Temple Beth El in San Pedro has welcomed a new spiritual leader—and with her, a fresh chapter of creativity, cultural depth, and heartfelt connection. Rabbi Julia Knobloch, an award-winning poet, documentary filmmaker, and newly ordained rabbi, officially stepped into her role this month at the historic Reform congregation, marking a new era for one of Southern California’s oldest Jewish communities.
Founded in 1922 and recognized as the second oldest working synagogue in Los Angeles, Temple Beth El has long served as a spiritual anchor for families across the South Bay. Its congregation includes members from the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the Beach Cities, Long Beach, Northern Orange County, and beyond through its growing online community. Rooted in tradition yet unafraid of innovation, Temple Beth El has embraced modern forms of expression and engagement—and Rabbi Knobloch embodies that commitment to both heritage and growth.
Before entering the rabbinate, Rabbi Knobloch built a creative career as a writer and filmmaker, including work with National Geographic, and her poetry has been published in literary journals and collections worldwide. She has authored two books of poetry—Do Not Return and Book of Failed Salvation—with a third, Liner Notes, expected in 2026. Her writing, often reflective and lyrical, explores themes of identity, spiritual journey, and personal transformation.
Her path to spiritual leadership has always centered on deep human connection. “At Temple Beth El, I see a community ready to engage not only with tradition but also with the deeper questions of identity, meaning, and belonging,” she shared. “It is a privilege to help shape that journey through words, ritual, and relationship. I believe in the power of storytelling to connect, heal, and inspire.”
Ordained at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles, her spiritual practice is deeply rooted in daily gratitude—a hallmark of Jewish life. “Judaism reminds us to notice the blessings of everyday things we often take for granted,” she says. “The simple act of waking up in the morning is met with thanks.” Rabbi Knobloch begins each day with the traditional Modah Ani prayer, a brief but soulful expression of gratitude for being alive and awake to the gift of a new day.
She served as a student rabbi at Beth Knesset Bamidbar in Lancaster, completed internships at Temple Beth Hillel in Valley Village and Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles, and spent time with a Reform congregation at Kibbutz Ketura in Israel. Before her rabbinic studies, she held leadership roles with the Union for Reform Judaism and UJA-Federation of New York, shaping programs that strengthened Jewish life across North America.
At Temple Beth El, she joins longtime spiritual partner Cantor Ilan Davidson, who has led the congregation for over three decades. Together, they are expanding Jewish life through music, poetry, worship, and community connection.“Joining this venerable SoCal congregation and beginning a partnership with Cantor Davidson is my personal jackpot,” she said. “I couldn’t have landed in a better place.”
“Judaism is very big on hospitality. We gather not just to pray, but to share meals, rituals, and milestones. Showing up for one another—whether in joy or grief—is an essential expression of gratitude and faith.”-Rabbi Knobloch
This fall, Temple Beth El continues its longstanding tradition of interfaith outreach by hosting a community-wide Thanksgiving service on November 11 with local faith leaders. For Rabbi Knobloch, these moments are both spiritually and socially powerful. “Gratitude becomes richer when it crosses traditions,” she reflects. “We’re reminded we’re not isolated faiths, but humans woven together with shared hopes.”
As Temple Beth El moves forward into its second century, Rabbi Knobloch represents a thoughtful blending of past and future—a leader grounded in liturgy, attuned to storytelling, and committed to building bridges. Her journey, like the congregation’s, is one of honoring roots while embracing possibility.
With her voice as a poet, her heart for community, and her belief in the sacredness of everyday gratitude, Rabbi Julia Knobloch marks a beautiful next chapter for Temple Beth El—and for the interwoven Jewish and interfaith communities of the South Bay.
