Dale Polakoff was born in
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania on July 23, 1957. He moved to
New York for his undergraduate studies at
Yeshiva University and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He continued his learning at the
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and was granted
semicha (rabbinical ordination) in 1982, after having learned in the Gruss Kollel for several years, then headed by Rabbi
Aharon Lichtenstein. Polakoff's first rabbinic position was as assistant rabbi at
Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, where he also served as a faculty member of the Rabbi
Joseph Lookstein Upper School of
Ramaz. In 1988, Polakoff became senior rabbi of the Great Neck Synagogue in
Great Neck,
Long Island and a faculty member of the
North Shore Hebrew Academy. In September 2005, he testified to the
United States Congress representing the
Rabbinical Council of America in support of the nomination of
John Roberts to the
Supreme Court of the United States. == Personal life ==