Join Dr. Holmes as she discusses congregational inclusion with Rabbi Steven Rau. Rabbi Rau is the co-author with Stacey Levy of the book Everyone is Welcome: Creating a Culture of Inclusion in Congregational Schools. Dr. Holmes and Rabbi Rau talk through the book which is relevant for every faith in creating an inclusive environment as well as staff training and the importance of role models and building programs around a child's individual needs. The book is available on Amazon and Behrman House Publishing.

Rabbi Steven H. Rau joined The Temple staff as Director of Lifelong Learning in 2002. He oversees The Temple’s Breman Education Center, Project Connect (youth engagement department), Tamid: A Lifetime of Jewish Learning (adult education), and the Weinberg Early Learning Center. Rau and the educational team have revitalized The Temple’s educational and youth engagement programs, which is one of twenty supplemental educational programs in North America accredited by the Association for Reform Jewish Educators (ARJE) in 2009.

Rabbi Steven Rau was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and received a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications. During his undergraduate studies, Rabbi Rau attended Tel Aviv University in Israel. He received a Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and was ordained in 1998. In 2003, Rau received the coveted title of Reform Jewish Educator from the ARJE. Additionally, he holds a Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida. Before moving to Atlanta, Rabbi Rau served as Associate Rabbi and Director of Youth and Education at Congregation Ahavath Chesed in Jacksonville, Florida.

Rabbi Rau is actively involved in the greater Jewish educational world, serving nationally as a member of the ARJE Accreditation Committee, and locally as a board member of Jewish Family and Career Services. Rabbi Rau is co-author of Everyone is Welcome: Creating a Culture of Inclusion in Congregational Schools, published by URJ Press, and was a contributing writer and part of the editorial team of Mishkan Tefilah for Youth and Mishkan HaNefesh for Youth, both published by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. In 2017, Rabbi Rau was honored by the ARJE as Distinguished Educator.

Rabbi Rau and his wife, Julie, have five children - daughters Aviv and Amit, and sons Ohad, Matthew, and Reid, and a sweet Cockapoo named George.

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