Rabbi Donald Goor
Rabbi Donald Goor, Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA, grew up in San Diego, California, as the son of a rabbi. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with honors. In 1987, he was ordained as a Reform rabbi at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in New York.
In 1996 Rabbi Goor was appointed the first out, Gay rabbi to serve a mainstream, straight congregation. He spoke out nationwide on LGBTQ issues as well as other issues related to Social Justice.
For many years, he served on the faculty of Hebrew Union College, in Los Angeles, where he taught second and fifth-year rabbinic students, addressing topics that relate to the practical aspects of being in the clergy.
Rabbi Goor continued his own studies at the Hartman Institute as a fellow in the Rabbinic Leadership Institute. He co-founded the HOPE Network and the Valley Interfaith Council’s Homeless Project. He chaired the Jewish Federation/Valley Alliance's Jewish Community Relations Council and co-chaired the Jewish Federation's Cults and Missionaries Commission. Rabbi Goor also served as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Kalsman Institute on Judaism and Health at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles. He is proud to have served as editor of L’chol Zman V’yet – The CCAR Life-cycle Guide.
After serving Temple Judea for 26 years, Rabbi Goor now lives in Tel Aviv, having made Aliyah in June 2013. He serves as the Rabbinic Liaison at J2 Adventures, the Reform Movement’s travel department, planning trips to Israel for rabbis and synagogues. In Israel Don serves on the boards of the Israel Religious Action Center of the Reform movement and Shutaf, a program for special needs kids.
Rabbi Goor is married to Cantor Evan Kent, his life partner of over 35 years.
CANTOR EVAN KENT
Cantor Evan Kent has been the cantorial voice for Beth Shalom for the past nine years.
Cantor Evan Kent
His cantorial philosophy embodies the words of Rav Kook who stated, “Let the old become new and the new become holy.” Evan always tries to be inventive and progressive, while at the same time honoring our rich tradition of sacred music.
In July 2013, Evan moved from Los Angeles to Israel where he currently lives with his husband Rabbi Donald Goor .
Evan received his ordination as a cantor and his Master’s in Sacred Music from Hebrew Union College in New York and served Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles as its cantor for 25 years. Evan also received his bachelor’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the City University of New York.
Evan Kent eaerned his doctorate in music education from Boston University in May,2014. His doctoral research examined how music at Jewish summer camps in North America assists in the development of Jewish identity.
Cantor Kent has been on the faculty of Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and was also a member of the editorial committee for the new Reform High Holiday prayer book, “Mishkan HaNefesh.”
He is currently on the faculty of the Levinsky School of Education. where he teaches qualitative research methods and how music can act as a form of social and political activism.
Evan’s one man show “Shards-Putting the Pieces Together” has been presented in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Prague, and throughout the United States. “Shards” has also recently become a book—published by Routledge Press in September 2023.