Rabbi Steven M. Bob served as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim 35 years. In July 2016, he became the congregation’s Rabbi Emeritus. His delight in Torah, his sense of humor and fun, his love of teaching and learning, and his ability to connect with people of all ages are some of the gifts he brings to everything he does.
Rabbi Bob was ordained in 1977, after earning his B.A. at the University of Minnesota and his M.A. at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. He received the Doctor of Divinity degree from the
Hebrew Union College in 2002.
In addition to his activities at Etz Chaim, Rabbi Bob is currently an adjunct faculty member at Wheaton College and Elmhurst University, where he is also a founder of the Holocaust Education Program.
He is a leader of the faculty of Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute and a recipient of the Samuel Cook Award for Lifetime Achievement in Youth Work from the CCAR and Rabbi Mordecai
Simon Award from the Chicago Board of Rabbis.
Rabbi Bob’s new book, “Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives,” was published by the Jewish Publication Society in June of 2016. His first book, “Go to Nineveh, Commentaries of Rashi, Abraham Ibn Ezra, David Kimchi, Isaac Abarbanel, and the Malbim to the Book of Jonah, Translated and Explained” was published by Wipf and Stock in July of 2013. He is recognized as an expert on Yom HaShoah.
Rabbi Bob’s involvement and leadership in the wider community include chairing the DuPage Interfaith Resource Network. He also served as Recording Secretary of the Central Conference of
American Rabbis.
Rabbi Bob is a Past President of the Chicago Association of Reform Rabbis as well as the Elmhurst Ministerium. Rabbi Bob is a member of the Governing Council of
the World Zionist Organization. Ha’aretz named Rabbi Bob as one of the 36 American Jews who helped shape the 2008 Presidential election.
