Meet David Gruber | Interfaith Wedding Rabbi

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Gruber and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, what is the most important factor behind your success?
My philosophy in building an interfaith couple’s wedding ceremony is simple: It is the couple’s ceremony. Therefore, I build it around the couple and with the couple. The Stoic philosopher, Epictetus, once said that “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” I keep that in mind in my meetings with the couple. I don’t come with a “checklist” of things I need to do or I need to say; I concentrate on the couple. Their wedding ceremony is about them and should be about creating a memorable ceremony that will stay with them for years to come.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a native of Evanston, Illinois, and an eighth generation rabbi. I grew up in Israel, where I served as a tank gunner in the IDF Armored Corps, attended Yeshivat Sha’alvim, one of the most prominent institutions of higher Jewish learning in Israel, for seven years, and received my rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbis of Israel. I hold a B.A. in History from Thomas Edison State College, and an M.S. in Educational Leadership from Walden University. I have served in religious, educational and communal leadership positions on three continents since my teens, specifically in Israel, New Zealand and the United States. I deeply believe in helping every couple make the most out of the most wonderful day of their lives. Since 2008, I have officiated over 450 weddings. I will travel anywhere you need me to go (in the U.S. or abroad) to officiate at your interfaith wedding, and help make your special day truly wonderful. I have always seen myself, first and foremost, as a learner. I love working with my couples, and I feel like I learn so much from them! In fact, my personal remarks at every wedding focus on what I learned from that specific couple. I encourage you to visit my blog Wise Student, where I discuss these important lessons.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Cafe Brazil and Ellen’s Kitchen is where to eat. You gotta go to Dealey’s Plaza and the Sixth Floor Museum. Come up to Frisco to shop at the mall.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am privileged to do two things that have very little to with each other. I am your very own Interfaith Wedding Rabbi, since 2008. Since 2014, I have served as the Development and Communications Director of the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA), the backbone organization of Dallas and Collin Counties’ homeless rehousing system. I am lucky to work with the most extraordinary group of people who work hard every day to end homelessness. Visit www.mdhadallas.org, to find out more about our work and join the fight to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring.

Website: http://www.interfaithweddingrabbi.net/
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/interfaithweddingrabbi
Twitter: http://twitter.com/InFaithWedRabbi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterfaithWeddingRabbi/

Image Credits
Matt Montalvo Photography 34 Studio