Rabbi Donn Gross is the rabbi of Congregation Bet Dovid in Caldwell, New Jersey—one of the first vegan synagogues in the United States. A longtime leader in both traditional Jewish life and the growing movement toward compassionate living, Rabbi Gross brings decades of Torah scholarship, communal service, and lived experience to his work.

He is the English translator of Before the Blind, a groundbreaking work by Rav Asa Keisar that compiles over 3,500 years of Jewish teachings on plant-based living. Drawing from the writings of countless rabbinic authorities across the generations, the book presents a powerful Torah-based case for veganism and has become an essential resource for those exploring the intersection of Jewish values and compassionate diet.

Rabbi Gross studied in leading yeshivot in both Israel and the United States, including Yeshiva Ohavei Torah in Bnei Brak, the Mir Yeshiva, and Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem. He later earned a degree in Jewish Education from Yeshiva University and trained as a cantor under renowned chazzanim. Over the years, he has served communities throughout New York and New Jersey as a rabbi, cantor, and Torah reader.

After a successful two-decade career in the technology sector, Rabbi Gross founded Meals to Heal Catering, a plant-based meal service dedicated to making healthy, compassionate food accessible and affordable.

Ordained in 2016, Rabbi Gross also serves as a hospice volunteer, bringing comfort and spiritual support to those in need. His vision for Congregation Bet Dovid, first realized in 2014, is to create a synagogue that blends the depth and seriousness of traditional worship with warmth, joy, and a deep commitment to compassion for all living beings.

Rabbi Gross’s teachings, writings, and videos continue to inspire a growing community seeking to live more ethically through the lens of Torah.