Valley_Beth_Shalom Knowpia

Valley Beth Shalom
Valley Beth Shalom
	Valley Beth Shalom synagogue
Religion
Affiliation	Conservative Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Synagogue
Leadership	Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz; Rabbi Ed Feinstein; Rabbi Nina Bieber Feinstein;
Status	Active
Location
Location	15739 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, Los Angeles, California
Country	United States
	Location in Los Angeles
Geographic coordinates	34°09′20.19″N 118°28′36.68″W / 34.1556083°N 118.4768556°W
Architecture
Date established	c. 1950s
Completed	c. 1980s
Website
	www.vbs.org

Valley Beth Shalom (informally called VBS) is a Conservative synagogue at 15739 Ventura Boulevard in Encino, Los Angeles, California, in the United States.^[1] With approximately 1,500 member families,^[2] it is one of the largest synagogues in Los Angeles and one of the largest Conservative synagogues in the United States.

Newsweek included the synagogue on its 2009 list of America's 25 Most Vibrant Congregations, saying, "Valley Beth Shalom continues to be one of America's most relevant and community-minded synagogues."^[3]

History edit

Valley Beth Shalom was formed in the 1950s through the merger of three small synagogues, and was initially named Valley Beth Sholom (sic.), located on Sepulveda Boulevard. In the 1970s, Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis became a driving force in the expansion of the congregation and the current synagogue was completed during his tenure in the late 1980s.^[4]

Overview edit

The clergy include Senior Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz, rabbis Ed Feinstein and Nina Bieber Feinstein, and cantors Herschel Fox, Phil Baron, and Jacqueline Rafii. Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, arguably one of the most influential and renowned rabbis of his generation,^[5] was rabbi for many decades as well, serving in this capacity until his death in 2014.

The synagogue launched the Jewish World Watch,^[6] an NGO founded by Schulweis and Janice Kamenir-Reznik, and is a founding member of the Havurah movement.^[7]

On Yom Ha'atzmaut 2003 (6 May), a Molotov cocktail was thrown through one of the synagogue's stained-glass windows. Mayor James K. Hahn said, "These are acts of terrorism, they're acts of hatred, and they tear at the very fabric of our community."^[8]

Gallery edit

The bimah of the main sanctuary before Shavuot 2008

References edit

^ "Cruising the Boulevard". Los Angeles Conservancy.
^ Popper, Nathaniel (September 23, 2005). "Next Generation Of Pulpit Rabbis Shakes Up L.A." The Forward. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
^ "America's 25 Most Vibrant Congregations". Newsweek. April 3, 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
^ "Our story: History". Valley Beth Shalom. 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
^ "50 Influential Rabbis". Newsweek. April 3, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
^ Schulweis, Rabbi Harold M. (September 15–16, 2004). "Globalism and Judaism". Sermons. Valley Beth Shalom. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
^ Fax, Julie G. (March 31, 2005). "Courage and Innovation". Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
^ "4 California Fires Are Called Hate Crimes". The New York Times. May 8, 2003.