A natural born leader with a zeal and passion for social justice and human rights equality, Rabbi Eleanor Steinman has pursued education and a professional life focused on improving the world, one person at a time.

Rabbi Steinman was born in Los Angeles, CA and spent her teenage years in a suburb of St. Paul, MN.  She graduated from Brandeis University with a Bachelor of Arts in history. After graduation in 2001, she participated in AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps in New York City. During this year long program she worked as a volunteer coordinator at Learning Leaders, a program that seeks to help New York City public school students succeed in school by training volunteers who provide tutoring and other school-based enrichment. It proved to be an invaluable leadership experience that allowed her to work toward social change at a grass roots level.

In 2003, Rabbi Steinman enrolled at the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion. She received a Master of Hebrew Letters degree in 2006 and rabbinic ordination in 2008.  During the period of time as a rabbinical student, Rabbi Steinman worked with Congregation B’nai David in Visalia, CA, Har Shalom Congregation in Missoula, MT and Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood, CA.

Upon her ordination, Rabbi Steinman moved to Canada to serve Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto as assistant rabbi. After three years, Rabbi Steinman decided return to California to continue her education and enrolled at the Rhea Hirsch School of Education of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion where she received a Masters Degree in Jewish education in May 2012.

Rabbi Steinman serves as a board member of the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis and is the Southern California representative for the Women’s Rabbinic Network.

Currently, Rabbi Steinman serves as the Executive Director of California Faith for Equality, an interfaith organization that educates, organizes and supports California’s faith communities to promote equality for LGBT people and to safeguard religious freedoms.