Southern Jewel

OLD FASHIONED PASSION There wasn’t even a minyan but that didn’t stop the high-energy rabbi from creating a vibrant Torah-observant kehillah from scratch the old fashioned way: by sitting down and teaching the ancient wisdom to one postmodern Jew at a time (Photos: Yoni Oscherowitz)

T he drive south from L.A. toward San Diego is scenic and smooth as I make my way down the Southern California coast the route punctuated by one Spanish-named town after another — Rancho Palos Verdes San Pedro Encinitas San Clemente and more. And then at journey’s end there is La Jolla Spanish for “the Jewel.”

It’s pronounced “La Hoya ” which for a yeshivah guy evokes the Gemara’s phrase lo hoya v’lo nivra meaning “it never was.” As it happens this beautiful suburban community in the hills high above San Diego never did exist at least not Jewishly until 30 years ago last month. That’s when Rabbi Jeff Wohlgelernter showed up and with siyata d’Shmaya and an indomitable will made a proverbial Jewish desert bloom.

Pulling up to Congregation Adat Yeshurun on La Jolla Scenic Drive North I’m immediately taken by the expansive contemporary structure that stretches out on a multi-acre campus — the shul’s striking physical exterior seeming to hint at an equally unique spiritual interior. Maybe it’s the modernist look and affluent suburban setting or the idea of a rav named Jeff — or maybe I’ve been in New York too long too — but I’m just not prepared for the big red-bearded yeshivah man a big black velvet yarmulke atop his balding pate who greets me exuberantly at the entrance. Welcome to La Jolla —where unapologetic Torah authenticity meets easy California living.