Pico Union High Holiday Services

Rosh Hashanah Day 1: Saturday, September, 12 – 10am-1pm
Kol Nidre: Sunday, September 20 – 7:30-9pm
Yom Kippur: Monday, September 21 – 9:30 am-1pm

We're excited to welcome you once again to the Pico Union Project for the Days of Awe. Come learn and be inspired by Rabbi Joseph Shamash and the transcendent musical direction by Benjamin Jaffe and Adam Moss. Services will be held on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur. We look forward to welcoming 5787 together.

Rabbi Joseph Shamash is a Persian cowboy, sofer (Hebrew scribe), filmmaker, and educator. Born in Dallas, Texas, to Iranian immigrants, he is devoted to helping people cultivate lives of healing, hope, and connection to the sacred.

After graduating from UCLA with a B.A. in Sociology, Joseph began his career in the entertainment industry, combining his passion for storytelling and sports as an editor for The Dan Patrick Show, Fox Sports, and even, TMZ. He is also an award-winning film maker and creator of the viral One Wish Project films.

A yearning for deep spiritual seeking led him to the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, where he fell in love with Jewish learning, meditation, and the ancient art of Hebrew calligraphy. That journey ultimately led him to become a rabbi, earning rabbinic ordination from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and a Master's degree in Education from American Jewish University.

Rabbi Joseph previously served as the Interim Community Rabbi at Beit T'Shuvah, a renowned Jewish residential recovery center, and now teaches Judaic Studies at Milken Community School.

Rabbi Joseph lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Allie, and their two wonderful children, Benjamin and Lucy.