Bernard Steinberg

Steinberg, Bernie March 10, 1945-January 12, 2024 was born and raised in St. Louis, the child of Ukrainian Jewish parents. After graduating from U City High in 1963, he studied English Literature at Wesleyan University, and went on to complete a PhD in Jewish Philosophy from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. During a fifty-year career as a Jewish educator, from Jerusalem to Cleveland, Ohio, to Cambridge, Mass., to Berkeley, California, he served as a founding fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute, a faculty member at the Pardes Institute, and a lecturer at the Kennedy School at Harvard University, among other roles. He is best known as the Executive Director of Harvard Hillel, where he served from 1993-2011.

“Bernie Steinberg was one of the most remarkable human beings I have ever known,” recalled one of his students from Harvard Hillel, Rabbi Shai Held, president and dean of the Hadar Institute, in a recent tribute. “I have rarely if ever met anyone so committed to the sacred art of nurturing young adults and encouraging them to blossom. Over and above the hundreds and hundreds of undergraduate students he guided and counseled...when I worked at Hillel there was always a steady stream of young Jewish professionals who would come to see Bernie— to get his advice, to receive his assurance, to be challenged to think differently and more deeply about whatever was on their mind. The list of people Bernie mentored is like a who’s who of Jewish communal leadership.”

Upon his retirement, he was awarded the prestigious Covenant Award for Jewish educators.

In a tribute posted after he died last Sunday, his daughter, Adena, wrote:

“I miss an Abba with whom I communicated in a short-hand very few but we could understand, whose greatness, humbleness, goodness, sharpness, optimism, moral clarity, and unconditional love were integrated truths which he wielded with fluency and flexibility. I hope that different parts of him continue to live on in the many many people he loved so much, especially his granddaughter, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, dear friends, colleagues and students.”

He is survived by his wife and partner of 56 years, Roz; children, Adena and Avi; siblings, David and Miriam; grandchild, Zoya.

Visitation Sunday, January 21st, 9:00 AM at BERGER MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 9430 Olive Blvd, followed by funeral service at 9:30 AM. Interment Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery-University City.

Those wishing to make a donation in Bernie’s name can give to World Central Kitchen, Attn: Donor Services Team, 200 Massachusetts Ave NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20001. https://donate.wck.org/give/499865/#!/donation/checkout.