Rabbi Peter Knobel
Zichrono livrachah
With the heaviest of hearts, we are writing to let you know that Rabbi Peter Knobel has died here in Los Angeles.
Rabbi Knobel moved to L.A. in summer 2019 with his wife Elaine to serve as Temple Israel of Hollywood’s Interim Senior Rabbi for one year. Despite the short time that Rabbi Knobel served our congregation, he made remarkably deep connections, touching many congregants and staff members with his gentle manner, kindness, accessibility and vast wisdom.
Rabbi Knobel was a congregational rabbi for 50 years. He first served Temple Emanu-El in Connecticut and then served as Senior Rabbi of Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston, Illinois for 30 years, until his retirement in 2010. Rabbi Knobel then continued his service in the special role of Interim Senior Rabbi, guiding congregations through rabbinic transition in England, New Zealand, Chicago and Coral Gables.
Rabbi Knobel’s funeral will be held in Chicago. Detailed funeral and shiva information will be shared as soon as arrangements are finalized.
Our congregation continues to send loving prayers to Peter’s wife Elaine, his sons Jeremy and Seth and their families, as well as the many individuals and communities Rabbi Knobel has touched. We know that Rabbi Knobel’s teachings, legacy and the impact on the lives he touched will endure forever.
Zichrono livrachah, may his memory be a blessing.
Rabbi Michelle Missaghieh
Associate Rabbi
Rabbi Michelle Missaghieh has served as Temple Israel's Associate Rabbi since her ordination from HUC-JIR in 1996. Rabbi Missaghieh also holds a BA in Art History and Women’s Studies from University of Michigan (1989) and a Master's Degree in Jewish Education from HUC-JIR, LA (1994). She enjoys teaching people of all ages and empowering them to participate in Jewish living. She takes special interest in working with individuals for conversion, creating environments where TIOH members gather for intergenerational neighborhood Shabbat dinners, and others where members connect to discuss issues of ageing, parenting or preparing for end of life issues. She has introduced many innovative programs to TIOH like Sukkot in the City, Neighborhood Shabbat, Tashlich on the beach, the standing-room-only participatory High Holiday minyan services, and she has trained over 30 men and women to be on TIOH’s Chevrah Kadisha (a group who prepares deceased bodies for burial). In the greater community, Rabbi Missaghieh serves on the board of LA Family Housing, the Executive Board of the Sandra Caplan Community Bet Din (the only pluralistic Bet Din in the United States) and the Southern California Muslim Jewish Forum. She is also on the Rabbinic Advisory Board of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and a member of the ARZA Rabbinic Counsel. She and her husband, Bruce Ellman, a psychologist in private practice, are the parents of three children Jael, Sivan and Ezri.
Rabbi Jocee Hudson
Associate Rabbi
Rabbi Jocee Hudson is an Associate Rabbi at Temple Israel of Hollywood, where she has served since 2009. Her mission is to uphold Torah’s central teaching that all people are created in the divine image and are deserving of dignity, equality, and justice.
Jocee loves that on any given day at TIOH she can be found leading prayer, studying with community members, sitting with folks as they prepare for lifecycle events, hiking Runyon Canyon while connecting with temple members, telling stories on the rug of a Nursery School classroom, and collaborating with temple leaders (and often all of the above!). Jocee has served as a rabbinic leader of TIOH’s social justice efforts since 2014 and was instrumental, in partnership with lay leaders, in the creation of the temple’s Social Justice Coalition. Rabbi Hudson finds profound meaning in daily opportunities to pray, learn, connect, take action, and grow with Temple Israel’s members. Along with her pulpit and social justice responsibilities, Jocee oversees Membership Engagement efforts and the B’nai Mitzvah Education program.
Rabbi Hudson and TIOH Social Justice Coalition members are active in LA Voice, the California Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Black Jewish Justice Alliance, and many other justice groups, believing that justice work is most effective when it is done in collaboration. Together they have been deeply involved in statewide campaigns on criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and climate change. She is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights. In 2017, Temple Israel was awarded the Religious Action Center’s Irving J. Fain Award for exemplary social justice work.
Previously, Rabbi Hudson served as a Rabbi Educator, first at Temple Beth Sholom of Orange County and then at TIOH. She is a former board member of the Association of Reform Jewish Educators. She received rabbinic ordination, as well as Masters in Hebrew Letters and Jewish Education, from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and graduated summa cum laude from Brandeis University. She is a contributor to the Women of Reform Judaism’s The Torah: A Women's Commentary. Jocee was named T’ruah’s 2019 Rabbinic Human Rights Hero. Jocee and her partner Rook are the proud parents of Sela, Max, and Solomon, three young people, who keep them on their toes, always humble, and full of laughter and love.
Rabbi John Rosove
Senior Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi John L. Rosove assumed his duties as Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel of Hollywood in November 1988. A native of Los Angeles, he earned a BA in Art History from UC Berkeley (1972), a Masters in Hebrew Letters from HUC-JIR, LA (1976), Rabbinic Ordination from HUC-JIR, NY (1979), and a Doctor of Divinity from HUC-JIR, LA (2004).
His mission has been to build Jewish community and draw Jews and their families closer to God, the Torah, Jewish tradition, the Jewish people, and the State of Israel as a Jewish national home. He regards social justice work and high ethical practices as essential core Jewish religious values.
John is the National Chairman of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA – the Zionist arm of the Union for Reform Judaism representing 1.5 million American Reform Jews). As ARZA Chairman he has a seat on the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CPMAJO), the Board of Governors and Vaad HaPoel of the World Zionist Organization (WZO), the American Zionist Movement (AZM), and the Executive Committee of ARZENU (the international Reform Zionist Organization).
John served as national Co-Chair of the Rabbinic Cabinet of J Street (2011-2016), a pro-Israel pro-peace political and educational organization in Washington, D.C., advocating for a two-state solution to the Israel and Palestinian conflict. He is now a member of the Executive Rabbinic Cabinet of J Street.
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