Rabbi Stephen S. Pearce Rabbi Stephen S. Pearce, Ph.D., is the senior rabbi emeritus and the Taube scholar at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco. Ordained at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, he earned his doctorate in counselor education at St. John’s University. Recent Stories Mar 2, 2022 Jewish values, a judge and Japanese American internment May 19, 2020 Who is officiating — and why? Sep 22, 2000 Seeking a blessing to heal divisions and steer our path