Paul M. Steinberg, Eleanor Sinsheimer distinguished service professor of Jewish religious education and human relations at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, died July 8 in New York after battling cancer for several years. He was 79.

Steinberg served as teacher, mentor, dean and vice president at the College-Institute schools in New York and Jerusalem, beginning in 1955. At the time of his death, Steinberg was vice president for communal development, and served on the boards of the Jewish Braille Institute, Jerusalem’s W.F. Albright Institute of Archeological Research, the Hospital for Joint Diseases and Dorot. He also served as president of the Gimprich Foundation.

Born in New York City, Steinberg earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees at City College, received his ordination and master’s degree in Hebrew literature from the JIR in 1949,and earned his doctorate in psychological services from Columbia University. Steinberg taught at Hebrew University, New York University, Baruch College and the Army Force Management School and received honorary doctorates from Baltimore Hebrew University and from HUC-JIR.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Steinberg and his wife, Trudy, were honored by HUC-JIR in 1997 with the establishment of the Dr. Paul M. and Trudy Steinberg Endowment Fund for the Teaching of Human Relations. The Dr. Paul M. and Trudy Steinberg Distinguished Professorship Chair in Human Relations and Counseling was established in 2003.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount