Rabbi Ari Cartun joined Congregation Etz Chayim as rabbi and scholar in residence in June 1996. Rabbi Cartun leads services, teaches, counsels members in need, officiates at life cycle events, and takes an active role in helping to build and solidify our community. His motto for congregants is "Please bother the rabbi!" He welcomes the opportunity to get to know and to assist congregants and loves to get questions.

Rabbi Cartun received his Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters and his Rabbinic Ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, where he was ordained in 1975 as a Reform rabbi. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from both the Conservative and Reconstructionist Rabbinical schools. Before coming to Congregation Etz Chayim, Rabbi Cartun was the Executive Director of the Hillel Foundation at Stanford University for 21 years.

Rabbi Cartun has devoted his rabbinate to bridging the gaps between denominations within Judaism, and to creating connections and understandings between religions.  Because he is a Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist rabbi, his positions may sometimes surprise you.

 

The best way to reach Rabbi Cartun is by phone and generally gets a same-day response: Etz Chayim Office (650 813-9094); home study phone and fax (650 813-9011). He does not check email as frequently as phone messages.