About Us

Clergy & Staff

Board of Directors

Iraqi Books

Privacy & Refunds

Clergy

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Rabbi Natan Halevy

I grew up in Los Angeles, and with my parents and siblings, attended Kahal Joseph where I had my Bar Mitzvah in 1994. As the child of Iraqi parents, I have a powerful sense of the strong culture and traditon I come from.  In 2005 I received my Rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Yitchak Yaroslavsky at Yeshivat Tomchei Tmimim in Israel. I then served as an assistant Rabbi in Chabad of Great Neck, NY before I returned to Los Angeles in 2008.  I love studying all facets of Torah—from the Bible to the Talmud to the inner parts of Torah. I also have knowledge of many other modalities and philosophies that I feel may support us as Jews and people in this modern day and age. My wife Bracha and our children—Yosef Hayim, Menucha, Menachem, and Noam—are very happy to be working with the wonderful Kahal Joseph community.

Please feel free to contact me, my door is always open.  Click here to email Rabbi Halevy.

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Sassoon Ezra
Senior Hazan

I was born in Calcutta, India, the youngest of ten children. I met my wife, Daisy (z"l), there, and had my first daughter before we moved to Los Angeles where part of my family had moved after leaving India. Once here, I began tutoring children and helping to build up the Iraqi Jewish community. I participated in the bringing together and building of the community, both physically and spiritually. My goal, throughout those years. was to preserve and continue the unique traditions of Baghdadi Jewry. In addition to my work with Kahal, I also was a teacher and administrator for Harkham Hillel Academy for forty years. 

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saeed Jalali
Hazan

I was born and raised in Bombay, India. Spent four years in Israel at the Technion in Haifa and then moved to Los Angeles where I graduated from CSUN School of Engineering. Went to Kahal Joseph one cold, dark, Selihot morning and never left. Kahal Joseph is also where I met my wife who spent most of her time in Shul running after our three children. 


I love model airplanes, building things, playing the Oud and guitar if time permits, and teaching others our beautiful Baghdadi melodies and learning along the way.

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STAFF

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Sarah Bouchoucha
Administrator

I was born in Calcutta, India, and then lived in London for 8 years and in New York for 2 years. I am now starting my 15th year as the Administrator at Kahal Joseph. I have enjoyed serving Kahal members and the community at large. 

I love doing yoga and aqua yoga. I enjoy cooking and entertaining for all my friends and members of my family. I am the proud mom of 30-year-old Josh, who is currently training to be a therapist/counselor. 

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Penina MEghnagi Solomon
Administrative Assitant

I was born and raised in Tripoli, Libya. In 1967, after being forced to leave, I moved to Italy before making aliyah in 1970. There, I met my husband, who was from Los Angeles, and we moved here in 1973. Before I came to Kahal, I studied art and graphic design, and used those skills to work as an inker for the original Disney animation studios. 

Although I work mainly in the office, I also do adult education workshops in Sephardic cultural practices and traditions, as well as work as an art specialist for the Talmud Torah. I love infusing joy into the practice of Sephardic heritage and traditions. In addition, I am a speaker with the JIMENA Speaker's Bureau, and spend my free time painting watercolors, reading, researching the history and politics of the Middle East, writing poetry, singing with the Kol Sephardic Choir and enjoying photography.

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Kahal Joseph Congregation * 10505 Santa Monica Boulevard * Los Angeles, California * 90025 
Tel: 310.474.0559 * Fax: 310.441.4059 * Email: info@kahaljoseph.org