Rabbi and gay dad Gil Steinlauf was recently named one of Tablet magazine’s “10 American Rabbis You Haven’t Heard Of, But Should.”
The annual list, just in time for the Jewish High Holidays, is intended to “offer readers an array of options for fresh Jewish study, exploration, and worship.” Steinlauf is senior rabbi at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C., the largest Conservative synagogue in the city. President Obama chose to speak there this spring on Iran, Israel, and the peace process.
Steinlauf came out as gay in 2014 after a 20-year marriage to a woman and three children. He sits on the boards of the Washington Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee of the Jewish Theological Seminary (which, among other things, ordains Conservative rabbis). He also sits on the Human Rights Campaign’s Religion Council, along with another notable queer rabbi and parent, Denise Eger, the first openly lesbian president of the Jewish Reform Movement’s Central Conference of American Rabbis. Both were recently recognized in an HRC blog post.
Shanah tovah (a good year) to them and their families, and to any of you also celebrating this season.
(I tend to be more tuned in to Jewish news, being Jewish myself, but I’m always happy to hear news of LGBTQ and LGBTQ-supportive clergy of other faiths, especially when there’s a parenting angle. If you come across any, please feel free to let me know.)