About Ohr HaTorah: The Finleys, Ohr HaTorah's Founders
Ohr HaTorah was founded by Rabbi Mordecai and Meirav Finley in 1994 with the help of a small group of families. Rabbi Mordecai and Meirav were inspired to build a type of synagogue they felt was missing from the Los Angeles Jewish Landscape. Principally, they saw the need for a non-affiliated shul that could attract a diverse group of congregants hoping to find both a vibrant community and a place that encouraged personal spiritual development
Rabbi Finley is Co-Founder, Co-CEO and Rabbi of Ohr HaTorah. He received his doctorate in Religion-Social Ethics from the University of Southern California, and rabbinic ordination through the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. He currently serves as Provost and Professor of Liturgy and Jewish Ethics at the Academy for Jewish Religion, California Campus.
Rabbi Finley also serves on the faculty of the Wexner Heritage Foundation and the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Judaism. He is married to Meirav Finley, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Ohr HaTorah, and is the father of two sons, Lev and Kayitz, and two daughters, Shulamit and Avigayil.
Meirav Shevah Finley is Co-Founder of Ohr HaTorah congregation, and serves as Executive and Educational Director. Born and raised in Eilat, Israel, she served in the Israeli Air Force before studying English Literature at the Hebrew University and Linguistics at Tel Aviv University. After moving to L.A. in 1984, Meirav worked as a teacher at Heschel Day School, L.A. Hebrew High and Union Hebrew High. She administered an adult education program at Stephen S. Wise Temple. Rabbi Finley and Meirav started The Learning Circle and managed the Mountain Top Minyan and Children's Program. Meirav and Rabbi Mordecai Finley are the parents of two sons, Lev and Kayitz, and two daughters, Shulamit and Avigayil.
