Rabbi Eleanor (Ellie) Steinman joined our Temple family in June 2008.

A recent graduate of the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Steinman was born in Los Angeles, California and spent her teenage years in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota with her parents and sister, Jessica. She was an active member of Mount Zion Hebrew Congregation and participated in the many youth group activities held by NFTY.

Rabbi Steinman graduated from Brandeis University in 2001. She majored in history, with minors in Near Eastern and Judaic studies, and women’s studies. After graduation, she became a full-time volunteer for AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps (AVODAH.NET) in New York City. This year-long program enabled Rabbi Steinman to help low-income communities by providing them with important resources. It proved to be an invaluable leadership experience that allowed her to work toward social change while establishing a sense of Jewish community and Jewish values.

In 2003, Rabbi Steinman enrolled at the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem. As a student at the Los Angeles campus, she served congregations in California and Montana in which she led services, organized holiday celebrations, taught and mentored b’nei mitzvah students.

Rabbi Steinman’s other interests include reading, exploring Toronto , playing tennis and going to the movies.