Max Vorspan

Max Vorspan (died June 2002) was an American rabbi, professor, historian, and administrator at the American Jewish University, and leader in the Los Angeles Jewish community.[1] He was the founder of the Pacific Southwest Region of the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism, and the co-author of The History of the Jews of Los Angeles.[2]

Vorspan attended the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, where he was ordained. After serving as a chaplain in Saipan during World War II,[3] he began teaching at the University of Judaism, eventually rising to the position of Senior Vice President. For 18 years, he hosted a weekly Sunday-morning public affairs talk show on CBS named Commitment. He also served as the associate director of the Brandeis Bardin Camp Institute.[1]

Co-authored by Lloyd P. Gartner, Vorspan wrote The History of the Jews of Los Angeles in 1970, chronicling the Jewish community's growth from the first establishment of the City of Los Angeles until the present day.

Vorspan died at the age of 86 in June 2002.

Family

Several of Vorspan's family members are also active in the Jewish community. Albert Vorspan, his brother, is an author and Director Emeritus of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism.[4] His son, David Vorspan, is founding rabbi of Congregation Shir Ami, and Rabbi-in-Residence of New Community Jewish High School.[5]

References
  1. http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/16/local/me-vorspan16, Los Angeles Times, "Rabbi Max Vorspan, 86; Scholar and Historian", June 16, 2002, retrieved April 30, 2011.
  2. http://www.jewishjournal.com/community/article/la_mourns_loss_of_two_leaders_20020621/, Jewish Journal, "L.A. Mourns Loss of Two Leaders", June 20, 2002, retrieved April 30, 2011.
  3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0020_0_20513.html, Jewish Virtual Library, "VORSPAN, MAX", retrieved April 30, 2011.
  4. http://reformjudaismmag.net/301av.html, Reform Judaism, "Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler 1925-2000", retrieved April 30, 2011.
  5. http://www.shirami.com/rabbi.html, Congregation Shir Ami website, "Rabbi Vorspan", retrieved April 30, 2011.
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