Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben holds two Bachelors degrees in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of California, Davis, a Masters degree in Education from USC, Certification in Aging and Human Development from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. in Religion from Sierra University as well as two honorary Doctor of Divinity Degrees. He was ordained a rabbi in 1976 from the Hebrew Union College.
Rabbi Reuben is Immediate Past President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California as well as Senior Rabbi of Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation in Pacific Palisades, California. He is a nationally recognized expert in the field of moral education, is the recipient of numerous community awards including the Micah Award for founding the largest full-service homeless shelter in Los Angeles, has contributed to a wide variety of publications as an author and composer.
Rabbi Reuben's is the author of numerous books, including RAISING JEWISH CHILDREN IN A CONTEMPORARY WORLD (1992); RAISING ETHICAL CHILDREN (1994 Prima Publishing), and CHILDREN OF CHARACTER - Leading Your Children to Ethical Choices in Everyday Life (Canter & Associates 1997). His latest book is A NON-JUDGMENTAL GUIDE TO INTERFAITH MARRIAGE (Xlibris Corporation, 2002)
He has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, including Chrysalis, Global Children's Organization, I Have a Dream Foundation, and The Center for the Improvement of Child Caring.
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Rabbi Sheryl Lewart
Sheryl Lewart serves as Rabbi at Kehillat Israel. Rabbi Lewart served as Director of Outreach for the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation and as a member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College faculty. There she developed Jewish, Alive & American, an introduction to Judaism and conversion seminar series. Rabbi Lewart teaches and directs the Reconstructionist Spirituality Institute and offers Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Formation programs. She holds a Masters degree in Hebrew Letters from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and degrees from Cornell and Lehigh Universities. Rabbi Lewart has been published in The Reconstructionist, and Reconstructionism Today, and was a columnist for The Jewish Exponent.
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Rabbi Jonathan Hanish
Rabbi Jonathan Scott Hanish grew up in Louisville, Kentucky where he was an active member in NFTY and BBYO. Jon received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University where he double-majored in Comparative Religious Studies and Film History. Additionally, he holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema/Television and a Master of Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College. Jon was ordained by Hebrew Union College on May 18, 2008.
Prior to rabbinical school, Jon worked in the film and television industry where he wrote, produced, and directed documentaries, children's programs and feature films. He was also the owner of Monkey Works, a post-production facility. While working in the film industry, he maintained his involvement in the Jewish community by teaching in religious schools and advising youth groups. During rabbinic school, Jon was the Student Rabbi at B’nai Israel in Butte, Montana, and was the rabbinic intern at Kehillat Israel.
Jon is the father to two young daughters, Lila and Sydney, and is married to Lisa Hanish.
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Cantor Chayim Frenkel
Chayim Frenkel serves as Cantor at Kehillat Israel. Chayim was the Executive Producer of Meir Finkelstein's large-scale oratorio “Liberation,” a work commemorating the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps. He also served as co-chair of the Cantor's Assembly fiftieth anniversary celebration in New York City, where he performed at Carnegie Hall and produced a concert in New York's Central Park. In addition, Chayim has commissioned and served as executive producer of numerous recordings including “Nishmat Tzedek - A Righteous Soul,” which he recently expanded into a multidimensional book and compact disc package, intended as a gift of healing to those who have lost loved ones to terrorism. He received his commission as a Hazzan-Minister from the Cantors Assembly in 1992 and now sits on their Executive Council.
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