Who Are We? | Community Shul History | Rabbi Arthur

Who are we?

Community Shul of Montecito and Santa Barbara is a highly innovative, embracing and spiritually based community, always striving to create a warm and caring community. Additionally we provide educational and religious training to children and adults alike. To the general SB Jewish community we support areas that encourage general education, bridge building between the Jewish community and the general community as well as supporting future leaders within our youth.

Community Shul History
In 1997, a small group of families came together in a converted garage, engaged ltzik Ben-Sasson to teach Hebrew, and dubbed ourselves the Montecito Country Day Shul. Today that school has become the Community Shul of Montecito and Santa Barbara, representing the richness and diversity of the Santa Barbara area. Our community comes together for monthly Shabbats, holiday gatherings, spiritual exploration and other special events under the spiritual guidance of Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer. His High Holiday services at Casa de Maria have become a special place for people to worship together in a very lovely, participatory and meaningful service. The school, which started with a handful of students, has grown into a full program providing Jewish education and Hebrew to students from 2nd through 5th grade and B'nai Mitzvah training from 6th – 7th grade.

Rabbi Arthur
Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer is a very diverse individual whose impact bridges a variety of organizations and touches numerous communities. He is a rabbi, a lawyer, a legal ethicist, a C.P.A., a mediator, a law professor, a writer, and advocate for Israel, a voice for peace in the Middle East, a husband, a father, a friend and a deeply committed Jew.. He has been a rabbi in Hollywood Ojai, and at USC Hillel. He was the rabbi and remains involved with Congregation B'nai B'rith in Santa Barbara. He is an active member in the Isla Vista Minyan. Currently, he is a professor of business law at Loyala Marymount University in L.A. when he is not in SB with his family and being the rabbi for our community.

As a lawyer and law professor, he has helped Native Americans, Quakers, and lawyers with burnout and sexual misconduct and consulted on issues of diversity.

As a rabbi, he was among the first who dared speak and write on issues of sexual misconduct and has created materials dealing with sexual misconduct, burnout and legal issues facing same gender couples. He has created ethics and wellness audits for rabbis and synagogues and guides on legal issues facing clergy. He speaks about ethical issues.
As an educator, rabbi and lawyer, Rabbi Gross-Schaefer consults and leads workshops on issues of religion and public education.
His biggest joy is his family. Laurie, his wife, is an award winning artist. His sons, Elisha, Avi, Yoav and Noah are his “university that teaches him patience, humility and often wisdom.”

Itzik Ben Sasson
Itzik Ben Sasson is a career Jewish educator who brings his life-long love of Judaism and education to the students he loves. Since 1992, he has lived in Santa Barbara and served nearly every major Jewish organization in a leadership role. From 1993 through 1998 Itzik taught Judaism and Hebrew at Congregation B'nai B'rith.

From 1999 through 2004, Itzik served as the Youth Director, Jewish Festival Director, and the founder and Director of Santa Barbara's Jewish day camp – Camp Halom at the Santa Barbara Jewish Federation. He has created, supervised and run an array of programs providing social and educational values for our community and our children, including four highly successful Jewish Festivals, and four summers of our wonderful summer camp.

In 1998 Itzik's commitment to Jewish education became the seed that has since blossomed into the Community Shul of Montecito and Santa Barbara. In 2004 Itzik Ben Sasson became the founder and Executive Director of Santa Barbara's Jewish day camp – Camp Haverim and has led the camp in five successful summers and winter camps. Today Itzik continues to direct and teach at Camp Haverim and the Community Shul's Religion School program.