Dr. Steven Carr Reuben has been involved in the field of moral development and spiritual education for nearly forty years.
He holds Bachelors degrees in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of California, Davis, two Master’s degrees from the University of Southern California and the Hebrew Union College, Certification in Aging and Human Development from the University of Georgia, a Ph.D. in Religion from Sierra University and two honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He was ordained as a rabbi in 1976.
Dr. Reuben was a founding editor of Compass Magazine for teachers, a recognized expert on moral education who has appeared on countless television and radio talk shows and travels the country lecturing on character education and how to successfully meet the challenges of interfaith relation.
Rabbi Reuben has served on numerous non-profit boards, including Chrysalis, I Have a Dream Foundation, Global Children’s Foundation, People Assisting the Homeless, was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown of California to The Governor’s Task Force on Youth and served on the Board of Governors of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
He is the recipient of numerous community awards, including the Micah Award for founding the largest full-service homeless shelter in Los Angeles, and the Unsung Heroes Award from the Youth Law Center. He has contributed to a wide variety of publications as an author and composer, has written parenting education columns for L.A.Family Magazine, and has written for, been written about and quoted in periodicals throughout the country including USA Today, Los Angeles Times, New York Post, New York Newsday, The Chicago Sun Times, McCalls, Philadelphia Daily News, Bride’s Magazine, and People Magazine.
Rabbi Reuben was featured regularly on Michael Josephson’s nationally syndicated “Character Counts” radio commentaries and is featured in both The Power of Character, edited by Michael Josephson & Wes Hanson and In Search of Ethics – Conversations with Men and Women of Character, by Len Marella.
Rabbi Reuben is the author of numerous books, including But How Will You Raise the Children?” – a Guide to Interfaith Marriage (1987), published by Pocket Books, Raising Jewish Children in a Contemporary World (1992), Making Interfaith Marriage Work (1994), and Raising Ethical Children (1994), published by Prima Publishing, Children of Character – Leading Your Children to Ethical Choices in Everyday Life (1997) published by Canter & Associates, A Nonjudgmental Guide to Interfaith Marriage (2002), and A Parent’s Guild-Free Guide to Raising Jewish Kids (2002) by Xlibris Corporation, There’s an Easter Egg on Your Seder Plate – Surviving Your Child’s Interfaith Marriage (2008) by Praeger Publishing, and Becoming Jewish – The Challenges, Rewards, and Paths to Conversion, (2011) with Jennifer S. Hanin, published by Rowman & Littlefield.
He currently serves as Rabbi Emeritus of Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation in Pacific Palisades, California and is past president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. He is married to Didi Carr Reuben and is stepfather to Gable.
I would Ike to meet Rabbi Reuben.
Hello Rabbi,
This is Allen Weiss, Maurice Weiss’s brother. I miss the jam sessions Mort’s Deli. You also officiated at my daughters wedding.
I’m reaching out to you for a friend who lives in Las Vegas. His son and daughter-in-law are renewing their vows on Sept 3rd and would like you to officiate.
Please send me your contact information so I can forward to Owen Francis who you may remember from your congregation. It’s his son, Robbie, who’s the service is for.
Hi Rabbi!
My name is Jessie Kahnweiler. I’m a filmmaker making a documentary about the pros and cons of circumcision. As a Jewish woman who hopes to have a kid someday I really want to look at all sides of this issue before I make this very important decision. I’d love to interview you for the project. Below is more information about the project.
Look forward to hearing from you!
Jessie Kahnweiler
This documentary will explore male circumcision from a feminist Jewish perspective. The film will include interviews with experts and activists on both sides of the debate with searing questions that get under the hood. To snip or not to snip that is the question…
The topic of male circumcision is not something I ever thought I’d be interested in. I’d never even seen a foreskin IRL (Thanks Birthright!) But then I fell in love with a Goy and also grew quite fond of his foreskin. I began to chat up every male in my life both Jewish and gentile about their foreskin or lack thereof. Did they miss it? Do they like it? Do they have foreskin Fomo? It led me to wonder if I ever gave birth to a boy, what would I do about his foreskin?
As a Jew who is really interested in being both 100% my authentic self and a loyal member of the tribe I knew I had found my next film idea…
My project focuses on circumcision at the intersection of identity/tradition/masculinity/body image and bodily consent. At a time when anti semitism is on the rise and Jewish identity seems to be in constant flux, how important is it to keep up this old school tradition? Can you be a ‘good jew’ and keep your foreskin? What are the emotional and psychological effects of getting cut? What is lost with the foreskin? What is gained? My goal is for the film to serve as a catalyst for a larger conversation about circumcision and create a safe space for men to feel heard and seen.