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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES
KOL NIDRE 2024HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES
ROSH HASHANAH | October 2nd & 3rd, 2024The Los Angeles Jewish community came together to mark the one-year anniversary of the horrific terrorist attack on Israel. Together, we remember the victims, honor the resilience of the survivors, stand in solidarity with the hostages, and look toward a more hopeful future. Hosted by Jewish Federation Los Angeles, StandWithUs, Israeli American-Council, and Temple of the Arts, and more than 75 community organizations and synagogues.
65 people joined us for our temple's gourmet Shabbat dinner & service at Il Pastaio. The 5-course chef's tasting menu was preceded and followed by Shabbat prayer and music led by our rabbi and our cantors.
Our Rabbi welcomes 700 people to the opening night of the LA Jewish Film Festival at our temple's Steve Tisch Cinema Center at the Saban Theatre
American Jews Widely Support Israel, Feel More Connected to Their Jewish Identity Since Oct. 7, New Survey Shows
Rabbi Baron and Cantor Ilysia Pierce celebrating with our guests at our annual 2nd Night Passover dinner/service at the beautiful Beverly Hills Four Seasons
A WONDERFUL TIME WAS HAD BY ALL AT IL PASTAIO RESTAURANT ON FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
IDF recovers bodies of hostages Itzhak Gelerenter, Amit Buskila and Shani Louk in Gaza
RABBI'S MESSAGE ON ANTI-SEMITISM
UCLA PRO-ISRAEL RALLY ON CAMPUS
Many of our Temple members attended the pro-Jewish students rally to counter the pro-Hamas anti-Semitic actions
MOTTEK ON MONEY WITH FRANK MOTTEK
Rabbi interviewed on the 30-minute mark last April 29, 2024SHARED HERITAGE OF FREEDOM GOSPEL
SHABBAT SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS | MARCH 15, 2024
Cantors Ilysia Pierce and Nathan Lam, Music Director Sharon Farber, and former Temple President Jim Blatt were all honorees.
ALL proceeds benefitted 3500 Israeli residents in the Halutza region who live on the Southern Gaza border and who have suffered many casualties and have had many people from their community relocated.
Thank you so much for helping them rebuild their lives.
We, the members of the clergy team of our Temple of the Arts, stand united with Israel during this time of the horrific attacks which have taken place throughout our beloved state of Israel.
We offer our prayers and commit ourselves to do everything necessary to support the citizens and the military of Israel. We ask that everyone of whatever political opinion reach out to our elected representatives to demand a strong and swift response to these murderous actions by Hamas. Furthermore, we demand support for any defensive response Israel must undertake in the coming days.
In conclusion, as we recite the reading of a volume of the Torah on this muted celebration of Simchat Torah, we say, “Chazak Chazak Venitchazek.” Let us be strong and strengthen one another.
Rabbi David Baron, Hazzan Nathan Lam, Cantor Ilysia Pierce and Music Director, Sharon Farber
SHABBAT TORAH TALK
STANDING WITH ISRAELRock and Redeemer of the people Israel: Bless the State of Israel, with its promise of redemption. Shield it with Your love; Spread over it the shelter of Your peace. Guide its leaders and advisors with Your light and Your truth. Help them with Your good counsel. Strengthen the hands of those who defend our Holy Land. Deliver them: crown their efforts with triumph.
Israeli American Council (IAC), Israel Consulate in LA pay tribute to leading Israeli Americans in celebration of Israel's 75th Independence held at our Temple's Saban Theatre, including Dr. Miriam Adelson and actress Gal Gadot for outstanding achievement. "Israel is where—ha’lev sha’li nem’sa — Israel is my heart and my home. We all here are deeply proud of our Jewish homeland. This celebration is a testament to our unity, our strength."
A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
ON THE WOMEN OF IRANThe protests in Iran have reached a fever pitch and the government is brutally cracking down on these innocent protesters. I urge you to read the link below and stand together in one voice to condemn the barbarous regime of the mullahs. Let’s make our voices heard loudly to our elected representatives many of whom sadly seek US reentry into the failed agreement that emboldened this vicious regime and funded terrorism around the world. Last year at Yom Kippur, the brave protest leader Masih Alinejad spoke passionately at our service on the plight of those who protest against the regime. Her words were haunting and if you have been following the news you know that the mullahs sent out kidnap/hit squads against her just as we learned of the horrific attack against author Salman Rushdie. These events took place in our own country which gives you an idea of the lengths to which this murderous regime will go. I urge you to support the organization listed on the link or the World Jewish Congress, an organization that is making significant efforts to help those protesting in Iran.
Let our voices be heard as one as we offer a special prayer for those who bravely protest. Let’s also reach out to women's rights and human rights organizations we have supported to become engaged in this effort.Thank you, Rabbi David Baron
About the Temple
Temple of the Arts owns and operates the historic art-deco Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. As the largest arts and entertainment-industry synagogue in the US, Temple of the Arts offers a unique, contemporary approach to Judaism through music, dance, drama, and film. For 30 years, Temple of the Arts has welcomed people of all backgrounds to our services which transcend religious and cultural boundaries. Our congregation believes in the power of art to connect us - a belief we have spread across the city of Los Angeles and beyond. At Temple of The Arts, we harness creativity to explore the past, present, and future of Jewish life. Through performances and presentations orchestrated by the visionary Rabbi David Baron, leaders of every faith and culture share their insights with the world. We create original music, artistic meditation prayer books, and host independent films, concerts, and engaging speakers, helping our community interpret life and spirituality through the lens of art. Temple of the Arts invites you to experience with us an incredible blend of religion through the arts.
- Shabbat and Holiday services and dinners throughout the year
- Our Founding Rabbi David Baron pioneered the fusion of religion with the arts
- World-renowned Cantors Nathan Lam and Ilysia Pierce
- Emmy and Grammy Award-Winning Music Director Sharon Farber
- Internationally recognized musicians and speakers
- Exclusive access to theater shows, community events, and temple activities
- A diverse, educated, and enthusiastic congregation
- Breathtaking architecture and original design
FOUNDING RABBI DAVID BARON
OUR RABBI
Rabbi David Baron
Our Founding Rabbi, David Baron, comes from a long line of rabbis. He was born in New York, ordained in Jerusalem, and served congregations in New Jersey and Florida before coming to California where, in 1992, he founded our Temple of the Arts.
He authored our Temple prayer books Sacred Space and Sacred Moments as well as the best-selling Moses on Management: Leadership Lessons in Life published by Simon and Schuster. He has made numerous television appearances and consulted on many major motion pictures and television series. Rabbi Baron pioneered the fusion of religion in the arts and was the lead participant in the TED “Charter on Compassion” as well as a Founding Advisory Board Member of the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.
RABBI BARON HAS REPRESENTED TOTA ON GLOBAL MEDIA OUTLETS
Membership
Help Our Temple Grow
Our Membership is now open
You are invited to experience the High Holy Days in our
beautiful Art Deco temple for no additional cost. Sustaining membership helps our synagogue meet its budget and includes reserved seating and parking on the High Holy Days.
Our magnificent High Holy Day observances features the inspirational sermons of our Rabbi, David Baron, the soul-warming voices of Cantor Ilysia Pierce and Cantor Nathan Lam, our phenomenal choir, special guest artists, and performers, all guided by Music Director Sharon Farber.
OUR MUSIC
Cantor Ilysia Pierce
Ilysia has served as our Cantor and has led Shabbat and High Holy Day services for Temple of the Arts since 1999. Prior to her tenure at the temple, Ilysia enjoyed a successful career entertaining audiences on stage, television (she originated the role of Miss Oops-A-Daisy in PBS, The Huggabug Club), and concert halls. Some of her theatrical highlights include: Janina (Irena’s Mother) in a reading of a new musical, Irena Sendler, Disney’s King David, an oratorio concert sparking the reopening of the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York (the original home of the Ziegfeld Follies), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, playing the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, Frumah-Sara in Fiddler on the Roof with Theodore Bikel and Lainie Kazan, Eva Peron in Evita, for which she received a Dramalogue Critics’ Choice Award for outstanding performance, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, to name only a few.
In 2003 Rabbi Baron and the Temple produced a CD, Enlighten, which has elicited outstanding audience and critical review. Ilysia’s stirring rendition of “We Came To Sing In Jerusalem” was chosen to be on the Keeping the Faith, Voices for Israel 2 CD benefiting survivors of terrorism in Israel (www.voicesforisrael.org/faith/). Her vocal talents are also featured in the title song, “Keeping the Faith.” Ilysia’s emotional and powerful version of “Lift My Eyes” by Sam Glaser was chosen for his 25th Anniversary Tribute CD, Stages.
Ilysia continues to share her vocal talents outside the temple. In February 2019, Ilysia was hired for a Voice Over project. She is honored to be one of only 12 readers for the first all-female audio Bible for at-risk and incarcerated women, produced by Amick Byram and Courage For Life. Soon after, she was hired to record the voice of Mrs. Bennett in a dramatic audio book reading of Pride and Prejudice.
Her reputation as a consummate performer has prompted invitations to sing in concerts as the featured guest artist at local venues such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Ford Amphitheater, the Saban Theatre, various fundraising events, including StandWithUs, the Jewish Federation, and at Pan Pacific Park’s Holocaust Memorial Yom HaShoah to name only a few.
Ilysia feels honored to have been asked to sing our National Anthem over 100 times for various events and fundraisers.
Of all her successes and accomplishments, Ilysia says she is most thankful for her supportive family and friends. She feels blessed to have the most loyal and loving husband, David, and two beautiful children, Braxton and Madison.
Hazzan-Cantor Nathan Lam
JOIN US IN WELCOMING CANTOR LAM TO OUR CLERGY TEAM!
Nathan Lam was born in Los Angeles California from a family of immigrants from Poland and Bessarabia. The Yiddish language, Zionism, Synagogue life and chazzanut (Cantorial music) were animportant part of his upbringing.
He was cantor of the Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles, for 45 years and is acclaimed for his vocal artistry, mastery of the cantorial art form and scholarship in many areas of Jewish studies. He was the Dean of the Cantorial School of the Academy for Jewish Religion, California, and has proudly inspired many to follow in his footsteps.
He is well known in Hollywood, as "Voice teacher to the stars," record producer, Documentary film Producer ("100 Voices-a Journey Home), recording artist (11 record Albums) and actor. He has appeared, and featured in, the Lifetime reality show, "Kosher Soul", Amazon's "Transparent", ABC's "Castle" and many other movies and television shows. His wife of 52 years, Donna Lam, is Vice President of Weiss Family Investments and Property Management Company, and both are actively involved in Jewish philanthropies in the USA, Israel and Europe. They are proud parents of their two children, Michael and Jenna, and their spouses, Alexis White and Joseph Pitson, and grandparents of 5 grandchildren, Lyla, Olivia and Emma Pitson and Max and Emmet Lam.
He is proud to be joining the clergy team and becoming the Chief Curator of the music and cultural center of The Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts. “I am excited about making the Temple of the Arts a world class center for Jewish music, films and programming crossing generational interests. We will be working on a vibrant new approach to personalized concierge B’nai mitzvah training to prepare Jews for the challenges of The 21st century.”
Temple Music Director Sharon Farber
Emmy and Grammy Award-Winning music director Sharon Farber is a member of The Academy of Motion Pictures, Four - time Emmy Award Nominated, Winner of the 2013 Society of Composers and Lyricists Award for “Outstanding work in the Art of Film Music”, the 2012 Visionary Award In Music by The Women’s International Film & TV Showcase, winner of the Telly Award and the co- vise president of the Alliance for Women Film Composers (The AWFC). Sharon is a celebrated Film, TV and concert music composer and she is a mentor to young composers at the request of Berklee College of Music, where she graduated summa cum laude from the Film scoring and Concert composition programs (dual major).
Sharon has been working with networks and cable broadcasters like NBC, CBS, Showtime and the WB as well as writing music for feature films. Her music for the film “When Nietzsche Wept” (Millennium Films) was commercially released and performed live in a film music concerts. Her upcoming projects include a slate of films for “Aegis Film Group” as well as other projects.
The International Film Music Critics Association wrote about her piece: "Composer Sharon Farber wowed the crowd with a suite of music from three of her scores: "Children of the Fall", When Nietzsche Wept" and "The Dove Flyer"...
In the concert music world, Sharon has many credits to her name, including The Los Angeles Master Chorale, NY virtuoso Singers, Pacific Serenade Ensemble, The Israeli Chamber Orchestra, The Northwest Sinfonietta, The Bellingham Symphony, Orange County Women’s Chorale, Culver City Symphony Orchestra, The Jewish Symphony Orchestra, iPalpiti Artists International, The National Children Chorus and more. Her music has been performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center (NY), Disney Hall and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Los Angeles) and in many more, including Internationally in Germany, the UK, Mexico, Sweden and Israel.
Sharon’s acclaimed concerto for cello, orchestra and narrator, “Bestemming” ("Destination"), based on the life story of Holocaust survivor and hero Curt Lowens (whom she met at our Temple), has received many performance since its creation, recently on a 4 - city tour of the Pacific Northwest, with renowned cellist Amit Peled and conducted by Maestro Yaniv Attar, who said: ”Sharon Farber is definitely one of the most exciting and versatile voices on the contemporary music scene today. Cellist Amit Peled, added: “The “Bestemming” Concerto is truly a jewel in our repertoire! A deep musical journey!”
Sharon is planning on recording “Bestemming” for an album release this in near future.
On September 20th, Sharon will be one of 8 female composers who were invited to be a part of a historical concert entitled “Women Warriors” at Lincoln Center in NY, where her music will be performed by “Orchestra Modern” – a 70 piece orchestra conducted by Maestra Amy Andersson. For details please visit https://orchestramoderne-nyc.com/
Visit: www.sharonfarber.com
Here is our toddler class in session. Ongoing enrollment is open.
temple of the arts campus Le Petit Gan International Preschool
Celebrate Life Cycle Events At TOTA
NEWS & PRESS
MAN/KIND Project Distributes 1,000th #CovidKindness Bag to Local Homeless and Other Vulnerable Populations
Temple of the Arts supports www.mankindinitiative.org in delivering food and meals to those in need. On behalf of TOTA and the Man/Kind project, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude for all your donations to the Man/Kind COVID-19 #CovidKindness campaign that supplies crucial items to elderly, infirm, homeless and First Responders.
The temple has been crucial to the success of other outreach -- whether it is fighting anti-Semitism, or the new fight that has united us -- the fight against this killer virus.
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Notes From Our Members: Expressing Gratitude for Our High Holy Days Services
Join Us Online for a Prerecorded Shabbat Service
You can join Rabbi David Baron online to observe the Shabbat anywhere that you can access the internet. “We're not here together with one another physically filling our beautiful Temple home, the Saban Theatre, but we're still together emotionally and spiritually,” Rabbi Baron says. “Someone said that somebody you love can be thousands of miles away, but you feel that powerful connection and bond as if they were sitting right next to you.” Watch Rabbi David Baron’s inspiring message from a timeless Shabbat service with Cantor Ilysia Pierce and Music Director Sharon Farber.
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temple of the arts campus
Le Petit Gan International Preschool
Congratulations to all our graduates!
Visit www.lepetitgan.com to learn more about an educational career fueled by curiosity and passion.
In Sympathy
Our condolences to the family and friends of Jerry Moss.
Our condolences to the family of David Albert Pierce.
“May God comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.”