Rabbi Jacob S.
Rubenstein, Rabbi of the Young Israel of Scarsdale has long been active
in outreach, social activism, legislative advocacy, international
affairs and philanthropic endeavors. His writings, which span the
academic to the popular, have appeared in a number of newspapers, books
and journals.
He was born in
Rosenheim, Germany and as a
displaced person immigrated to America at an early age, residing in
Memphis, Tennessee. Rabbi Rubenstein received his Jewish and secular
education in Memphis, Chicago, Israel, and Boston. He
attended the Yeshiva at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie,
Illinois, Yeshivat Radin in Netanya, Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and is
one of the founders of the Diaspora
Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He received his Rabbinic ordination from the
Chief Justices of both the Rabbinic Court of the Ashkenazic, as well as
the Sephardic community of Jerusalem, and Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, Rishon
Le Zion, Chief Rabbi of Israel.
Rabbi
Rubenstein is a graduate of Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel
where he received a Bachelors Degree in Talmud and Jewish Philosophy
& Kabbalah, and holds a Masters Degree from Harvard University
in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations.
He is the
immediate Past President of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) and
currently serves as its Honorary President. He has served the
RCA as chairman of its Social Action Committee and organized the first
Rabbinic Missions to Washington. He has served as both President and
National Chairman of the Rabbinic Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal.
For a number of years, Rabbi Rubenstein chaired the Rabbinic Advisory
Council of the U.J.A- Federation of New York. He is a past President of
the Westchester Board of Rabbis, an executive officer of the
Westchester Rabbinical Council and has served on the board of the
Westchester Jewish Conference. He is a member of the Board of Directors
of the Washington Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values and a
member of the Orthodox Jewish Caucus.
Rabbi
Rubenstein's awards include: the Orthodox Union National Rabbinical
Leadership Centennial Award, 1999, the Keser Torah Award, Ariel
Institutes of Israel, 1994; the Samuel W. and Rose Hurowitz Award, UJA
Federation of New York, 1993; Rabbinic Award, General Assembly of the
Combined Jewish Federations, 1991; Rabbinic Service Award,
UJA-Federation, Westchester Division, 1987; City of Peace Award by
Israel Bonds, 1978; NCSY New England Region Meritorious Leadership
Award; Dr. and Mrs. Abraham Stern Service Award, Yeshiva University;
and is listed in Marquis Who's Who in Religion, 1991,1998. and Marquis
Who�s Who in America, 2000.
Rabbi
Rubenstein has served in pulpits in Milford, Massachusetts, and
Providence, Rhode Island, before coming to Scarsdale. He is
married to Deborah Rubenstein and they have four children.
