Temple Beth El is one of the oldest synagogues in Los Angeles and remains a vital part of San Pedro and the greater South Bay area. Our membership come from throughout the South Bay and Beach Cities and from as far as Northern Orange County Playa del Rey, As our programming has become multi-access, members who now live in other states are able to remain active participants in our community. As the greater community has evolved, Temple Beth El has been a steady presence in San Pedro, navigating the changing world for over 100 years. More about our history can be read here.
Rabbi Akiva said that the most important mitzvah (commandment) in the Torah was to love your neighbor as yourself. That is why we hold welcoming as a value. In fact, he said that unless you love your neighbor you cannot really love God.
(Education & Empowerment): As a religion/culture, we have always held education as a pillar of who we are. We hallow scholars, and we have made learning a lifelong endeavor. In fact, Rabbi Akiva was illiterate, but at the age of 40 sat with his son to learn the alphabet and yet became a true sage and light. It is never too late.
(Commitment to DEIA): Respect comes from the idea that every human is made in the image of God, and is deserving of respect. The Talmud (in The Sayings of our Ancestors) tells us to make every person our teacher, as they have a lesson for us, even if the lesson is a negative one.
(Balance between tradition and transformation/responsivity/resiliency): Reform is a verb. As part of the Reform movement it is incumbent upon us to constantly evaluate just what it is that we are doing, and not doing. We also seek new meanings that keep our Tradition vibrant and impactful. We seek to be elevated by our Tradition, not imprisoned by it.
Judaism tells us that we are to place God before us always. Before the mundane act of eating, we say a blessing, not to transform the food, but our relationship with it. We are a part of the cosmic web of creation and constantly reinforce that awareness. We reach for the Divine in our prayers, in nature, and in each other.
There is no us and them, there is only us. This calls us to reach out to our neighbors, and with the goal of Tikkun Olam (Making the World Better), seek to uplift everyone. If you want to change the world, start with yourself. That will have an effect on those around you, and thereby your community and then then the world. Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav summed it up by saying: The whole world is a narrow bridge, and the essence of living (as we walk on that bridge) is not to be fearful.
Walk through our doors and feel our warmth. Be yourself and be embraced by people who are caring, nurturing, and supportive. Learn with us. Pray with us. Sing with us. Play with us. Eat with us. Laugh and cry with us. Pursue justice with us. Join us in challenging and inspiring one another to seek answers together. Come home to Temple Beth El where new friends are waiting to welcome you.
As a smaller, boutique congregation, in addition to the usual membership benefits, you will be able to develop close personal relationships with our Rabbi, Cantor, Educator, staff and community members. The social and intellectual needs of our members are met through a wide variety of events and activities. We offer adult education courses, Torah School, service projects, cultural activities, various groups and clubs, an active Sisterhood, a developing Mensch Club, wonderful guest speakers, and other special events. There are so many ways for every member to get involved and become a part of the Temple Beth El family.
Our worship services are meaningful, easy to follow, and accessible they are conducted in both Hebrew and English. Our uplifting services are always filled with music and thought provoking teachings. Our Rabbi inspires us with lessons from the Torah of our lives. Our Cantor leads us in song supported by our and, our very own in-house band, the Moody Jews, at select services.
Since our classes are small, our Torah School students receive individual attention. We strive to make our religious education fun we want our children to learn to love the heritage of Judaism and carry these teachings with them for the rest of their lives, as well as pass them down to future generations, l’dor v’dor. Children of all ages are always welcome at our Shabbat Services, and on the first Friday of each month we have an early service especially designed for families with young children.
We are supported by our members financially through annual commitments and periodic fundraising activities. Volunteerism is also vital to the life of our community. There are many opportunities to volunteer at any age.
Both forms of support are essential to enable our synagogue to flourish. To make a contribution online of any size, please click here.
If you have any questions about our synagogue, membership, our community, or would like to arrange a visit or appointment, please contact our staff. We hope you find a home Temple Beth El.
Click Here to View Our Lay Leadership
Cantor Ilan Davidson has been pleasing audiences with his singing since before he could read. At age five, he began singing with his Cantor, Philip Moddel, and hasn’t shut up since. At ten, he made his Operatic debut with the Fullerton Civic Light Opera’s production of Bizet’s Carmen, as a street urchin. Since then, he has performed roles in opera and musical theatre, performing, directing, and producing world-class productions.
Among his many accomplishments, Cantor Davidson is also known as a contemporary Jewish songwriter and performer, having delighted audiences all over the world, including Israel and Lithuania with the soulful sounds of his music. His recordings, Stained Glass (1995) and In A Hanukkah Mood (2007) are collections of original and covered songs by himself and many contemporary Jewish artists. His most recent recording, God Is In This Place (2020), is a collection of original liturgical pieces for the Friday night Shabbat Service, commissioned and written in honor of his 25th Anniversary as the Cantor of Temple Beth El.
Cantor Davidson left the stage and in 1995 joined the Temple Beth El family, in San Pedro, where, in his nearly 30 years of service, he has brought many new programs and much enthusiasm to all he does. Coming from a long line of Cantors, it must have been Besheret for Cantor Davidson, although talented in all areas of musical performance, to finally settle down into his career as Hazzan for Temple Beth El in San Pedro, California. In 2007, Cantor Davidson founded a new foundation, KindredSPIRITS, producing an annual world humanitarian aid event. KindredSPIRITS premiered on June 5, 2008 at Walt Disney Concert Hall, adding that prestigious concert hall to the ever growing list of venues around the world, where Davidson has performed. During the 10 years of humanitarian events, Global KindredSPIRITS, Inc., as an official 501©3, raised awareness and close to $500,000 for its beneficiaries over the decade.
As a past president of the South Coast Interfaith Council, Ilan fought for tolerance and understanding of ALL faiths in a difficult climate. For the past 7 years, Cantor Davidson has been service as an LA County Commissioner, representing the 4th District on the Human Relations Commission, where he currently serves as President. Whether it is raising his voice for justice, Hazzanut, Pop, Opera, Musical Theatre, or folk music, Cantor Ilan Davidson shares his soul and genuine love in every note.
When asked about his finest accomplishment, Cantor Ilan invariably responds, “After all the great concerts, services, and roles, my finest role in life is that of husband to my beautiful wife, Jodi, and daddy to my gorgeous daughters, Jordan and Zoe.”
Office: (310) 833-2467 Ext. 106
