Valley Beth Shalom
34°09′20.19″N 118°28′36.68″W / 34.1556083°N 118.4768556°W / 34.1556083; -118.4768556
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
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
The clergy include Senior Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz, rabbis Ed Feinstein, Nina Bieber Feinstein, and Yael Aranoff, and cantors 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
- The bimah of the main sanctuary before Shavuot 2008
References
- ^ "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.
External links
- Official website
- VBS Harold M. Schulweis Day School
- Etz Chaim Hebrew School
- Valley Beth Shalom USY
- Schulweis Institute
- Jewish World Watch
- v
- t
- e
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Star_of_David.svg/15px-Star_of_David.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png)
- Beth-El (Anniston)
- Knesseth Israel (Birmingham)
- Beth-El (Birmingham)
- Emanu-El (Birmingham)
- B'nai Sholom (Huntsville)
- Sha’arai Shomayim (Mobile)
- Agudath Israel Etz Ahayem (Montgomery)
- Beth Or (Montgomery)
- Beth Israel (Scottsdale)
- Emanuel (Tempe)
- Kol Ami (Tucson)
- Beth HaMedrosh Hagodol-Beth Joseph (Denver)
- Temple Emanuel (Denver)
- Temple Sinai (Denver)
- Temple Emanuel (Pueblo)
- Temple Aaron (Trinidad)
- B'nai Israel (Bridgeport)
- Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek (Chester)
- Knesseth Israel (Ellington)
- Ahavath Achim (Fairfield)
- Mishkan Israel (Hamden)
- Beth Israel (Hartford West)
- Tephereth Israel (New Britain)
- Beth Israel (New Haven)
- Agudath Sholom (Stamford)
- Israel (Westport)
- B'nai Jacob (Woodbridge)
- Hebrew Congregation of Woodmont
- Adas Israel
- Bet Mishpachah
- DC Minyan
- Kesher Israeln
- Machar
- Ohev Sholom
- Rosh Pina
- Sixth & I
- Washington Hebrew
- Ahavath Chesed (Jacksonville)
- Bet Shira (Miami)
- Edmond J. Safra (Miami)
- Beth Sholom (Miami Beach)
- Cuban Hebrew (Miami Beach)
- Emanu-El (Palm Beach)
- New (Palm Beach)
- Beth-El (Pensacola)
- Beth Jacob (Atlanta)
- Shearith Israel (Atlanta)
- Temple (Atlanta)
- B'nai Israel (Augusta)
- Beth Israel (Macon)
- B'nai Torah (Sandy Springs)
- Mickve Israel (Savannah)
- Aloha Jewish Chapel (Pearl Harbor)
- Emanu-El (Honolulu)
- Ahavath Beth Israel (Boise)
Chicago | |
---|---|
- B'nai Israel (Council Bluffs)
- Beit Shalom (Davenport)
- United Orthodox (Sioux City)
- Adath Israel Brith Sholom (Louisville)
- Anshei Sfard (Louisville)
- Keneseth Israel (Louisville)
- Adath Israel (Owensboro)
- Israel (Paducah)
- B'nai Israel (Alexandria)
- Gemiluth Chassodim (Alexandria)
- Anshe Sfard (New Orleans)
- Beth Israel (New Orleans)
- Sinai (New Orleans)
- Touro (New Orleans)
- B'Nai Zion (Shreveport)
- Beth Israel (Bangor)
- Etz Chaim (Portland)
- Shaarey Tphiloh (Portland)
- Naval Academy (Annapolis)
- B'nai Israel (Baltimore)
- Hebrew (Baltimore)
- Beth Am (Baltimore)
- Shearith Israel (Baltimore)
- Shomrei Emunah (Baltimore)
- Tiferes Yisroel (Baltimore)
- Beth El (Bethesda)
- Bethesda Jewish Congregation (Bethesda)
- Beth Shalom (Columbia)
- B'er Chayim (Cumberland)
- B'Nai Israel (Easton)
- Beth Sholom (Frederick)
- Kol Ami (Frederick)
- Emanuel (Kensington)
- Oseh Shalom (Laurel)
- Magen David Sephardic (North Bethesda)
- Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah (Olney)
- Beth El (Pikesville)
- Beth Tfiloh (Pikesville)
- Har Sinai – Oheb Shalom (Pikesville)
- Beth Sholom and Talmud Torah (Potomac)
- Beth Israel (Salisbury)
- Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Silver Spring)
- B'nai Israel (Rockville)
- Temple Israel (Boston)
- Ohabei Shalom (Brookline)
- Kahal B'raira (Cambridge)
- Agudath Shalom (Chelsea)
- Beth Israel (Malden)
- Adams Street (Newton)
- Shaarei Tefillah (Newton)
- Beth Israel (North Adams)
- Beth Israel (Onset)
- Anshe Amunim (Pittsfield)
- Sinai Temple (Springfield)
- Ahavath Torah (Stoughton)
- Beth Israel (Worcester)
- Emanuel Sinai (Worcester)
- Beth El (Alpena)
- Beth Emeth (Ann Arbor)
- Beth Israel (Ann Arbor)
- Beth El (Detroit)
- Birmingham Temple (Detroit)
- Isaac Agree Downtown (Detroit)
- Temple Emanuel (Grand Rapids)
- Temple Jacob (Hancock)
- Beth Sholom (Marquette)
- Beth Israel (Jackson)
- Temple Israel (West Bloomfield)
- Beth Jacob (Mendota Heights)
- Temple Israel (Minneapolis)
- Adath Jeshurun (Minnetonka)
- Beth El (St Louis Park)
- Mount Zion (St Paul)
- Or Emet (St Paul)
- Adath Israel (Cleveland)
- Beth Israel (Jackson)
- Beth Israel (Meridian)
- B'nai Israel (Tupelo)
- United Hebrew (Chesterfield)
- B'nai Amoona (Creve Coeur)
- Shaare Emeth (Creve Coeur)
- Temple Israel (Creve Coeur)
- Beth El (Jefferson City)
- Beth Sholom (Cherry Hill)
- Kol Ami (Cherry Hill)
- Synagogue of Deal (Deal)
- Beth Hillel (Deerville)
- Ahavath Torah (Englewood)
- Barnert (Franklin Lakes)
- Agudath Achim (Freehold)
- Etz Ahaim Sephardic (Highland Park)
- United Synagogue of Hoboken
- Beth-El (Jersey City)
- Adas Emuno (Leonia)
- B'Nai Abraham (Livingston)
- Shaari Emeth (Manalapan)
- Marlboro Jewish Center (Marlboro)
- B'nai Israel (Millburn)
- Beth Hillel Beth Abraham (Millville)
- Morristown Jewish Center (Morristown)
- Beth Israel (Ridgewood)
- Rosenhayn Synagogue (Rosenhayn)
- Oheb Shalom (South Orange)
- Beth El (Voorhees)
- Albert (Albuquerque)
- B'nai Israel (Albuquerque)
- Beth Israel (Asheville)
- Temple Israel (Charlotte)
- Temple Israel (Kinston)
- Emanuel (Statesville)
- Temple of Israel (Wilmington)
- Tifereth-Israel (Beachwood)
- Agudas Achim (Bexley)
- Golf Manor (Cincinnati)
- Rockdale (Cincinnati)
- Wise Temple (Cincinnati)
- Anshe Chesed Fairmount (Cleveland)
- Oheb Zedek Cedar Sinai (Cleveland)
- Park Synagogue (Cleveland)
- Silver Sanctuary (Cleveland)
- Temple Israel (Columbus)
- Temple Israel (Dayton)
- Beth Israel (Hamilton)
- B'nai Israel (Toledo)
- B'nai Israel (Oklahoma City)
- Temple Israel (Tulsa)
- Beth Israel (Eugene)
- Beth Israel (Portland)
- Neveh Shalom (Portland)
- Shaarie Torah (Portland)
Philadelphia | |
---|---|
|
- Touro (Newport)
- Beth-El (Providence)
- Sons of Jacob (Providence)
- Beth Israel (Beaufort)
- Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (Charleston)
- House of Peace (Columbia)
- Beth Israel (Florence)
- Beth Elohim (Georgetown)
- Kol Ami (Fort Mill)
- Sinai (Sumter)
- Adas Israel (Brownsville)
- Mizpah (Chattanooga)
- B'nai Israel (Jackson)
- Baron Hirsch (Memphis)
- Israel (Memphis)
- Ohabai Sholom (Nashville)
- Sherith Israel (Nashville)
- Agudas Achim (Austin)
- Beth Israel (Austin)
- Emanuel (Beaumont)
- B'nai Abraham (Brenham)
- Emanu-El (Dallas)
- Beth Jacob (Galveston)
- B'nai Israel (Galveston)
- Beth Israel (Houston)
- Beth Yeshurun (Houston)
- Sinai (Houston)
- Beth-El (San Antonio)
- B'rith Sholem (Ogden)
- Kol Ami (Salt Lake City)
- Agudas Achim (Alexandria)
- Beth El (Alexandria)
- Beth Israel (Charlottesville)
- Rodef Shalom (Falls Church)
- Sinai (Newport News)
- Commodore Levy Chapel (Norfolk)
- Beth Ahabah (Richmond)
- Kol Emes (Richmond)
- Beth Israel (Roanoke)
- Adath Israel (Rutland)
- House of Israel (Staunton)
- Beth El (Winchester)
- Ohev Sholom (Huntington)
- Shalom (Wheeling)
- Beth El (Madison)
- Beth Israel Ner Tamid (Milwaukee)
- Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun (River Hills)
- Oldest U.S. synagogues
- History
- Category
- People
- US places of worship