Giving
Gala 2024
RABBI DAVID VORSPAN
Rabbi Vorspan’s early religious training included the L.A. Hebrew High School, Camp Ramah, the United Synagogue’s Leadership Training Fellowship, and the University of Judaism’s Hebrew Teacher’s College. Rabbi Vorspan was ordained by the Hebrew Union College, where he served as president of the student body and founder and editor of the student newspaper, “Kolbo.” After ordination, he joined the staff of Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim, California–a Conservative synagogue.
With the merger of Temple Beth Ami and Congregation Beth Kodesh forming Shomrei Torah Synagogue, Rabbi Vorspan served as the Associate Rabbi and Executive Director. He founded the Shomrei Torah Institute of Jewish Culture, created a Youth and Adult Theater and an annual literary journal.
Rabbi Vorspan became the founding Rabbi of Congregation Shir Ami in 1998.
Rabbi Vorspan is a graduate of UCLA, where he received his BA in Political Science. He attended the Chaim Greenberg Institute in Jerusalem, and did post-graduate work in education at UCLA. In addition, he received his Bachelor and Master of Arts of Hebrew Letters degrees from the Hebrew Union College from which he also received an honorary Doctor of Divinity. The Jewish Theological Seminary of America also awarded Rabbi Vorspan an honorary Doctorate.
During Rabbi Vorspan’s tenure at de Toledo High School, he served as Rabbi-in-Residence, Director of Jewish Studies, Dean of the 10th grade, and served
as archivist, creating many video and photographic exhibits detailing the life
of the school.
Rabbi Vorspan is an accomplished photographer, composer and instrumentalist, and was a dance soloist, with his wife, Bonnie, with the professional Israeli Dance Troupe, The Sabra Dancers.
Rabbi Vorspan is married to Bonnie and has three children, Alisha (married to Rabbi Ahud Sela), Ben (married to Elana), and Shaina (married to Aaron Brenner). He is also the proud grandfather of Yael, Gavi and Eitan Sela, and Evan and Judah Vorspan. Yael and Gavi will be graduating from de Toledo in 2022.
Located in the San Fernando Valley portion of the City of Los Angeles in Northern Los Angeles County. de Toledo High School is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Builders of Jewish Education (BJE,) and financially supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the Jim Joseph Foundation.
