Bruchim haba’im! Welcome! I am Rabbi-Cantor Galit Levy-Slater. I am blessed to be able to serve the Jewish community of Leisure World in Seal Beach, and I am further blessed to be able to live in Leisure World and to have married the love of my life, Bob Slater.
In 2016 I created a new, innovative Jewish community: Beit HaLev, House of the Heart, Inc.
I saw a need for a more egalitarian Jewish congregation in the community, one that was inclusive, loving and filled a need that was no longer met by the mainstream congregation.
Through the support of a Christian friend, Rhonda Sandberg, we now own a Sefer Torah and we now have a beautiful Aron Kodesh in which to house the Torah. To honor our friend and her husband, Frank Poole z”l, we had a custom made Torah mantle made as well, with an inscription honoring them.
The Torah was dedicated on Simchat Torah last year with several participating Leisure World clubs (Hui O’Hula, the Theater Cub of Leisure World, Congregation Sholom, the Interfaith Council).
I received my S’michah (ordination) in August, 2012 from the Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute (JSLI). I was formally installed as rabbi-cantor of Congregation Sholom, a Conservative congregation on September 1, 2012 in Leisure World, and I was accepted into the International Federation of Rabbis, a growing egalitarian worldwide community of rabbis from many different branches of Judaism, on March 4, 2013. I had been a cantor for 3 decades, 18 years serving the Jewish community of Leisure World (Chai!).
I am extremely proud to be a part of the UJUC, United Jewish Universalist Communities, a new Jewish movement that embraces all aspects of Judaism, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, etc., envisioned and founded by Rabbi Steve Blane. For more information on Jewish Universalism and the United Jewish Universalist Communities, go to:
Rabbi Blane, dean and founder of JSLI, also founded the online synagogue, Sim Shalom, which offers Holiday celebrations, Shabbat Ma’ariv services; weekday Ma’ariv services and twice a month Shabbat Shacharit services – online. Weekday Ma’ariv services online are Monday-Thursday at 7PM EDT (4PM PDT) led by JSLI-ordained rabbis and rabbinic students. I lead the services every Thursday evening. All of our services are recorded, so all of these services can be viewed when it is convenient for you. Please join our international community for Shabbat, Holiday and Weekday Ma’ariv service at:
The UJUC has recently implemented an online television network, JUtv. Our rabbis give live presentations Monday through Thursday, each day focusing on a different aspect of Judaism: Music Monday, How To Tuesday, Wisdom Wednesday and Ask the Rabbi Thursday. I and a colleague, Rabbi Jon Nelson alternate Music Monday, each of us presenting different examples of Jewish music. Each segment is about 5 minutes and it’s fun and informative. JUtv is accessed on our Sim Shalom Facebook page.
I livestream services every Friday evening and Saturday morning from Livestream.com/Galityomtov and from my Facebook page, Facebook.com/galityomtov. I live in Southern California, so my Kabbalat Shabbat services begin at 6:00pm Pacific Time; Saturday morning services are at 10:30am Pacific Time. Nearly 200 people attend each of my services – and growing rapidly!
If you like my website, please come back and visit often. And stay tuned for more information about Beit HaLev as we grow. I welcome your comments and hope you find inspiration here.
