Rabbi Stuart Federow

Rabbi Stuart Federow is the spiritual leader of Shaar Hashalom. Rabbi Federow was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri. In Springfield, Missouri, the United Hebrew Congregation's building housed two congregations, one Reform, and the other Orthodox. Rabbi Federow's family belonged to the Orthodox "side" but attended the only religious school on the Reform "side," as well as helping to found the Youth Group, which affiliated with N.F.T.Y., the national Reform youth group.

As a young boy, Rabbi Federow found himself explaining about Judaism to his friends and neighbors. By age 11, because of his love of Judaism, he had already chosen his career. Rabbi Federow earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology and Religious Studies from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1975. After ordination from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute Religion in Cincinnati, Rabbi Federow served for five years as the rabbi in Greenville, Mississippi. While there, he simultaneously served two other congregations within a radius of 75 miles, Rolling Fork, and Clarksdale, Mississippi. For one year he also served Monroe, Louisiana, while serving the other three. Before coming to Houston, Rabbi Federow served Beth Knesset Bamidbar, which means "the Synagogue In The Desert," in Lancaster, California.

Rabbi Federow came to Houston in 1989, and served as the Executive Director of the B'nai Brith Hillel Foundation of Greater Houston until 1995. Hillel serves the religious, social,and needs of a very diverse Jewish college student community at campuses throughout Houston.

Asked what he loves about his job, Rabbi Federow responds, "teaching, teach adults, but even more to the children." Asked what attracted him to CSH, Rabbi Federow describes the unique and diverse mix of congregants, a "technology-savvy" community, grounded in science but attracted to the spirituality of Jewish life.

Rabbi Federow used to fly private airplanes, he teaches An Introduction to Judaism at Houston Baptist University, and when invited to other local colleges and universities. He is one of the many rabbis on one of the many "Ask the Rabbi" web sites. Rabbi Federow is the creator of A Show Of Faith, a radio talk show with a Baptist minister, a Roman Catholic Priest, sometimes a Muslim, and himself, discussing events in the news from their religious perspectives.It can be heard live on Sunday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on 1070 a.m. dial, and via the internet through the radio station's web site at http://1070KNTH.com. One can also download podcasts of recent shows from the show's website at http://AShowOfFaith.org. The rabbi also has a website of his own at http://WhatJewsBelieve.org.

Rabbi Stuart Federow received a Doctor of Divinity (D. D.), honoris causa at the Hebrew Union College ? Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 3, 2007. This marks the celebration of Rabbi Federow?s 25 years of service and contribution to the community.