A BRIEF HISTORY OF Mesa Shul Santa Barbara Mesa Shul Santa Barbara
cleaning shop at 1826 Cliff Drive,
want a warm environment and the
or, as it’s commonly known, the
later expanding to take over the shop
full spectrum of Judaism, without
Mesa Shul, is Santa Barbara’s Modern
space as well. Until the COVID-19
any predetermination of how your
Orthodox congregation, with roots in
pandemic of 2020, the Mesa Shul
thought patterns should be.” Noting
the community going back to at least
continued to meet in that space; it
the diversity of the congregational
the early 1970s. Although the current
is unclear where the congregation
family, he continues, “Mesa Shul is a
organization is relatively young — the
will meet once religious gatherings
broad umbrella and all are welcome
congregation re-incorporated as an
resume in the wake of the contagion.
— everything from different levels
independent entity in 2019, following
In addition to families connected
of observance, to different gender
to the Ezra Torah day school, the
identities. And yet our services are
synagogue community that is
firmly Modern Orthodox. We are a
now the Mesa Shul also attracted
Modern Orthodox congregation.”
some people previously affiliated
The Mesa Shul occupies a special place
many years as a part of the national Young Israel network — the Mesa Shul community first coalesced around a Jewish day school that existed in Santa Barbara in the 1970s through 1984. Santa Barbara’s Jewish day school, known as the Ezra Torah Institute, had approximately 50 students at its height, in the early 1980s. Under the direction of Rabbi Moshe Benisti, an Algerian-born rabbi who had previously run a Jewish school in San Diego, and his wife Debbie, a New Yorker, the school attracted local Jewish families, including
in the constellation of congregations
COME FOR SERVICES AND STAY FOR THE KIDDUSH AND THE SCHMOOZING!
many that had not previously
and organizations that make up Santa Barbara’s institutional Jewish community, as many members also belong to, or regularly attend services and events at, other synagogue communities including Congregation B’nai B’rith, Chabad of S. Barbara, and the Community Shul of Montecito and Santa Barbara. Some even call the congregation “eclectic.” Although some members of the Mesa
considered sending their children to
with two other Santa Barbara area
an Orthodox Jewish school. According
synagogue communities that no
to several current congregants,
longer exist: Congregation Beth Ami,
Rabbi Benisti and the families and
a Conservative community which
teachers he attracted gained a
met from approximately 1971 until
toehold in Santa Barbara for Modern
approximately 1976; and the Isla Vista
Orthodox Judaism. Rabbi Benisti
Minyan, which met at UCSB Hillel.
subsequently relocated to Monsey,
While the Mesa Shul is a Modern
Cantor Jance Weberman, both of
Orthodox congregation — it follows
Los Angeles, to lead High Holidays
During the 1970s and 1980s, current
the traditional liturgy, and men
services). Regardless of one’s level of
congregants report, the group that
and women are separated by a
Jewish education or practice, all are
would become the Mesa Shul held
mechitza during services — levels
welcome at Mesa Shul Santa Barbara.
services in various locations, including
of personal observance have always
living rooms and garages. Eventually,
varied widely in the congregation.
the congregation — then known
According to Jacob Bastomski, current
as Young Israel of Santa Barbara —
president of the Mesa Shul, “We
rented a small space behind a dry
are a unique place for people who
New York and now resides in Israel.
26 | SHALOM SANTA BARBARA | 2020–2021
Shul grew up in observant households, others simply prefer the traditional Hebrew liturgy as conducted by members of the congregation. (The Mesa Shul has no regular rabbi, but for the past several years has hosted Rabbi Chaim Williams and
The Mesa Shul’s message to the Santa Barbara Jewish community: come for services and stay for the kiddush and the schmoozing! (Temporarily suspended, of course).
JEWISHSANTABARBARA.ORG
