Valley Beth Shalom
Encyclopedia
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
Synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Encino, Los Angeles, California
Encino, Los Angeles, California
Encino is a hilly district of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. Specifically, it is located in the central portion of the southern San Fernando Valley and on the north slope of the Santa Monica Mountains...
. With over 1,800 member families it is one of the largest synagogues in Los Angeles and one of the largest Conservative synagogues in the United States. Newsweek includes it on its 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".
The synagogue and its schools provide education for all ages. The Harold M. Schulweis
Harold M. Schulweis
Harold M. Schulweis is an American rabbi and author. He is the longtime spiritual Leader at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California.-Biography:...
Day School
Jewish day school
A Jewish day school is a modern Jewish educational institution that is designed to provide Jewish children with both a Jewish and a secular education in one school on a full time basis, hence its name of "day school" meaning a school that the students attend for an entire day and not on a part time...
, a member of the Solomon Schechter Day School Association
Solomon Schechter Day School Association
The Solomon Schechter Day School Association is the organization of Jewish day school that identify with Conservative Judaism. The association provides guidance and resources for its member schools in the United States and Canada...
, has over 250 students. Etz Chaim Hebrew School is also headquartered at the synagogue. VBS is a member of the Far West Region of United Synagogue Youth
United Synagogue Youth
United Synagogue Youth is the youth movement of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. USY operates in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The goal of the movement is to bring Jewish teenagers closer to Judaism and Israel through learning and social interaction...
.
The clergy include Senior Rabbi Ed Feinstein, Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis
Harold M. Schulweis
Harold M. Schulweis is an American rabbi and author. He is the longtime spiritual Leader at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California.-Biography:...
, arguably one of the most influential and renowned rabbis of his generation, Rabbi Joshua Hoffman, Rabbi Noah Farkas, Rabbi Paul Steinberg, Cantor Herschel Fox, and Cantor Phil Baron
Phil Baron
Philip Mitchell Baron is an American voice actor, puppeteer and songwriter who voiced Piglet in the Disney Channel live-action/puppet television series Welcome to Pooh Corner...
.
The synagogue has launched a number of programs including the Jewish World Watch
Jewish World Watch
The Jewish World Watch is an NGO based out of Southern California, a coalition of more than 60 synagogues including Valley Beth Shalom and Jewish groups with the objective of educating, advocating, and donating in order to combat genocide and other human rights violations all over the world...
, an NGO, is a prominent founding member of the Havurah movement, and has popular adult education programs.
Valley Beth Shalom's chapter of United Synagogue Youth is a member of the Far West Region of USY, which is part of the Pacific Southwest Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. VBS USY provides educational, spiritual, religious and social opportunities and activities for its members and the community. V.B.S. United Synagogue Youth is the official teenage youth group of Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue. VBS USY actually consists of seven groups - Bonim - Grades K and 1, Machar - Grades 2 and 3, Kadima, which is for children in the 4th - 6th grades, Junior USY for teenagers in the 7th - 8th grades, Senior USY, which is for teenagers in the 9th - 12th grades, Yoetzim Leadership Program - Grades 8 - 12, and B'Yachad Special Needs Youth Group - Ages 11 – 18.
On Yom Ha'atzmaut
Yom Ha'atzmaut
Yom Ha'atzmaut commemorates Israel's declaration of Independence in 1948. It is celebrated on 5 Iyar according to the Hebrew calendar. Yom Ha'atzmaut is preceded by Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day.-History:...
2003, a Molotov cocktail
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
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,"