Bruce Raff

Rabbi in Residence

Office: 818-758-3800 x108

Rabbi Bruce Raff has worn many hats here at Temple Judea.  While he currently serves as Rabbi in Residence on our clergy team, Rabbi Raff was our Director of Education from 1986-2012 and 2017-2021, and led as our Executive Director from 2021-2023. Rabbi Raff brings his love of Judaism to everything he does at Temple Judea – and during his tenure here, he has helped to make Jewish learning more accessible and family friendly for our community.

Rabbi Raff began his career as a public school teacher, and after a short stint with LAUSD, he became a full time Jewish educator. He is known as an innovator in the field of Jewish education, and has been at the forefront of introducing new models of education that have spread across the Jewish landscape.

In addition to his teaching and his extensive work as a school administrator, Rabbi Raff has mentored over 100 Jewish educators and rabbis as a member of the Clinical Faculty of Hebrew Union College and American Jewish University (formerly the University of Judaism). He holds Master’s Degrees in Jewish Education from the University of Judaism and in Jewish Letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he was ordained as a rabbi in 2001.

Rabbi Raff lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife Tamar, the Principal of Valley Beth Shalom Day school. They have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren. The Raff family has a long history at Temple Judea, as Tamar grew up here - you can even find her in one of the Confirmation class pictures! Both his sons started school in our ECC, both taught Religious School here, and both view Temple Judea as their second Jewish home. Now, there is a 3rd generation continuing the tradition.

Rabbi Bruce Raff loves Temple Judea and its people, and is delighted to be sharing the richness of Jewish life with our members in his role as Rabbi in Residence.