When you join our BDJ family, you are not only supporting all of our activities and sharing in all of our accomplishments, you are also making a vital spiritual statement. You are stating who you are, and what you believe in. In doing so, you give strength to all of us, and, hopefully, strengthen yourself as well.

You are also opening up a world of opportunity for yourself. With membership, you are invited to serve. You become a family member who will not only receive from the BDJ community and its professionals, but will have the opportunity to contribute, to shape and grow our vision as you roll up your sleeves and become involved. Our shul is driven by the work of our members, and all of the credit for our Torah, tefilla, and service to the broader Jewish and human communities goes to them.

When you join, you also become a member of our greater family – a family that is there in times of great joy, in times of great happiness, and who fulfill the social element that our shul life is beloved for.

I hope if you are considering membership in our shul, you’ll contact me at 310.276.9269, or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Warmly,

Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky

Senior Rabbi

My wife, Audrey, and I joined B’nai David-Judea 13 years ago. We had just gotten married and moved into the neighborhood and we chose B’nai David for a variety of reasons. We were inspired by the vision of Rabbi Kanesfky, his commitment to social action, to building bridges within the Jewish community, and to maximizing ritual, educational and prayer opportunities for women. We were moved by the spirited davening. We had never experienced a shul community so warm and hospitable, so embracing of people with such diverse backgrounds, interests, and views. This seemed to us an extraordinary place with extraordinary people.

What was true of B’nai David thirteen years ago is still true today, only now I am even more impressed. I realize that the shul’s impact only begins with the vision of our rabbis. What really makes the place work, what distinguishes us, is the commitment our members demonstrate each and every day to turning that vision into a reality. At BDJ, membership is not just about what we get from our shul, it’s about the opportunities our shul provides us to put our commitment to Torah, our passions, and our creative talents to use. From Shirat Chana, our women’s tefila and Torah study group, to our Tikkun Olam and Israel programs, to the renovation project that created equal prayer space for men and women in our sanctuary and made every aspect of our shul, from the bimah to the banquet hall, accessible to people across the spectrum of ability, all of our accomplishments depend on the energy and the dedication of our member volunteers. It is every bit as inspiring to behold and to participate in as the vision behind it.

It’s a wonderful thing to have a nice place to daven on Shabbat morning and holidays and everyday, where we feel like we’re part of a community, a family. This is something lots of shuls do and do well. At B’nai David-Judea our motto is “Making a Difference.” Each and every day we strive to fulfill our religious and ritual obligations in a serious and meaningful way. But that’s just the beginning. Our mission is to make a difference beyond the walls of our own shul. We aspire to make an impact in our neighborhood, in the larger Jewish community, and across oceans to Israel and Darfur. At B’nai David-Judea we strive to do nothing less than change the world. We invite you to join us.

I look forward to meeting you soon.

All my best,

David Diamond

President