Our clergy
Rabbi Steve Gross
Rabbi Gross has served the Houston Jewish community since his ordination in 1996, and has led HCRJ since 2005. He brings warmth, creativity and a genuine sense of joy to the pulpit, and more often than not, a guitar.
1996
Ordained at Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion, in Cincinnati, where he also earned a Masters of Hebrew Letters.
2005
The year Rabbi Gross came to HCRJ, and he has nurtured the congregation ever since.
Thirty years
Serving the Houston Jewish community, without a break, since the day he was ordained.
Multi-faith
Leadership with Jerusalem Peacebuilders, the ADL Coalition for Mutual Respect and the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network.
On the bimah
Worship that resonates across generations
As the rabbi of Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Gross brings warmth, creativity and a genuine sense of joy to the pulpit. With his passion for music and his use of the guitar, he seeks to create worship experiences that resonate across generations: services where a grandparent and a seven year old are both being spoken to, and both know it.
At the heart of his work is a deep belief that Jewish life is meant to foster connection, to one another, to community, and to God. He approaches every aspect of his rabbinate as an opportunity to build meaningful relationships and to cultivate a spirit of belonging.
He believes deeply in the power of shared experiences, collaborative service, and what he calls “audacious hospitality” to break down barriers and build a more compassionate world.
Peace and justice
Faith expressed as shared responsibility
A passionate advocate for peace and justice, Rabbi Gross sees these values as essential expressions of faith rather than as an addition to it. He has helped nurture a strong sense of shared responsibility within this community, and that commitment extends well beyond the congregation.
It includes his involvement with Jerusalem Peacebuilders, where he supports programs that bring Israeli, Palestinian and American participants together to engage across differences and develop the skills that dialogue and diplomacy actually require.
In 2017 he was selected as the Jewish representative on a Houston clergy delegation to Abu Dhabi for the international conference “Religions Promoting Peace Through Trust and Partnership”, focused on confronting extremism through collaboration. He continues that work at home through his leadership in the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, building relationships among pastors, imams, rabbis and their communities.
Beyond HCRJ
Building bridges across Houston
Rabbi Gross has long been dedicated to strengthening understanding and respect among Houston’s diverse faith communities. These are some of the places that work happens.
Jerusalem Peacebuilders
Israeli, Palestinian and American participants, together
Programs that bring people across the divide into the same room, and teach the skills that dialogue and diplomacy actually take.
Multi-Faith Neighbors Network
Pastors, imams, rabbis, and their communities
Relationships built deliberately and locally, so that Houston’s faith communities know one another before anything happens that tests it.
ADL Coalition for Mutual Respect
Confronting hate, alongside others
Long standing involvement with the Anti-Defamation League’s coalition work across the city.
Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston
Partnership across the whole city
Alongside countless churches, mosques, temples and cultural centers throughout Houston, in the ongoing work of building bridges of trust and understanding.
Away from the bimah
The rest of him
Originally from La Jolla, California, Rabbi Gross enjoys exploring culture through food and is an accomplished cook, which the congregation benefits from more often than is strictly fair.
He is also a devoted Astros and Texans fan. He and his wife, Beckye, are the proud parents of four children: Elliot, Lily, Simon and Aiden.
Rabbi Gross would be glad to hear from you.
Whether it is a question about Judaism, a conversation about joining, or something that has happened in your family, the office will put you straight through.