Speaker: Reuben
Job title: Rabbi
Company: Congregation Sha'ar Zahav

About the spreaker
Rabbi Reuben Zellman (he/they) serves on the staff of Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, the queer synagogue in San Francisco, California, where among his responsibilities he directs trans/intersex/nonbinary programming. He was ordained by Hebrew Union College in 2010 after becoming the first openly transgender person accepted to a rabbinical school. An activist since the 90s, Rabbi Reuben speaks and has been published widely on gender identity, intersexuality and justice in Jewish life. He received his B.A. in linguistics and Master’s of Music in choral conducting. In addition to rabbinical work, Reuben sings countertenor with various professional ensembles, is an adjunct lecturer in music at San Francisco State University, and co-directs the 40-voice New Voices Trans, Intersex and Genderqueer Chorus. He lives in San Francisco with his family.