Rabbi Diamond’s path to become a rabbi is a success story of our educational and camping systems. Born and raised in Southern California, Rabbi Diamond was inspired while in religious school, to attend the congregation’s youth group and Jewish summer camp (Camp Swig, now Camp Newman) where he was trained to be a congregational song leader. He studied psychology in college, but ultimately decided to enter the rabbinate after spending an academic year in Jerusalem as an undergraduate.
While receiving his rabbinic ordination, he spent an additional year studying at the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at the Hebrew Union College. As a result, Rabbi Diamond served as a Rabbi/Educator, first in Detroit and for fourteen years at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas. During this time, he served on the board and ultimately became national president of the National Association of Temple Educators (now the Association of Reform Jewish Educators) where he became fascinated with the theory and practice of good governance. Inspired by improving the organization that improves our world, Rabbi Diamond left the full-time rabbinate to serve as a governance consultant for secular and religious non-profit organizations. Throughout that time, he continued to serve, part-time, as a pulpit rabbi.
After six years as a governance consultant, he combined his two areas of professional expertise by serving as an interim rabbi for several congregations across the country, including Temple Adat Elohim. After several years, Rabbi Diamond was honored to have been approached by Temple Adat Elohim to return as their permanent rabbi.
Rabbi Diamond has a particular interest working with the interfaith community. He believes that our congregational community should be embracing all its members regardless of their religious background or their current level of faith. The non-Jewish spouse of a Jewish partner is welcomed as a full partner in our community. In addition, Rabbi Diamond is involved in the Conejo Valley Interfaith Association which focuses on bringing together people of all faiths to learn about and from one another and joining together in improving our world.
Rabbi Diamond also has a growing interest in meditation and its role within the life of Reform Jews. He has he introduced a weekly Shabbat meditation minyan that meets each Saturday morning.
Most importantly, he finds great joy in getting to know congregants, understanding their hopes, aspirations and challenges, so we can create a community that elevates our lives and deepens our relationships.