Romiel Daniel

Leading a prominent role in the Queens-based Jewish Center for the past seven years, Romiel Daniel was named president of the Ashkenazi synagogue on Aug. 3, making him the first Indian-Jew president of a synagogue, he told News India-Times. He served on the board of trustees of this 300-member organization for three years prior to the appointment. “It’s a task which is not easy at all, because it requires a lot of time, you have to give a lot of yourself. We’ve always been doing a lot of work for the synagogue, so I think we’re capable and prepared for this responsibility,.” he said.

Daniel, who belongs to the Bene Israel community, immigrated to the United States from India in 1994 after serving as the president of the Magen Abraham Synagogue in Ahmedabad, India.

He is a trained Ashkenazi Cantor from Yeshiva University, Belz School of Music located in New York. In the absence of a Cantor and a Rabbi, Daniel has been giving sermons and conducting the services, Ashkenazi style at the Rego Park shul.

In the past years, the press has recognized him for his lectures on ‘The Jews of India,’ and his work towards the Indian population in New York.

Daniel serves on the Advisory Board of Elmhurst Hospital, is member of the Queens Community Jewish Council and is also on the community board of the New York Olympics 2012.