Rabbi Marc Mandel is the popular associate rabbi of Beth Jacob. Shortly after his arrival at Beth Jacob, Rabbi Mandel helped create the Shabbat morning Hashkama Minyan and Teen Minyan, and the Sunday morning 9 o’clock Minyan. The success of these Minyanim are a reflection of his leadership. At Beth Jacob, Rabbi Mandel fulfills all aspects of rabbinic responsibilities including counseling, teaching, preaching, life-cycle officiating, and representing the congregation in the community. In addition, Rabbi Mandel manages many aspects of the synagogue prayer services including the distribution of honors, appointing the Chazanim, the designation of Yahrzeit Kibbudim, as well as the management of the synagogue's cemetery plots, Kiddush and Seudat Shlisheet sponsors, all aspects of the High Holy Day services, Yahrzeit plaque distribution, and the Synagogue greeter program. Rabbi Mandel also coordinates the synagogue's outdoor activist program which includes 100 mile bike tours and tennis tournaments. Rabbi Mandel also leads the Beth Jacob Book Club and Movie Club and he coordinates the congregation's Fall and Winter adult education program. In addition, Rabbi Mandel is an experienced Bal Tefila, Bal Tokea and Bal Koreh, and holds the Beth Jacob record for reading the Shabbat Torah portion five times one Shabbat morning at five of the synagogue's services. During his tenure in Los Angeles, Rabbi Mandel has served as the Hebrew translator for Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation, a record and document manager for Library Associates, a Hillel Rabbi at the University of Southern California and served as a chaplain for the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Rabbi Mandel has taught at the Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy, Shalhevet High School, Touro College and the Academy of Jewish Religion. Rabbi Mandel received the Rabbinic Alumni Award from Yeshivat Shaalvim in Israel and he served on the executive committee of the Rabbinical Council of America and served on the Executive Board of the Los Angeles Board of Rabbis. He also represented the Rabbinical Council of California as the kosher supervisor for Noah's Bagels. Rabbi Mandel served on the Board of the Rabbinical Court of Massachusetts and represented its Vaád Harabonim and Kashruth Commision as a kosher supervisor throughout New England and was the president of the Vaad Hakashruth of Portland.
Rabbi Mandel received his Semicha Ordination from Yeshiva University and his Masters in Social Work in Communtiy Organizing and Development from the Wurzweiler School. In addition, he received his his Doctor of Ministry Degree in Congregational Studies from the Bangor Theolological Seminary. He has served as a rabbi and Pastoral Counselor Chaplain in Fairfield, Connecticut at the Jewish Home For The Elderly; Greenwich Village, New York; Portland, Maine and at Baron Hirsch Congregation in Memphis Tennessee, the largest Orthodox Shul in the United States where he was also the director of the South’s only orthodox sleep – away camp, Camp Darom and host of a popular radio program on WEVL. Rabbi Mandel also seved as assistant to the dean of student activities at Yeshiva University and as a community organizer in Washington Heights. In addition, he was the director of the Beginners Learning Service at Congregation Kehillat Jeshurun in New York City, the youth director at Ohab Zedek in Belle Harbor, New York and a program coordinator for the American Jewish Congress. He is a dynamic public speaker and has served as scholar in residence in many communities including Northridge and the Young Israel of North Beverly Hills. Rabbi Mandel's wife Jacqueline grew up in Beth Jacob and YULA and she is the recruiter for Touro College Los Angeles and was the director of public relations for Shalhevet High School. Rabbi Marc and Jacqueline are the proud parents of six children, Kayla, Dani, Yossi, Akiva, Amitai and Carmi.
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