David Shofet

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David Shofet
Born
Tehran, Iran
NationalityAmerican
OccupationRabbi
Parent(s)Yedidia Shofet
Rabbanit Heshmat Shofet

David Shofet is an Iranian-American rabbi. He is the founder and chief rabbi of the Nessah Synagogue in Beverly Hills, California.

Early life[]

Shofet was born in Tehran, Iran.[1] He comes from a family who have been rabbis for twelve generations.[2] He is a Sephardi Jew.[3] His father, Yedidia Shofet, served as the Chief Rabbi of Iran from 1922 to 1980.[1][4][5] His mother is Rabbanit Heshmat Shofet.[6]

Shortly after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Shofet emigrated to the United States.[1]

Career[]

The Nessah Synagogue, founded by Rabbi David Shofet.

Shofet founded the Nessah Synagogue in 1980.[1] They first met at the Beth Jacob Congregation.[1] Since 2002, the synagogue has been based on South Rexford Drive in Beverly Hills, California.[1] Shofet still serves as its chief rabbi.[2][3]

Shortly after his father's death, Persian-Jewish leaders signed a resolution to recognize him as the primary religious leader of their community.[4]

Shofet is opposed to same-sex marriage.[7] He has argued that homosexual acts are prohibited in the Torah.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "History of Nessah". Nessah Synagogue. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Soomekh, Saba (2012). From the Shahs to Los Angeles: Three Generations of Iranian Jewish Women. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. p. 20. ISBN 9781438443836. OCLC 760532912.
  3. ^ a b Papo, Joseph M. (1987). Sephardim in Twentieth-Century America: In Search of Unity. San Jose, California: Pelé Yoetz Books. p. 295. OCLC 15016929. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Melamed, Karmel (October 13, 2005). "Rabbi David Shofet to Serve as Iranians' Spiritual Leader". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  5. ^ Bergman, Ronen (2008). The Secret War with Iran: The 30-Year Clandestine Struggle Against the World's Most Dangerous Terrorist Power. New York: Free Press. p. 36. ISBN 9781416558392. OCLC 214286010. Retrieved January 20, 2016. David Shofet.
  6. ^ Melamed, Karmel (November 16, 2009). "Nessah Honors Rabbanit Heshmat Shofet". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Hamilton, Matt (August 16, 2013). "L.A.'s Persian Jews struggle with the issue of gay marriage". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2016. How could a rabbi claim that marriage between two members of the same sex is a holy union and not contradictory to Torah when Torah has explicitly prohibited a homosexual act?
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