Our Religious Leaders
Rabbi Jeffrey Marx
As our spiritual leader and teacher, Rabbi Marx shares our joys and our sorrows, and teaches us through Torah classes, workshops, and sermons to make informed choices regarding Jewish beliefs and practices. Under his guidance, our synagogue is filled with learning opportunities for young and old.
Ordained in 1983, Rabbi Marx has been the spiritual leader of The Santa Monica Synagogue since 1985. He has worked in the field of formal and informal Jewish education for the past forty-five years. His academic publications focus on American Jewish immigration. A trained family mediator, Rabbi Marx holds Masters degrees in both Jewish Education and Hebrew Letters, and an Honorary Doctorate from Hebrew Union College.
Click here to read Rabbi Marx’s sermons
Steve Dropkin, Cantor
Steve Dropkin has been involved in leading and teaching Jewish music for over four decades as a composer, cantorial soloist, teacher, and performer. Steve served congregations in Ft. Myers and Boca Raton, Florida and in Fresno, California before coming to the SMS in 2013.
A dynamic guitarist and singer, Steve has recorded six albums of his own original Jewish music. He brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to the Santa Monica Synagogue.
Lori Daitch, Director of Education
Lori has been involved in the fields of Jewish Education and Early Childhood Education for the past twenty years. She strives for close cooperation among teachers, parents and students of our Religious School, and seeks to ensure that all of our students are comfortable with the fundamentals of Jewish living and learning. Lori believes that Jewish learning is for children and adults of all ages and that it occurs not only in the confines of the classroom, but in all areas of synagogue life and in the community. She has served on the board of the National Association of Temple Educators, and was recently awarded the national honor of Distinguished Educator. She is active in the Los Angeles BJE Principals Council.