Spiritual Leader Leads Flock to the Footlights

The longtime spiritual leader of Adat Ari El, Rabbi Moshe Rothblum, plays a number of different roles at the temple, including director, talent scout, choreographer and even matchmaker.

His first love is Judaism, and his second is clearly theater. For the past 30 years, Rothblum has directed synagogue youth in a variety of secular musicals and plays, an experience that has inspired several budding actors to pursue careers in theater.

“This is very unusual for a rabbi to do this,” said Rabbi Paul Dubin, executive vice president emeritus of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California, whose granddaughter, Ronit Aranoff, will appear in tonight’s performance of “Kiss Me Kate.” “The kids really develop close friendships. It’s a stronger bond than being in Hebrew school together.”

The congregation began in 1938 as the Valley Jewish Community Center, which was the first Jewish institution in the Valley. Today, it has about 900 member families, some of whom have worked with Rothblum over the years.

“He has a very good relationship with us that I think most rabbis don’t have with the youth of their synagogue,” said Ari Fife, 17, male lead in “Kiss Me Kate,” who has decided to major in musical theater in college.

Daniel Friedman, who once toured with “Les Miserables” and “Cats” and is now cantor at a Las Vegas synagogue, said Rothblum showed him how to nurture his interest.

“He influenced me in a huge way,” said Friedman, who appeared in “Man of La Mancha” and “Oliver!” at Adat Ari El in the early ‘80s. “I love Judaism and I love theater. I learned how to combine my passions through Rabbi Rothblum.”

Passion on stage apparently produced at least one marriage: Harold Masor and Amy Bloom were not quite 17 when they signed up for “The Fantasticks” in the early 1970s. Amy played the mute and Harold was in charge of props. They would discreetly hold hands whenever he gave her a prop. Seven years later, they were married by Rothblum. They will celebrate their 22nd anniversary this year.

“He’s so proud that we met doing his play,” Bloom said.

“Yeah, he thinks he’s Yenta,” quipped Harold, referring to the matchmaker in “Fiddler on the Roof,” which the synagogue youth have performed three times.

Rothblum, who introduces each show but never takes a bow on stage, called his role as director “extremely gratifying.”

“We have very high standards. I teach them that if they work hard, they can do something that’s excellent. I’ve taught a lot of kids they can strive and achieve,” he said. “To see the growth and development in the kids is incredible.”

Youth in ninth through 12th grades perform the plays, with the lead roles generally going to the older students. Rothblum said he starts checking out kids during bar and bat mitzvahs, which generally occur in the eighth grade, looking for those with good voices and stage presence.

Rothblum, who will be 60 in May and has led the Conservative congregation since 1978, has developed a reputation for the funky attire he wears during performances, green- and white-checked wool pants with a 25-year-old mock turtleneck. A life-size cutout of Rothblum wearing the outfit greets patrons in the lobby of the 400-seat Farber Auditorium.

“It’s become a tradition for even the new kids, who refer to it as my lucky outfit,” he said. “I don’t call it that because I don’t want it to be a superstitious thing.”

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“Kiss Me Kate” will be performed at 8 tonight at Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. Sunday’s performances will be at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. General admission is $15.