Rabbi Dr. Emanuel Rackman earned his law degree and PhD in political science from Columbia University and was the spiritual leader of Congregation Shaaray Tefila of Far Rockaway and of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue. In 1947 he began teaching political philosophy and jurisprudence at Yeshiva College and in 1970 was named a university professor of political science.

Rabbi Rackman received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Yeshiva in 1961, and was provost of Yeshiva University from 1970-1976.

Rabbi Rackman has served as the president of the New York Board of Rabbis, president of the Rabbinical Council of America. A former colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve, during World War II he was chairman of the commission on Jewish chaplaincy in the United States Armed Forces.

Rabbi Emanuel Rackman was the President of Bar Ilan University from 1977 to 1985 and its Chancellor since 1985.

Rabbi Rackman is well known to many for his work in recent years in the struggle to free agunas, women who are unable to remarry due to a husband''''s refusal to grant a get bill of divorce.