Rabbi Steve Wernick

The Anne and Max Tanenbaum Senior Rabbinic Chair

Rabbi Steve Wernick hands out siddurim before a Kabbalat Shabbat service.
Rabbi Steven C. Wernick is the Senior Rabbi of Beth Tzedec Congregation, a vibrant and multi-generational community dedicated to inspiring and enabling meaningful Jewish living. Since arriving in 2019, he has helped guide Beth Tzedec through a period of growth and renewal shaped by deep listening, data-driven insight and a commitment to building a culture where every person feels they belong.
Rabbi Wernick champions a relational model of synagogue life rooted in connection, purpose, and peoplehood. He believes that Jewish community at its best is a hub of sacred relationships—formed by supporting one another through life’s seasons, engaging in prayer, pursuing learning and acting with chesed. His leadership reflects the Congregation’s shared desire to create a synagogue that is both anchor and launchpad: a place of spiritual grounding that empowers members to bring more meaning, justice and compassion into the world.
Under his stewardship, Beth Tzedec has launched innovative initiatives including the Generations Membership model, expanded engagement for young adults and families and renewed opportunities for spiritual exploration and personal growth through the Centre for Spiritual Well-Being. These efforts reflect his conviction that synagogues thrive when people feel seen, valued and invited to shape Jewish life together.
A respected voice in global Jewish leadership, Rabbi Wernick previously served as CEO of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and has led congregations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is active in international Jewish affairs through the Jewish Agency for Israel, the World Zionist Organization, and MERCAZ. He holds rabbinic ordination and master’s degrees from the Jewish Theological Seminary and the American Jewish University, a BA from the University of Minnesota, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity from JTS.
Rabbi Wernick’s rabbinate is animated by compassion, curiosity and a belief in the power of community to transform lives. He and his wife, Jody, are proud parents of three daughters and feel blessed to be part of the Beth Tzedec family.