RABBI STEVEN C. KANE
Prior to becoming the Rabbi at Temple Beth El, Rabbi Steven Kane had been the spiritual leader at Congregation Sons of Israel in Briarcliff Manor (Westchester) for 30 years, where he is now emeritus. With a balance between tradition and the needs of our times, Rabbi Kane developed rituals and observances that allowed members to express feelings as individuals and as a community in meaningful ways. He brought to the community a robust adult study program that included both creative classes, cutting-edge speakers and scholars in residence. Prior to entering the pulpit, Rabbi Kane worked at The Jewish Theological Seminary as Assistant to the Librarian, responsible for the Rare Book and Manuscript Room, and taught on their Talmud faculty. He has also served as a faculty member of the independent Academy for Jewish Religion.
Rabbi Kane received his master’s degree and rabbinic ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary. In 2012 he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity honorus causa by JTS. He also holds a Bachelor in Hebrew Literature from the University of Judaism (now American Jewish University) and a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis.
Rabbi Kane spent three years as a participant in the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Rabbinic Leadership Initiative and upon graduating became a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute, where he continues to study. He has served as a member of the Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS), where he composed the recommended guidelines for High Holiday services for Conservative synagogues during Covid and wrote a teshuvah (responsa) that gives instructions for the taking of medicine on Pesach. He hails from the “holy city” of Chicago and is an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and baseball in general. He is married to Judy Kane and together they have three wonderful children: Arielle, Tamar (married to Daniel Lorberbaum) and Elan (married to Leora Einleger), and one grandchild, Eli Tzvi Lorberbaum.
