About
Our People
Temple Menorah is led by a dedicated team of clergy, staff, and lay leaders who share one goal: to make this a warm and welcoming home for Jewish life in the South Bay. Meet the people who help our community to grow, learn, and gather together.
Clergy
Leading with purpose and care
Our clergy bring decades of experience, deep Jewish knowledge, and a genuine love of community to everything they do.
Rabbi Jill Gold Wright
Senior Rabbi
Ordained by the Academy of Jewish Religion California, Rabbi Jill served as the Staff Rabbi and Director of Education at Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, and as Rabbi at Congregation Bamidbar Shel Ma’alah in Victorville in their closing year. As a rabbinical student, she served as at Adat Ari El Synagogue, as well as at Beit T’shuvah Addiction Recovery Center in Culver City. Rabbi Jill worked as a tenured Professor of English at Mt. San Antonio College for 27 years, as well as teaching part-time at Claremont Graduate University and College du Leman in Geneva, Switzerland. Rabbi Jill brings a love of music, learning, and Jewish text to Temple Menorah. She enjoys travel, theater, music, literature, and spending time with her husband and two children.
Rabbi Rebeccah Yussman
Rabbi-Educator
Rabbi Rebeccah Yussman, MAEd, has served Temple Menorah for nearly ten years as our Rabbi-Educator. Ordained by the Academy for Jewish Religion in California, she brings more than 25 years of experience in Jewish education, including work in synagogues, preschools, and Jewish camps throughout California. Rabbi Rebeccah oversees community programs as well as youth and adult education and Camp Menorah. She is especially passionate about helping people find their own meaningful connections to Judaism and creating Jewish experiences that are joyful, creative, and relevant to contemporary life. Rabbi Rebeccah also brings creativity and a sense of fun to Jewish life at Temple Menorah, writing Purim shpiels and parodies and creating music for programs including Barechu and BBQ. In their free time, Rabbi Rebeccah and her family love rooting for the back-to-back World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Rabbi Steven Silver
Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Steven Silver led Temple Menorah from 1987 to 2017 and serves today as our Rabbi Emeritus. He earned his bachelor's degree from UCLA in 1974, was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1984, and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity in 2009. His three decades of leadership helped shape the welcoming community Temple Menorah is today.
Staff
Here to serve our community
Our staff lends unconditional support to our community - from membership to community programs, from our preschool to our senior events, our staff is ready to help.
Ilise Welter
Executive Director
Ilise Welter is the Executive Director of Temple Menorah, where she leads membership growth, philanthropy, and the administrative, financial, HR, marketing, and facilities operations of the congregation. Since joining the role in 2021, she has partnered with professional and lay leaders to create meaningful programs and experiences for the South Bay community. A Temple Menorah member for more than 20 years, Ilise previously held national sales and operations leadership positions with media companies and emerging technology startups.
Felicia Flores
Director of Early Childhood Education,
Tuvia School
With over 32 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, Felicia Flores has worked in a variety of programs, including Head Start, state preschools, nonprofit organizations, public school districts, and private faith-based programs. She currently serves as the Director of Early Childhood Education at Tuvia School of Temple Menorah Early Childhood Education Center. Her passion for supporting children, families, and educators is guided by the Reggio Emilia approach, and in 2016, she had the opportunity to study and visit the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Marissa Deutsch
Operations Manager
Marissa Deutsch has been a member of the Temple Menorah community since Tuvia Preschool. After earning her bachelor's degree in Washington, DC, Marissa returned to the South Bay and has worked at Temple Menorah in everything from the Tuvia Preschool to the main office. She is our current Operations Manager.
Dan Spector
Music Director
Dan Spector leads the music of Temple Menorah across our worship life, from Klezmer to Soul Shabbat to our Family Shabbat Jam. A talented musician across multiple genres, Dan music brings energy and joy to the bimah and invites the whole community to sing along.
Guided by wisdom and heart
Our clergy are here for the milestones, the questions, and the everyday moments of Jewish life. Our professional staff are here for the community, the connections, and the support we all need.
Your place in this community is waiting
Whether you are ready to join or just have a few questions, we would love to hear from you.