Kahal Joseph Congregation

310.474.0559 / webmaster@kahaljoseph.org
10505 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025

Meet Our Clergy

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, Noam, and Shimon – 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.

Sassoon Ezra, z”l, Senior Hazan

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

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.

Kahal Joseph Congregation

10505 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
310.474.0559 / webmaster@kahaljoseph.org