Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe Bernhard

Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe Bernhard received his ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in May 1996. Prior to that, he studied at Haverford College, PA, from 1984-1988, where he received his BA in Religious Studies. 

Though his upbringing was thoroughly secular, Rabbi Bernhard parents’ were remarkably supportive when he started on his own journey back to Judaism.  This journey’s first steps began when reading Elie Wiesel’s book Night and continued with a summer in Israel on a kibbutz, attending the Brandeis-Bardin Summer Institute (BCI), and then stint studying at Yeshivat Ha’Mivtar and Hebrew University.  

Always drawn to teaching, the rabbinate attracted him because it allowed him to teach all ages and in many different circumstances.  In addition, it offered the chance to be of service and involved with families and individuals in the full range of life cycle events and be they moments of joy or sadness.  Eventually, he decided to go the Jewish Theological Seminary because he felt that the Conservative Movement struck the best balance between staying rooted in tradition while being open to innovation.

Upon ordination in 1996, he came to Adat Ari El as the assistant rabbi where he has served ever since and he is now only the third senior rabbi in the congregation’s 70 year history. Additionally, this year he has taken on the position of the Director of Adat Ari El’s Religious School.  Over this time his understanding of Judaism has evolved and developed and under the influence of such diverse thinkers such as Rabbis Mordecai Kaplan, Neil Gillman, Arthur Green, Rami Shapiro, Gordon Tucker and Jonathan Sacks.  For him, Judaism is about Tikkun: Tikkun ha’Nefesh/developing our soul and Tikkun ha’Olam/repairing the world and his goal is to create a community that allows us to explore and grow spiritually as individuals and families while living in a community that remains committed to making this world a better place.

Although a native New Yorker and still a Yankee fan, Rabbi Bernhard is familiar with the LA area; in 1988, while attending the Brandeis-Bardin Summer Institute he met his wife, Laurie Jaffe. Laurie is from Northridge, where her family was members of Temple Judea for many years. 

Laurie and Jonathan are the proud but extremely tired parents of 3 boys, Nathaniel, Micah and Elijah. 

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