Rabbi
Cantor
Director of Education
Executive Director
Finance Coordinator
President
As congregational President, I want to welcome you! Whether you are currently a member or friend or are simply checking us out as a potential place of spiritual growth, learning, and connection, I am excited to collaborate with you on your journey. At TBE, we are a diverse and welcoming congregation that celebrates, cares, and comforts together. We recently celebrated our centennial anniversary, which truly shows our special, spiritual community is rooted in a strong history.
For me, it starts with people. It is our warmth, openness, and values that help define who we are. Throughout wars, famine, cultural change, and technological renaissance, the Temple Beth El community has served to nurture thousands of souls and provide a respite along the path of life for all who have chosen to take part. And when you walk through our doors, you’ll find that same warmth, radical acceptance, and connection that has been carried forward for decades.
Judaism is a communal experience, filled with spiritual growth, tradition, and joy. We discover the incredible tools offered by the Jewish tradition to help find meaning and fulfillment. And we engage and serve together to make a difference – both in ourselves and in the greater world around us. Through social action and outreach initiatives, we strive to build a better future together, filled with justice and compassion.
One of the things I love most about our temple is that we offer opportunities to engage for those at virtually every stage of life; we are truly a multigenerational group! You’ll hear the laughter of young families and children at our educational and social programs for youth and teens, and you’ll experience vibrant and thought-provoking discussions in adult learning and cultural activity offerings. And of course, you’ll feel spiritually enriched and renewed when you sing and pray with us in the embrace of our incredible and inspiring clergy.
It is my hope that you will feel the same sense of belonging and love that my family and I do through your participation in all that Temple Beth El has to offer. I look forward to meeting you here, and as we often say, “Walk through our doors and feel the warmth.”
B’ Shalom,
Thomas Rosenberg
Temple President
Secretary
VP Education
Office: (310) 833-2467 Ext. 107
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
Max has been working in Jewish Education in the South Bay since 2016, and he started working with the wonderful Temple Beth El community in August of 2023. He grew up in Redondo Beach and graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2022. Max loves traveling, playing piano, and trying out new restaurants in LA. He is working hard with the awesome Torah School teachers to help our students have fun learning from the Torah.
Office: (310) 833-2467 Ext. 107
Carrie Jacobs is proud to serve as TBE’s Executive Director. A Southern California native, Carrie grew up at Temple Beth El and became a bat mitzvah and a confirmand here. She continues to be part of a four-generation Temple Beth El family and has the privilege of raising her two sons here. Carrie has worked at Temple Beth El for over a decade and feels lucky to be able to give back to her beloved community in this capacity. Carrie has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. In her spare time, Carrie loves playing pickleball and supporting her L.A. teams as a devoted fan of the Lakers, Dodgers, and Rams!
Office: (310) 833-2467 Ext. 107
Shoni first came to Temple Beth El as a Torah School teacher in 2004, but her connection to TBE stretches back even further. She became bat mitzvah with Cantor Ilan at CTJ before he came to TBE and was mentored in teaching by former Director of Education Debi Rowe. In 2012, she was asked to run the finance office temporarily while a new coordinator was hired and never looked back. She is an avid reader, jigsaw puzzler and swimmer.
Office: (310) 833-2467 Ext. 107
