Our President
A sense of responsibility to the community
Temple President Ricardo Aespuro, a native of Los Angeles eastside communities since 1968, first attended B’nai Emet in 2004 and not only became a member of the Temple, he eventually became a member of the TBE Board. In 2022, he was elected Board President.
“The first time I attended Temple B'nai Emet, I felt I had found my religious home. The members are very welcoming, and Rabbi Pennes was a great teacher,” said Aespuro. “My mission, as we settle into our new home and new Spiritual Leader, is to see the Temple grow and be a vibrant, essential part of the communities we serve and live in.”
Ricardo, who attended both Cal State University at Los Angeles and East Los Angeles College and earned a degree in Business Administration, has been married for over 34 years to his wife Elvia, and their family now includes teenage grandchildren.
The President's Message
April 2025
I hope this reaches everyone in good health.
On behalf of the Board, I am happy to announce that we have welcomed our new Spiritual leader to our congregation: Michael Feldman, who officially assumed a position on March 1. We are pleased to have his kindness, energy, and Rabbinical knowledge to lead our congregation. Please join the Board in welcoming him and we all look forward to a long and enriching relationship.
To give you a little bit of background, our new Spiritual Leader has been as a cantor for over a decade throughout all of California. His passion for connecting with prayer and congregation led him to deeper study of liturgy for many years, which enriched his drashot/sermons and other forms of teaching. He currently is on the ordination track at Ziegler School for Rabbinic Studies.
Spiritual Leader Feldman specializes in finding common ground and emotional validation between diverse, even conflicting views, and endeavors to help people reconcile their own practical and spiritual needs as a life value. As a member of the California Bar Association and former family law attorney, he applies his spiritual understanding for a holistic approach to secular law and challenging personal crises matters.
Join us at Saturday services to personally welcome Spiritual Leader Feldman to our congregational family: We will have regular Saturday morning services on April 12th in person and on Zoom at 10:00 am. On the first day of Passover, April 13th, we will have in person and on Zoom services starting at 10:00 am. On the Seventh day of Passover April 19th, we will have our regular Sabbath services in person and on Zoom. At 10:45 am we will have the Yizkor Service. We hope you will be able to join us.
I want to thank everyone for the wonderful turnout for Purim and the creative costumes. I am glad to say that, through the work of love by some of our members, we passed out small gifts of yogurt raisins, dry fruit, nuts and hamantaschen.
Also, let’s all extend our gratitude for our members that recently participated with congregation B’nai David Judea in providing small backpacks to the homeless on skid row. These backpacks contained water, sandwiches, band aids and clothing. Spiritual Leader Feldman and one of his daughter’s joined us. About 70 packages were provided and the recipients were very happy to receive them. The Board and I personally want to thank everyone who helped us do this mitzvah.
Lastly, an important reminder: Included in this Clarion are the forms for the book of Remembrance and Matzah fund. The deadline for the printer is April 4th. If you have any questions, contact Val at the office.
Happy Passover & Chag Pesach Sameach
Ricardo Aespuro
TBE is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization
Welcome! Please Support Temple B'nai Emet and Know that Your Donation is Tax-deductible. Tzedakah, mitzvah, charity and legacy – all are part of our magnificent Jewish tradition.