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Biography, Rabbi Reuven Taff

Rabbi

Born and raised in Albany, New York, Rabbi Reuven Taff is the rabbi and spiritual leader of Mosaic Law Congregation, Sacramento’s only Conservative synagogue.  Prior to his arrival in 1995, the rabbi served for seven years as the first Headmaster of Gesher Jewish Day School of Northern Virginia, the only Jewish Day School serving this suburb of Washington, D.C.

A trained educator and cantor, Rabbi Taff studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City.  He received his B.A. in Religious Studies from California State University, Northridge and holds a Masters of Arts Degree in Education and another Masters of Arts Degree in Judaica, both from the University of Judaism in Los Angeles.  He pursued his rabbinic studies at Ohr Torah Rabbinical Seminary in Israel, where he was ordained in 1988.  During the early seventies and eighties, the rabbi served as Rosh Musica (Music Director) at Camp Ramah in Ojai, California.

He is affiliated with the Rabbinical Assembly, the Cantor’s Assembly, the Jewish Educators Assembly, and the Northern California Board of Rabbis and is active in the Interfaith Service Bureau and AIDS Interfaith Network in Sacramento.  The rabbi is Past President of the Rabbis’ Association of Sacramento.

He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Northern California Region of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and remains a member of the Executive Committee of the Rabbinic Cabinet of the United Jewish Communities, where he also serves on the UJC Speakers Bureau.  In 2004, the rabbi, along with members of his congregation, founded the Sacramento Committee on Conscience, a grass roots organization whose goal is to bring about an end to the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.  The Committee was instrumental in the California State Assembly passing a bill mandating divestment from companies doing business with the government of Sudan, which supports the Darfur genocide.  Governor Schwarzenegger signed the bill in September, 2007.

In October 2003, Rabbi Taff was honored by the State of Israel in recognition of his exemplary leadership and unwavering support for the State of Israel and Israel Bonds.  In 1999, he was honored by President George H.W. Bush to preside over and conduct the first annual White House Chanukah Celebration with the President, Vice-President and their families. 

Since his arrival in Sacramento, he has been asked to give testimony to committees in the California State Legislature on a variety of issues, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Minimum Wage Act.  In March 1998, he was the keynote speaker for the Annual Conference on the California Interfaith Coalition.  In November 1999, at the invitation of Bishop William K. Weigand, the rabbi was invited to give the homily at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, considered to be the first time a rabbi has preached at a Catholic Mass in Sacramento. 

Rabbi Taff’s passion is teaching children and adults of all ages.  Outside of his rabbinic duties, he is a devoted sports fan and is particularly fond of college basketball and the Sacramento Kings (especially when they are winning!).  In his “spare time”, the rabbi enjoys reading, music and spending time with his three adult sons, Avi, Josh and Ari.