Meet Our Clergy

Rabbi Malachi Kanfer

Rabbi Malachi Kanfer became the Rabbi at Kehillat Ma’arav as of July 2026. He served the congregation as Cantor since 2023, when he relocated to California to pursue rabbinic ordination at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.

Prior to his tenure at Kehillat Ma’arav, Malachi served as Cantor at Sutton Place Synagogue in Midtown Manhattan, where he was recognized as a New York Jewish Week “36 Under 36” honoree for leading spiritually vibrant, joyful, and musically rich services.

Earlier in his career, Malachi served as Cantor and Youth Education Director at Congregation B’nai Jacob in Woodbridge, Connecticut. There, he co-founded Yahad Hebrew School — a joint program between two congregations that grew to serve 80 students — and established the New Haven chapter of Hazamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir.

Malachi has released several musical recordings, including The Music of Congregation B’nai Jacob (2016) and Sounds of Sutton Place Synagogue (2023).

He was invested as a Cantor by the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he received the Cantors Assembly Alumni Award, the Rose S. Rovine Prize in Liturgical Music, and the A.J. Weisgal Award. Malachi holds a degree from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, where he majored in vocal performance and performed operatic roles both at Oberlin and in Italy.

You can reach Rabbi Kanfer by calling the synagogue office or by e-mailing him.

 

Rabbi Michael Gotlieb (Rabbi Emeritus)

Rabbi Michael Gotlieb was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1990 where he also earned his Masters Degree in Jewish Studies. He completed his rabbinic internship at Columbia University. Before coming to KM, he served a congregation in North County San Diego for 5 years.

In addition to his congregational activities, Rabbi Gotlieb has served as president of the Rabbinical Assembly Southwest Region and is a member of the Southern California Board of Rabbis. He also volunteers at Santa Monica College Hillel and St. John’s Hospital.

Rabbi Gotlieb teaches courses at the American Jewish University and his editorials and commentaries have been published nationally.

The Rabbi’s wife, Jill, is a registered nurse and they make their home in Santa Monica. They have three children and three grandchildren.

Rabbi Gotlieb was the rabbi of Kehillat Ma’arav since arriving in Los Angeles in 1995 and retired in June of 2026.

You may reach Rabbi Gotlieb by calling the synagogue office or by e-mailing him.

     

Rabbi Saul Rappeport (Rabbi in Residence)

Rabbi Saul Rappeport brings more than two decades of rabbinic experience to KM. Born and raised in Perth, Australia, he made aliyah with his family at the age of 12. He received rabbinic ordination from the Ariel Institute of Jerusalem and has served congregations in both Australia and the United States.

After over a decade in the congregational rabbinate, Rabbi Rappeport transitioned to military chaplaincy and was commissioned as a chaplain in the United States Air Force. Since then, he has served Jewish personnel and service members of all faith backgrounds around the world, including in Texas, Qatar, and California. He currently serves as the Senior Chaplain at Los Angeles Air Force Base, where he supports the spiritual well-being and resilience of more than 6,000 military members and government civilians.

Rabbi Rappeport is married to his wife, Michal, and together they have three children, Ezzy, Sara and Shaina. Outside of his military and rabbinic responsibilities, Saul is an avid enthusiast of chazzanut and Yiddish culture, and enjoys logging miles on his road bike through the scenic roads of Southern California.

You may reach Rabbi Rappeport by calling the synagogue office or by e-mailing him.