After serving as spiritual leader for a number of different temples, Rabbi Steinbrink served as Associate Rabbi and then Senior Rabbi at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia and Elkins Park for 17 years. Throughout that time and beyond, he has been actively involved in a number of local Jewish organizations and hospital chaplaincy programs and has been a frequent teacher of the Union for Reform Judaism’s “Introduction to Judaism” and “Taste of Judaism” classes in the Philadelphia area.
Rabbi Steinbrink joined Or Chadash in 1990 when it was a young, small and fledgling congregation. With his leadership and support, Or Chadash grew both in size of membership and breadth of programs. Our religious school was formed early on, and the children of our members began to grow and develop as young Jewish thinkers. Our older students became B’nai Mitzvah and soon thereafter, we celebrated with our first Confirmands. Our students formed our youth group and they fostered special friendships, many of which are still maintained today. Rabbi Steinbrink also encouraged and worked closely with our lay leaders in developing the capital plan that was needed to create a permanent home for our congregation. By the time Rabbi Steinbrink retired in June of 2000, the groundwork had been laid for the construction of our present facility, and the congregation was flourishing.
Rabbi Steinbrink and his wife, Diane, are natives of Brooklyn, NY. They reside in CenterCity, Philadelphia, where Diane is a frequent guest lecturer and was the coordinator of Plays for Living, a socio-drama program, at Family Service of Philadelphia for 17 years. Diane has also produced theatre projects, presented her one-person programs and acted in regional theater extensively in Philadelphiaand south Jersey. The Steinbrinks are blessed with 3 married children and 5 grandchildren who live in easy driving distance from their home.
Please don’t miss the opportunity to meet and enjoy Rabbi Steinbrink’s special rabbinic style when he is back on our bimah to lead us in discussion or worship.