Clergy : Senior Rabbi Steven M. Bob

Email: rabbibob@congetzchaim.org

Rabbi Steven M. Bob has served as rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim since 1981 and has played a key role in making Etz Chaim the warm, welcoming community that it is. His delight in Torah, his sense of humor and fun, his love of teaching and learning, and his ability to connect with congregants of all ages are some of the gifts he brings to his role.

Rabbi Bob was ordained in 1977, after earning his BA at the University of Minnesota and his MA at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College in 2002.

In addition to his activities at Etz Chaim, Rabbi Bob is currently an adjunct faculty member at Elmhurst College, where he is also a founder of the Holocaust Education Program. Previously, for ten years, he held adjunct faculty status at Benedictine University in Lisle. He is a leader of the faculty of Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI).

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 and is a member of its Hebrew Literacy Committee. Rabbi Bob has served as the President of the Chicago Association of Reform Rabbis.

Rabbi Bob freely shares with the congregation his own enthusiasms, which include studying the Book of Jonah, teaching Learn Hebrew in a Week, creating legendary Purim costumes, visiting Israel, celebrating Passover, and rooting for the Chicago Cubs.

His aim is to create a warm worship environment with an emphasis on participation. He believes it is important to create situations where people can be successful, so they will want to come to the synagogue. Our growing, active congregation is evidence of his impact.

Clergy : Assistant Rabbi Andrea Cosnowsky

Born and raised in Ardsley, New York, Rabbi Cosnowsky earned her BA in English Literature at SUNY Empire State College. After college, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she enjoyed a career as a professional singer-songwriter. She also taught fifth- and sixth-grade Hebrew at Temple Ohabai Shalom (The Temple).

Rabbi Cosnowsky still writes music, though not professionally. After an exciting ten years of living her musical dream, she felt called to the rabbinate. “As a songwriter, I didn’t get to see my impact on others. Being a rabbi allows me the privilege of being part of people’s lives at critical moments. Whether those moments are joyous or sorrowful, it is always a privilege. I am blessed to be able to touch individual lives every day.”