Background
RABBI
August 2020 - Present Rabbi Temple Sholom of Ontario, Ontario, CA
Officiating at Conservative, United Synagogue-affiliated congregation. Conducting Shabbat services (currently on Zoom due to Covid restrictions. Teaching Hebrew School and Adult Ed. Torah Study online.
Ordained Rabbi Independent Congregation/"Shteibel" Lake Elsinore, CA
September 2019 – August 2020
Leading independent, non-affiliated Conservative congregation. Conducting High Holiday and Shabbat services. Serving the community conducting Life Events for affiliated and non-affiliated, traditional and inter-faith couples.
Ordained Rabbi Congregation B’nai Chaim Murrieta, CA
July, 2017 – August, 2019
Lay Rabbi/Religious Leader Congregation B’nai Chaim Murrieta, CA
July, 2014 – June, 2017
Conducting regular Friday night and Saturday morning services for Conservative Congregation. Services are accompanied by my guitar playing which has lead to other congregants accompanying me playing violin and guitar as well. I officiate Family Services once a month in which our students from our school lead the service. Leading High Holiday services chanting appropriate nusach. Conduct holiday services that fall on New Moon and other holidays. Able to read directly from Torah scroll. Familiarity with both Torah and Haftorah cantillations. Trained four adults in Hebrew and Torah chanting for first all-adult B’nai Mitzvot conducted for Saturday Shabbat Mincha-Ma’ariv. Have trained numerous B’nai Mitzvot for both traditional Haftorah and Maftir Torah. Taught Hebrew and Prayers & Torah Classes for Adults. Currently teaching Hebrew school class for B’nai Mitzvot students. Have organized many events for synagogue including NJOP’s Shabbat Across America 2019 with Rebbetzin. Active in fund raising for the synagogue. Since I became rabbi two years ago, membership has more than doubled.
-Continuously studying Artscroll (Orthodox) and Soncino (Conservative) Chumashes.
-Studying Talmud for 15 years as part of “Daf Yomi” program using the Artscroll Talmud Series
-Studied Kabbalah reading Zohar edited by David Matt
-Consistently pray all three services daily including tefillin during secular mornings.
PART OF "BEIT DIN"/RABBINICAL TEAM
September 2007 – June 2012 Canyon Lake, CA
Co-lead lay congregation for "Conservadox" congregation. Participated in leading Shabbat and High Holiday services, including reading Torah and Haftorah. Also conducted periodic Sunday morning themed Talmud studies on various topics such as the Role of Women in Judaism and Astrology.
CONGREGATION MEMBER
June 1999 - June 2007 Murrieta, CA
Served on board for seven years including President of the congregation for two years. Also assisted rabbi’s in conducting services and substituting during their absences. Conducted Torah study for adults. Instituted and led
once-a-month Shabbat Shachrit junior congregation.
PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN
February, 1986 -December, 1991 Served on Nursing staff of psychiatric facility.
Individual and group counseling activities; assistant charge nurse. Worked with variety of demographics: adolescent behavior and chemical dependency; adult chemical dependency; eating disorders; personality disorders including multiple personality disorders; psychotic and delusional disorders.
EDUCATION
Rabbinical Ordination, Rabbinical Seminary International, New York, NY June 2017
MBA, Business Management University of Redlands, Redlands, CA
BA, Psychology State University of New York, College at Oswego
AS, Psychiatric Technology Saddleback Community College, Mission Viejo, CA