David Shofet

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

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

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]

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References
  1. "History of Nessah". Nessah Synagogue. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  2. 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. 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. 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. 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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