Our Clergy
Sarah Hronsky, Senior Rabbi
"Rabbi Sarah"
With a deep dedication to Jewish faith and culture, Rabbi Sarah Hronsky – “Rabbi Sarah” – enthusiastically embraces her role as Senior Rabbi for Temple Beth Hillel.
Rabbi Sarah grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where her family was very active in a small congregation. She became Bat Mitzvah, was president of her youth group and was confirmed at Temple Kol Am. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia, with a bachelor of science in secondary education.
Rabbi Sarah was ordained a rabbi by Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC) of Los Angeles in 2003. While at HUC, she earned two masters degrees: one in Hebrew Letters and the other in Jewish Communal Service. A major focus of her rabbinic studies was the Jewish tradition’s view of persons with disabilities. Rabbi Sarah joined Temple Beth Hillel in July 2003.
Rabbi Sarah brings energy and creativity to programming to the Temple’s preschool kids, our youth groups and seniors. Her rabbinate is filled with teaching, counseling and liturgical exploration. She is most honored to work directly with families through their joyous moments and their most difficult times. Rabbi Sarah serves on the Board of the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis and as Treasurer to the Board of Rabbis of Southern California.
Rabbi Sarah is married to Yuri Hronsky, who is currently the Principal of Heschel West Day School. They are the proud parents of three daughters, Chana Zoe, Eden Sivan and Josie Lily.
Download Rabbi Sarah’s Key Note Address at the Women’s Leadership Summit on November 3, 2010.
Joshua Samuels, Associate Rabbi
Associate Rabbi Joshua Samuels
Rabbi Joshua Samuels joined the Temple Beth Hillel family on July 1, 2010. He grew up in San Francisco, where his family was very active in the local Jewish community. He attended Brandeis Hillel Day School for nine years as well as Congregation Sherith Israel, where he was named, became a Bar Mitzvah, and was Confirmed.
Rabbi Samuels received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and a Jewish Studies certificate from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. This led him to a six year career in the financial world, before entering rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem and Los Angeles.
Rabbi Samuels was ordained a rabbi from the college in Los Angeles in 2010, two years after earning a Masters in Hebrew Letters. After his fourth year, Rabbi Samuels was awarded The Samson H. Levey Memorial Prize for the student showing the greatest promise in the study of rabbinic literature and Talmud.
While at HUC-JIR, Rabbi Samuels served Congregations Havurim in Temecula and B’nai Brith in Santa Barbara. It was also during these five years that Rabbi Samuels found a passion working as a spiritual caregiver for hospital and hospice patients through four separate chaplaincy internships. He looks forward to continuing this work and also guiding people through all of Judaism’s life-cycle events.
Rabbi Samuels is eager to share his love of Jewish sacred texts and his interest in Jewish and Israeli culture and history. It has been a dream since he lived in Jerusalem for his first year of rabbinical school to one day lead temple trips to Israel.
Rabbi Samuels is married to Nicole (who is a registered nurse) – they met as fourteen-year-olds at URJ Camp Swig – whose own family has roots at Temple Beth Hillel. They are the proud parents of their son, Eytan Levy. Outside of the temple, Rabbi Samuels enjoys playing tennis, cooking, hiking, and playing backgammon.
Download Rabbi Samuels’ Yom Kippur Sermon 2011
Jim Kaufman, Rabbi Emeritus
"Rabbi Jim"
One of the Jewish community’s most passionate and dedicated leaders, Rabbi Jim Kaufman – known as “Rabbi Jim” – has made his life at Temple Beth Hillel.
Rabbi Jim came to Temple Beth Hillel in 1949 as a youngster and subsequently became Bar Mitzvah and was later confirmed. He worked at Temple Beth Hillel as a music teacher and Bar/Bat Mitzvah teacher. He received a Bachelor of Art degree in Sociology at California State University, Northridge and was ordained a rabbi by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1973.
Rabbi Jim has served Temple Beth Hillel as a rabbi since his ordination. Beyond his dedication to the spirituality of community prayer, Rabbi Jim especially enjoys the one-to-one relationships with members of the congregation, teaching adults and children and discussing Jewish philosophy. Every day, he seeks opportunities to connect with and provide guidance for congregants, and every summer he takes time to serve on the faculty of Camp Swig to help inspire the next generation.
Rabbi Jim is married to Sue Kaufman, who also grew up at Temple Beth Hillel. They have five children, Joshua, Seth, Asher, Noah and Daniella. Rabbi Jim savors the opportunity to help individuals find satisfaction, support and meaning in their lives.
Rabbi Jim retired in June of 2010. Though he is greatly missed as a daily fixture at TBH, he can be reached through extension 150, and still makes cameo appearances here at the temple. We were so very fortunate to have such an inspirational and devoted leader lay the foundation of Temple Beth Hillel and our community for 37 years.
Thank you, Rabbi Jim!
