“Judaism has always been the framework of my life. It has provided me with values, direction, a way of understanding our world and myself. To be a teacher of Jewish tradition, therefore, has been a privilege and honor for me. I would even say that it has been a redemptive blessing for me.”
– Rabbi Alan Greenbaum
Rabbi Emeritus Alan H. Greenbaum served TAE as Senior Rabbi from 1984 to 2006. Prior to that, he served as spiritual leader at Temple Israel in Memphis for four years and Temple B’nai Israel in Galveston for three years. As a rabbinic student, he served congregations in San Luis Obispo, CA; New Iberia, LA; and, Columbus, IN. During his tenure in Thousand Oaks, Rabbi Greenbaum was instrumental in starting the Conejo Valley Winter Shelter Program and was devoted to interfaith relations in this community, which included serving as president of the Conejo Valley Ecumenical Council. He and his wife, Dori, currently reside in Grass Valley, California.
Since I Left TAE, I Have Been…
Leaving the full-time rabbinate has given me time and opportunities that I’ve never had as an adult. I’ve pursued new and old interests including outdoor adventures such as hiking, snow shoeing, kayaking and golf. In addition I’ve continued enjoying my passion for music via my guitar strumming. I’ve honed my woodworking skills crafting everything from furniture to decorative boxes. It’s important to know that I’ve also continued my professional love of the rabbinate on a part-time basis. I’ve been serving small Jewish communities throughout the Sierra Nevada region where we live, discovering isolated Jewish communities with their own unique histories and people.