Congregation Beth Ohr
About Us
CONGREGATION BETH OHR was established close to 60 years ago under the leadership of the esteemed Rabbi Michael Roth of blessed memory.
We continue his vision of a "boutique shul” with a blend of traditional and contemporary practice. Our members enjoy a community where we get to know each other personally, listen to gifted cantorial soloists and musicians, and experience an inspiring connection to our roots as well as to our world as it is now.
For the last eight years after Rabbi Roth retired, the very learned Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak led our Congregation with continuity, dedication, and inspiration. This year he has retired but his activism in the Jewish community has expanded our consciousness and our friendship is long-lasting.
We are now under the learned and joyful spiritual leadership of Rabbi Jason Mann. We are thrilled to be able to continue our own tradition of a unique blend of old and new. We know that we have something special to share – and we hope you will join us.
RABBI JASON MANN, MD, MPH
After completing 30 years of medical practice as a Hematologist and Oncologist, Rabbi Jason began to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a rabbi. This led to his ordination as a Spiritual Director in 2017 and to Rabbinic Ordination in 2018 by The Aleph Alliance for Jewish Renewal.
Since his ordination, Rabbi Jason has spent his time teaching a
weekly Torah class, leading services when needed at his local
synagogue Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, and providing spiritual direction to those seeking to deepen their connection to their Jewish lives.
As a Spiritual Leader Rabbi Jason Rabbi Jason’s goal is to share the experience of connecting to the mind and heart-opening possibilities of the beauty, love, and wisdom of Jewish prayer and ritual, where he finds so much meaning and joy. When he envisions leading services at Beth Ohr, he is inspired by these words from the Prophet Isaiah, “I will bring them to My holy mountain and let them rejoice in My house of prayer..... For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
Rabbi Jason is blessed to share his life with his beloved wife Bhavani (Belle), his children and his grandchildren who live locally and in New York City.
To learn more about Rabbi Jason please check out his website rabbijasonmannmd.com
CANTORIAL SOLOIST ANDREW HENRY
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Serving as Congregation Beth Ohr's Cantorial Soloist since 2016, Cantor Andrew has led religious services in the San Fernando Valley for more than 15 years. He has an extensive knowledge of Jewish musical liturgy and a soaring tenor voice with which he moves comfortably between traditional chants, modern prayer settings, and songs by well-known composers such as Debbie Friedman, Craig Taubman and Leonard Cohen.
He gives full credit for everything he knows - Jewishly and musically - to his beloved wife, Rabbi Shana Chandler Leon, but claims all the mistakes for his own.
Andrew is a live-stream consultant for multiple Jewish communities across California, guest Cantor for Congregation
Ner Tamid of San Francisco, and creative consultant on his wife's brilliant Purim Shpiels.
He is the proud father of two amazing sons, who have been pressed into service to run the tech for many a Shabbat program. He also owns far more guitars than his wife thinks is necessary.
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Click here to hear some of the Cantor’s Leonard Cohen concert.
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The Beth Ohr Board
Polly Barmaper
Karen Goodman
Allen Hyman
Claudia Kohner
Sue Nevens
Joel Nevens
Cheri Paul
Elyce Wakerman
Jeff Werner
May this year be healthy and peaceful for you and yours. Shana Tova
Shared Earth Project
We are proud to be founding members of the Shared Earth Project, which is an interfaith project at our physical home in Studio City, the Universalist Unitarian Church. About 10 years ago, we helped convert a corner of the church property from a lawn of crabgrass into a thriving vegetable garden as well as an orchard of 8 fruit trees. The church is our partner in this project, and with their bigger numbers, has done the majority of the work involved in maintaining this wondrous space which manages to harvest 20-30 pounds of produce a week (depending on the season) that is delivered to a local food pantry and homeless center.
We invite you to join us in this wonderful undertaking by joining us on group planting days, or garden maintenance which can be done with a friend or solo. There is no minimum commitment of time. For more info, contact Sue Nevens (818-905-9942) or send us a note via our contact page. By the way, you do not need to be an experienced gardener to enjoy working in the garden, which is happily a soothing, mentally healthful and Covid-safe project activity.