Rabbi Morley Feinstein grew up on the Westside of Los Angeles and attended Beverly Hills High School.  He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Highest Honors from UC Berkeley.  Ordained in 1981, he was the Assistant and first Associate Rabbi of Temple Beth-El in San Antonio, Texas. From 1987 to 2002, he was Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth-El in South Bend, Indiana.  During his tenure there he received Indiana’s highest citizen honor by the Governor for his efforts in promoting peace and justice.  Rabbi Feinstein brings his deep commitment and passion for Torah, filled with energy and a zest for learning.  He is married to Dr. Margarete Myers Feinstein, a historian.  Rabbi Feinstein is the father of two sons Aaron, a physician, Ari, a graduate of UC Davis with a major in Middle East studies, and twin daughters, Eliana and Renata,  recent graduates of University Synagogue’s Early Childhood Learning Center.

Cantor Jay Frailich has made University Synagogue his home since 1974.  He is a graduate of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.  Fostering a sense of spirit, excitement and appreciation for Jewish music and worship, Cantor has been responsible for commissioning more than 30 major liturgical works and dozens of single pieces during his tenure here.  He is also a gifted teacher who brings his unique blend of knowledge, humor and vision to both children and adults.  In addition to his teaching duties at the Synagogue, he is a professor of Liturgical Studies at the Academy of Jewish Religion.  Cantor Jay and his wife, Sandy, have two married daughters, Lonee (Michael Gantman) and Reena (Robert Stone), and are the proud grandparents of Romee, Indee Rose and Reed.

Rabbi Joel Thal Simonds received his Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles from which he was ordained in 2009.  After his graduation from UC Santa Barbara, Rabbi Simonds was the Public Policy Fellow at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. where he worked on policy issues such as health care, hate crimes and the crisis in Sudan.  A product of the Reform movement, Rabbi Simonds was regional board member for NFTY Southern California, and is on the Rabbinic Advisory Counsel of Hebrew Union College-Institute of Religion (HUC-J/R). He is married to attorney, Ariella Thal Simonds.

Rabbi Emeritus Allen Freehling came to University Synagogue in 1972 and built a warm and friendly congregation, touching many lives during his tenure.  A dedicated community activist, he has provided University Synagogue an effective presence in Southern California, nationally and abroad.  Rabbi Freehling served as Executive Director of the Human Relations Commission of the City of Los Angeles by appointment of Mayors James Hahn and Antonio Villaraigosa.  He is currently Deputy Chief of Staff to Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas.  He is married to Lori and is the father of three adult children, grandfather of six and great-grandfather of two.

Hal Daum, Executive Director, came to University Synagogue after three decades of service as a trustee, Vice President, President and Executive Director of synagogues in four communities. Hal is a graduate of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion with a B. S. in Judaic Studies as well as a B. A. in Sociology and Psychology from Cal State Northridge. His goal, shared by the Officers and Trustees, is to facilitate the cooperative, efficient and effective administration of University Synagogue to meet the needs of the congregation, the board, the clergy and the staff. Hal and his wife, Nancy, have two adult children and three grandchildren.

Tami Weisman joins University Synagogue as the Director of the Religious School. She received her Masters of Arts in Jewish Education from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute for Religion in May 2010. Prior to this, she received her Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Religious Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara, and pursued her love for Israel through her work at AIPAC and subsequently as a fellow on Project Otma based in Israel. Upon her return, she served as the Youth Educator at the Orange County Bureau of Jewish Education. A Southern California native, Tami is married to Greg Weisman who is a rabbinical student.

Elaine Rosenfield joined University Synagogue as the Director of the Early Childhood Learning Center in September 2008. Elaine comes to us after six successful years as the Head of Early Childhood for the Chatsworth Hills Academy. Her background includes over five years as a Pre-School Teacher at Temple Ahavat Shalom, as well as being an Interim Director for Shomrei Torah Synagogue. She is married to Steve and is the mother of four children.