Luke Ford

The new rabbi at Beth Am, a Conservative synagogue on La Cienega and Olympic Blvds, seems like a good fit.

There was one hiccup for some congregants. The new rabbi, who’s about 36 but looks 18, wants to be called “Rabbi Adam” or “Rabbi Kligfeld”, but not plain “Adam.”

Many congregants were used to calling their previous rabbi, Joel Rembaum, by the lofty title of “Joel.”

Joel Rembaum took over Beth Am when he was near 50. He’s tall. He doesn’t need to fight for gravitas.

Rabbi Kligfeld is young. He’s short. He’s Rabbi Kligfeld or Rabbi Adam.

I don’t like calling rabbis by their first name. For me it’s not “Rav Yosef.” It’s “Rabbi Kanefsky.”

Your rabbi should not primarily be your friend. He should be your moral authority.

That’s the way I roll. God made me this way.