Reuben

The Reuben or Reuben sandwich is made with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island Dressing on rye bread and then grilled or toasted. It may have been invented at Reuben's restaurant in Los Angeles, California, sometime between 1914 and 1930. East Coast delis may often substitute Russian Dressing for the traditional thousand island dressing

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In the Book of Genesis, Reuben is the first-born son of Jacob and the founder of the Tribe of Reuben.

Reuben means behold a son, and was so named because his mother Leah was hoping that by presenting him to Jacob she would overcome Jacob's preference for his second wife, her younger sister Rachel.

Although part of the plot to kill and later enslave their brother Joseph, it is Reuben who advises the others not to kill Joseph, see Genesis 37:20-22, and who later points out that their troubles in Egypt were the consequence of the plot, see Genesis 42:22. Later he offers his own two sons as surety for the safety of Benjamin, see Genesis 42:37, in order to more quickly relieve the famine, an offer Jacob refuses. He is probably the wisest and most compassionate of the older brothers.

But as firstborn, Reuben should have been the leader of his brothers, and have taken responsibility for their collective actions, which he fails to do. His other failing is to commit incest with Bilhah, see Genesis 35:22, 49:3,4.