Just Opened! Kesher Torah: Hancock Park’s Newest Shul

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By Jack Frid.

Kesher Torah is not actually a new Shul, but a brand new name that is an acronym that highlights the Shul’s core values of Kehilla, Shirah, and Ruach, all with a connection to Torah.

Kesher Torah is led by Rabbi Pinchos Gruman, Shlit’a, and is alight with energy on Shabbos and Yom Tov. One of the most respected Torah figures in Los Angeles, Rabbi Gruman received semicha from Harav Aaron Kotler (zt”l) and Harav Moshe Feinstein (zt”l) and has served the Los Angeles Torah community for over 40 years. Kesher Torah grew out of, and takes its inspiration from the Minyan at Aish Tamid, founded by Rabbi Avi Leibovic.

Kesher Torah grew out of, and takes its inspiration from the Minyan at Aish Tamid, founded by Rabbi Avi Leibovic.

To honor the new name, Kesher Torah held a sold out Melaveh Malka at Abba’s on La Brea. Community leaders joined to show their support, and attendees were treated to a spectacular evening. Jeff Astroff, a local frum television writer, led the festivities and moved the crowd to hysterical laughter.

Mr. and Mrs. Aaron and Yael Manela, renowned for their dedication to the entire community and to the Shul, were the evening’s honorees. The Manela’s are both dispatchers for Hatzolah and have four children at Toras Emes, in addition to running the Chevra Kadisha.

Also honored were the Light’s Out Shalosh Seudos speakers that come each week. Kesher Torah is able to draw from so many of the talented speakers in Hancock Park to bring inspiration and divrei chizuk each week. The speakers have included Rabbi Moshe Abady, Fishel Cohen, Rabbi Dr. David Fox. Rabbi Aaron Dov Friedman. Rabbi Zevi Goldsweig, Rabbi Shlomo Goldberg, Rabbi Chanan (Antony) Gordon, Reb Paul Greenberg, Rabbi Yakov Jacknis, Rabbi Nachi Klein, Rabbi Eli Sheller, Rabbi Shimon Kraft, Rabbi Aaron Parry, Rabbi Moshe Yitzhak Schwartz, Rabbi Brad Yellen, and Rabbi Baruch Zheutlin.

As the crowd enjoyed the delectable array of Abba’s delicacies, the famous Fantastic Fig stymied the crowd with his deft card trick maneuvers. Rabbi Gruman, Shlit’a, true to form, gave over a concise and inspiring message and R’ Berish Goldenberg, Shlit’a, Menahel of Toras Emes, followed with a strong and moving address.

Kesher Torah is a Shabbos and Yom Tov minyan that is full of shira and ruach. Friday night is a Carlebach inspired Kaballas Shabbos and divrei torah and one of a kind stories by R’ Zalman Manela.

Kesher Torah is a Shabbos and Yom Tov minyan that is full of shira and ruach.

Shabbos morning includes a Chofetz Chaim, Shmiras Halashon, shiur given by Seth Merewitz, followed by Shachris at 9 am. Shachris can be enjoyed by entire familiy – made possible by supervised children’s groups that are available for girls of all ages and for boys through 4th/5th grade. This unique arrangement enables the entire family to be engaged, involved, and connected. Laining is handled by the Baal Korei Avi Hendeles who also makes the herring and sumptuous cholent. Following a spiritually charged Shachris is a full Kiddush that could be sponsored in honor of a loved one or special event. Torah, herring, and cholent are plentiful and is accompanied by song and thought provoking divrei machshava by esteemed Rabbi Pinchos Gruman, Shlit’a.

Preceding Mincha is a Kitzur Shulchan Aruch shiur given by Yosef Berman. As the sky begins to darken and Shabbos begins ebbing away, our spirits are lifted by our famous “Lights Out Shalosh Seudos” which similar to what Chazal say about the Bais Hamikdash, “one who never saw Shalosh Seudos at Kesher Torah, never experienced a spiritual longing and connection in their life.” The traditional Shalosh Seudos tunes are sung followed by a bout of intense singing reaching a climax with a deeply felt, signature, Kesher Torah Niggun.

As the sky begins to darken and Shabbos begins ebbing away, our spirits are lifted by our famous “Lights Out Shalosh Seudos”

Rabbis from around the community relish the opportunity to share divrei Torah with a highly attentive audience, and there is a palpable resolve to utilize the inspiring messages and act on them to improve our spiritual wellbeing. Shabbos ends with a Carlebach Havdalah led by Eli Trainer.

Guests have remarked on the sense of belonging, warmth, and connection upon walking through the doors of Kesher Torah. Come join us for Shabbos or Yom Tov!

The Shul is located on the second floor of the Aish Tamid Building, 5909 West 3rd Street, but is operated separately from the successful and important teen program. The Shul is prepared to provide Shabbos hospitality and meals to any visitors to the Hancock Park community.

Kesher Torah subsists solely on pledges and donations of its members and visitors. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to: Kesher Torah, P.O. Box 361466, Los Angeles, CA 90036.

Jack Frid is a member of Kesher Torah. He is a partner at RevMo Media, an online advertising group and is a fashion enthusiast and consultant on the side. Jack welcomes any comments or questions and can be reached at: jack@revmomedia.com

Rabbi Pinchos Gruman