the Jewish faith. He came to Judaism as an adult, and thirteen years after converting, he now serves as rabbi of the Clearview Jewish Center in Whitestone, Queens, where his work blends halachic seriousness with an open, people-centered approach to community.

In April 2018, he received rabbinic ordination, Rav u’Manhig–Moreh Hora’ah, from Yeshivas Ohr Kedoshim d’Biala in Boro Park. The school is associated with the Biala Chasidim, a Hasidic tradition known for warmth, openness, and the principle of being mevaser tov, seeking the good in every person. That outlook shaped the way Rabbi Sayani teaches, leads, and relates to congregants across backgrounds and levels of observance.

His scholarship continued in Jerusalem. In September 2023, he earned a First Degree in Judaic Studies from Yeshivas Bircas haTorah after extensive learning and testing across a wide range of Talmudic and theological topics. In October 2023, he received additional rabbinic ordination through Machon Smicha, completing advanced study in Jewish law with a focus on Shabbat and core areas of kashrut, including melicha, basar v’chalav, and taaruvot. His semicha was conferred under the authority of HaRav Chaim Finkelstein, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva L’Rabbonus in Pretoria, South Africa.

In August 2024, Rabbi Sayani earned certification as a Mesader Kiddushin through Machon Smicha, reflecting advanced training in Jewish marital law and the proper conduct of weddings in accordance with halacha. The credential was signed by leading rabbinic authorities, including HaRav Dovid Lau, former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, and HaRav Yehoram Ulman, Av Beis Din in Sydney, Australia. For Rabbi Sayani, weddings are not only a legal and ritual responsibility, but also a chance to help couples bring meaning, clarity, and life into ancient texts and traditions, including guidance on the kesuba and the structure of a halachically sound ceremony.

Since August 2021, Rabbi Sayani has served as rabbi of the Clearview Jewish Center, a congregation established in 1952 by Holocaust survivors. The synagogue has endured through major demographic change in Queens and the challenges that come with an aging membership. Under his leadership, the community transitioned to full Orthodox observance, including installing a mechitza and removing the microphone. At the same time, he embraced practical innovation, using Zoom to expand learning, create consistency, and keep people connected, especially when in-person attendance was difficult for seniors or families with demanding schedules.

He teaches ongoing classes, including Torah Studies through the Jewish Learning Institute, and is known for presenting traditional sources in a way that speaks to modern life. His style brings together classical texts with broader references, including literature and contemporary issues, so the learning feels grounded, human, and relevant without losing depth.

Rabbi Sayani’s work extends beyond the synagogue walls. He delivers invocations at commemorative events in Marine Park, Brooklyn, including 9/11 and Veterans Day observances, and those experiences led to a meaningful friendship with Roman Catholic Deacon Fred Ritchie. He also arranges the thrice daily recitation of the mourner’s kaddish on behalf of the deceased, an initiative that both honors memory and supports indigent Torah scholars while helping less affiliated Jews reconnect with tradition. His rabbinic experience includes kosher supervision and service as a nursing home chaplain, roles that demand sensitivity, patience, and the ability to meet people where they are.

He previously led Shore Parkway Jewish Center through the aftermath of an antisemitic attack in 2020, a moment that required calm leadership and steady support for a shaken community, and that incident was covered by ABC 7 Eyewitness News.

Rabbi Sayani also shares his teaching publicly through recorded lectures on YouTube and writing, including articles published with The Times of Israel. Across all of his work, his story is defined by deliberate choice, disciplined study, and a leadership style focused on building real community, sustaining tradition, and helping people feel seen, supported, and guided.