Mission Statement
Congregation Adat Yeshurun is a vibrant and welcoming Orthodox congregation that is committed to Torah, the State of Israel and strengthening Jewish identity and practice. Adat’s diverse membership comes together to grow spiritually and intellectually within a caring and supportive community.
Rabbi Daniel Reich
Born and raised in Edison, N.J., Rabbi Reich received his B.A. in History from Yeshiva University in New York City. He received his Semikhah (rabbinic ordination) from RIETS, as a member of their Honors Program. Rabbi Reich also completed a Certificate Program in Pastoral Mental Health Counseling.
“As a child, I can vividly remember the warm and loving interactions among my grandparents,” Rabbi Reich said. “It was a sight to see as my paternal grandfather, Saba Yehuda z”l, a Holocaust survivor, who spent his adolescence in Auschwitz, and his wife Savta Sarah a”h, a religious Libyan woman, would share a heartfelt interaction with my maternal grandmother, Mommom, a traditional Conservative Jew whose American roots in Somerville, N.J., date back to the 1870s. Through language and cultural barriers, they loved and respected each other. I knew this because they would each respectively educate me to love and respect every Jew and member of society, but even more so I knew this because I witnessed them, as well as my parents, live this way. This fundamental lesson that was fostered at a young age was a personal priority in my family and my community, and it was emphasized in the education I received. This has always been one of the driving forces behind my passion to become a rabbi, and how to lead a congregation.”
Rabbi Reich met his Rebbetzin, Brooke, a native of Englewood, N.J., when they were both completing their undergraduate studies at Yeshiva University. They have been married for eight years and currently live in La Jolla Shores with their three daughters, Leeba, Shira and Sari, and their son, Asher. Brooke, a licensed Social Worker (LMSW), received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Yeshiva University. Brooke recalled that when she was dating (soon-to-be Rabbi) Daniel, “He already knew at the time that he wanted to be a rabbi, not necessarily a pulpit rabbi, but certainly to learn and teach a lot of Torah and to devote himself to helping the Jewish people. And I said, ‘I’m definitely going to be a proactive rebbetzin. If he’s going to be in it, then I’m going to be all-in as well.’”
In addition to their roles as the Rabbi and Rebbetzin of Adat Yeshurun, The Reichs devote their time to San Diego’s local yeshivas. Brooke is a beloved Judaic Studies faculty member at Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School, while Rabbi Reich teaches at Southern California Yeshiva High School and Torah High School.
Rav Netzach and Rebbetzin Chana Sapir
Rav and Chana were youth directors together in Otniel, in the southern Hebron Hills, which is also where they lived for the past several years, and where they will return to after their Shlichut B'ezrat Hashem. The yeshiva Rabbi studied for semicha in has the same name - The Hesder Yeshiva of Otniel, or simply Yeshivat Otniel, as it is widely known in Israel. He participated in their hesder program (studying there before and after his IDF service), and returned to teach in the yeshiva and study in their kolel for his semicha studies after completing his undergraduate degree in Jerusalem.
Steven B. Weitzen, Shul President
Steven B. Weitzen
Practiced law since 1987.
Solo Practitioner in civil litigation with an emphasis on personal injury cases 1990 to present.
Involved in the following Jewish communal service:
Chaired UJF Young Leadership Development - 1988 to1989.
UJA National Young Leadership Cabinet - 1989 to 1994.
President, Agency For Jewish Education - 1990 to 1992.
Board of Directors, Congregation Beth El - 1991 to 1992.
President, Congregation Beth El - 1992 to 1993.
Wexner Member - 1994 to 1996.
Board of Directors, Jerusalem Foundation - 1999 to 2001.
Board of Directors, Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School -1997 to 1999.
Board of Directors Adat Yeshurun - 2004-2007.
Vice-president of Adat Yeshurun - 2007-2008.
President of Adat Yeshurun - 2008-2011.
Board of Directors Adat Yeshurun - 2011 - 2018.
Vice-president Adat Yeshurun - 2023 - 2024.
Rotary Service:
President of the Del Mar/Solana Beach Rotary Club - 2013-2014.
Rotary District 5340 Assistant District Governor - 2015-2018.
Rotary District 5340 Chief Assistant Governor - 2018 - 2019.
Rotary District 5340 District Governor - 2020 - 2021
Married to Ava for 38 years. Ava is a retired attorney specializing in Special Education law.
Son Aaron is 37 years old working and living in San Diego.
Daughter Shana is 34 years old working and living in Washington, D.C.
Rabbi Emeritus, Jeffrey Wohlgelernter
Rabbi Jeff Wohlgelernter studied from 1976-1985 at yeshivas in Israel and in Baltimore, and received his rabbinical ordination from both Ner Israel Rabbinical College and Yeshivat Mishkan Hatorah. While studying in Mishkan Hatorah he taught and ran the dorm in Neve Tziyon. In addition, Rabbi Wohlgelernter received a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University.
After spending a year and half in Sydney Australia, Rabbi Jeff and his wife, Shoshie, and their children arrived in La Jolla to begin Congregation Adat Yeshurun in January 1987. The shul started with one family and now has over 250 families. Adat Yeshurun’s new building was constructed in 2001 and has a beautiful Mikvah on the premises. The Wohlgelernters set the foundation for the beautiful Torah community it is today, with 34 years of love and devotion.
Rabbi Jeff retired from Adat Yeshurun in June of 2020 and has transitioned to Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Adat Yeshurun in La Jolla, California, to make aliyah and continues to teach many classes for the congregation via ZOOM in Israel.
Sat, December 21 2024
20 Kislev 5785
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Shabbat Vayeshev
Mazel Tov to Ari and Jennifer Bernstein on Isaac's Bar Mitzvah!