Following what is described as a vigorous and rewarding selection process, Congregation Beth Shalom (CBS) of the Santa Clarita Valley is welcoming Rabbi Howard Siegel to serve as the Conservative temple’s interim clergy for the next year.

“It is with great pleasure and happiness that I announce that Rabbi Howard Siegel is our new Interim Rabbi,” said Arlene Gold, president of the Congregation’s Board of Trustees. “We are so fortunate to be able to have such an experienced and knowledgeable rabbi. CBS will certainly reap the enormous benefits of having such a skillful leader.”
Rabbi Siegel officially began his role as the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Shalom on September 1.
He and his wife, Ellen, currently live in Houston and will be relocating to Santa Clarita. During his transition, Rabbi Siegel will be on the bimah every Shabbat and will lead the Congregation’s High Holy Days services this fall.
The High Holy Days begin September 18 with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and end October 10 with Simchat Torah, a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of the reading of the Hebrew Bible.
Rabbi Siegel is an experienced congregational rabbi with proven success in education, outreach, and community building.
He was born in Los Angeles and moved to Spokane, Washington, at a young age.
His motivation to become a rabbi came from his involvement in Jewish camps.
Rabbi Siegel became a public school teacher and then went to the University of Judaism. He moved on to the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York where he earned his Master of Arts in Judaica in 1978 and later his Doctor of Divinity honoris in 2005.

Rabbi Siegel is the Founding Director of the Jewish Information Center of Houston, Texas, an outreach program to unaffiliated Jews and non-Jews seeking a better knowledge of Judaism.
Additionally, Rabbi Siegel brings a plethora of experience from teaching at many Synagogue’s throughout the continent.
Congregation Beth Shalom is the Santa Clarita Valley’s oldest Conservative Jewish congregation, having served the community since 1976 and for the past 12 years at its present location at 21430 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.