Temple Ami Shalom
SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
Cantor Mike Sirota
Mike Sirota regularly leads Friday night and Saturday morning services at Temple Ami Shalom and sings in a variety of venues both secular and Jewish, throughout greater Los Angeles. He discovered his passion and gift for combining music and prayer when he was 18, as a song leader and counselor at Camp JCA near Big Bear. Since that awakening, Mike has continued his music and Jewish studies, focusing his training and experience on becoming a spiritual leader.
From 1986 through 2001, Mike was a music instructor and B’nai Mitzvah teacher at Valley Beth Shalom in the Shaare Tikvah program for special needs children. A dedicated educator, Mike helped create a unique, nurturing Jewish program for children who might not otherwise have any formal Jewish education. In 1995, Mike began leading Friday night services at Beth Shir Sholom in Santa Monica. Then, in 1998 he created the beloved “Light Up Shabbat” musical Friday night service for B’nai Tikvah with the congregation’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Michael Beals. Mike continues to lead “Light Up Shabbat” on the first Friday of each month at what is now Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach.
After several years as guest cantor at Congregation Shaarei Torah and Temple Beth David, Mike was asked to help lead High Holy Day services at Temple Ami Shalom where he eventually joined as our Cantor. As a performing artist, Mike is a founding member of The Folk Collection, a folk trio singing the classic songs of the 60’s Folk Era throughout Southern California and across the United States.
From 1986 through 2001, Mike was a music instructor and B’nai Mitzvah teacher at Valley Beth Shalom in the Shaare Tikvah program for special needs children. A dedicated educator, Mike helped create a unique, nurturing Jewish program for children who might not otherwise have any formal Jewish education. In 1995, Mike began leading Friday night services at Beth Shir Sholom in Santa Monica. Then, in 1998 he created the beloved “Light Up Shabbat” musical Friday night service for B’nai Tikvah with the congregation’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Michael Beals. Mike continues to lead “Light Up Shabbat” on the first Friday of each month at what is now Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach.
After several years as guest cantor at Congregation Shaarei Torah and Temple Beth David, Mike was asked to help lead High Holy Day services at Temple Ami Shalom where he eventually joined as our Cantor. As a performing artist, Mike is a founding member of The Folk Collection, a folk trio singing the classic songs of the 60’s Folk Era throughout Southern California and across the United States.
RITUAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Torah Reader
AND
HEBREW INSTRUCTOR
Click here for information on classes
Houshang Forouzan, Chairman
Ritual Committee Members (listed below in Alphabetical Order) Neil Bashist Elisheva Diaz Mark Hoffman Michael Kane Brianne Levine Jacob Ohabim Sol Pavlosky |
Biographical Information Houshang was born in Tehran, Iran and lived with his family of three brothers and three sisters. He attended Jewish elementary and intermediate school at “Otszar Hatorah” meaning treasure of knowledge. Through his school training, at the age of ten, he began to read small portions of Torah. He was called upon every Shabbat in a small congregation that was administered and supported by his father for over 45 years After graduating from high school, in pursuit of higher education, Houshang left his family in Iran and came to Southern California settling in the city of Lynwood where he joined an Orthodox Temple in Long Beach. In 1974 he moved to the city of Covina to attend Cal Poly University in Pomona and soon after he joined Temple Beth Ami (the former name for Temple Ami Shalom). In 1985 his family managed to escape from Iran and made it to the U.S.A. Right after his family arrived; he voluntarily decided to become the official Torah reader at Temple Beth Ami (Temple Ami Shalom) and currently continues his service. Houshang takes his Torah reading task very seriously and he rarely misses a Shabbat service! On August 18, 1993, Houshang and Nahid got married at Temple Ami Shalom and they to date live with their son Daniel in city of San Dimas. In December 2010, he was appointed the Ritual chairman for the Synagogue with his responsibility being to oversee along with his committee the ritual practices of the services and events for our Synagogue. Houshang has contributed greatly to the education of our congregants by launching a once a month Tefilin service, a Hebrew reading class and a Hebrew conversation class. He has a heart for the youth in our community and has coordinated a youth soccer team which meets on a regular basis weather permitting. He also is an active member of our Board of Directors. Houshang is very devoted to Judaism, to our Temple (TAS) and has an extraordinary LOVE for the State of Israel and her welfare. |
