Architectural type Modernist Affiliation Conservative Judaism | Phone +1 310-652-7353 Architect Ralph A. Vaughn | |
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Location Los Angeles, California Address 1039 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035, USA Similar Sinai Temple, Temple Emanuel, Beth Jacob Congregation, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Congregation Ner Tamid Profiles | ||
Temple Beth Am (formerly: Olympic Jewish Center) is a historic Conservative synagogue in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1935, it moved into a new building designed by one of the earliest African-American architects in Los Angeles, Ralph A. Vaughn, in 1959. In recent years, it has received significant donations from Holocaust survivor Sigi Ziering and his wife, Marilyn, whose names are on the building.
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Location
The synagogue is located on the corner of Olympic Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles, just South of Beverly Hills.
History
Temple Beth Am was founded in 1935 as the Olympic Jewish Center. It is the third oldest Conservative synagogue in Los Angeles.
Jacob Pressman served as its rabbi from 1950 to 1985. Under his leadership, the synagogue took its current name, Temple Beth Am in 1957. It moved into a new building designed by the African-American architect, Ralph A. Vaughn, in 1959. In 1990, it celebrated its 55th anniversary.
In recent years, it has received significant donations from Holocaust survivor Sigi Ziering and his wife Marilyn, whose names are on the building. The current cantor is Rabbi Hillary Chorny. In 2012, the Sefer Torah nearly fell to the ground during a service. As this is seen a traumatic event in the Jewish faith, rabbi Adam Kligfeld requested that members of the congregation share among themselves forty days of fasting to recover.