It is said that the Jews are the “ever-dying people.” Certainly the synagogue is the “ever-dying institution.” But just like an ever-dying people is an ever-renewing people, the synagogue has been reborn generation to generation. And it is being reinvented yet again. A look backward at the remarkable history of the American synagogue reveals clues to the resilience and resonance of our synagogue communities.

Rabbi Ed Feinstein is rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California and Lecturer at the Ziegler Rabbinical School of the American Jewish University. He serves on the faculty of the Wexner Heritage Program and the Shalom Hartman Institute, and lectures widely across the US and Canada. Raised on the frontier of the West San Fernando Valley, Rabbi Feinstein graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz,Columbia University Teachers College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, where he was ordained a rabbi and earned his doctorate in education. Rabbi Feinstein was the founding head of the Solomon Schechter Academy of Dallas, Associate Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas, and Executive Director of Camp Ramah in California. He came to Valley Beth Shalom in 1993. Rabbi Feinstein is the author of five books, including Tough Questions Jews Ask, which is taught in schools and synagogues across North America. His latest book, In Pursuit of Godliness and a Living Judaism, is an intellectual biography of his mentor, Rabbi Harold Schulweis. Ed shares life with Rabbi Nina Bieber Feinstein, their three children and spouses, and one beautiful new granddaughter. Every Friday afternoon, he bakes brownies from a recipe revealed to his ancestors at Mount Sinai.

CSP Partners: Beth Israel (San Diego, CA), Brotherhood Synagogue (Gramercy Park, NYC), Congregation Beth Shalom (Seattle, WA), Congregation B’nai Tzedek (Fountain Valley, CA), Congregation B’nai Israel (Tustin, CA), Jewish Collaborative of Orange County, CA, Shomrei Torah Synagogue (San Fernando Valley, CA), Temple Bat Yahm (Newport Beach, CA), Temple Beth El of South Orange County (Aliso Viejo, CA), Temple Beth Emet (Anaheim, CA), Temple Beth Ohr (La Mirada, CA), Temple Beth Tikvah (Fullerton, CA), Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA), Temple Beth Sholom (Santa Ana, CA), Temple Emanuel (Newton, MA), Town & Village Synagogue (NYC, NY), University Synagogue (Irvine, CA), Valley Beth Shalom (Encino, CA) & Walnut Street Synagogue (Chelsea, MA)