OFFEL IS TEMPLE'S INTERIM RABBI ONLY CHANGE IS PRAYER SHE WROTE ABOUT PEACE.

Byline: HOLLY J. ANDRES Staff Writer

WOODLAND HILLS -- Smooth sailing is what Rabbi Jan Offel is offering to the Reform congregation at Temple Kol Tikvah as she takes the helm for one year as interim rabbi.

Following in the wake of Rabbi Steven Jacobs, who retired in June after 22 years, is a transitional challenge but one that Offel and the congregation are undertaking with a positive attitude.

``We had such a long and bonding time with Rabbi Jacobs. For many of us, he's the only guy we've known,'' said Herman Fischer, a longtime member and volunteer at Temple Kol Tikvah.

``People thought, `Oh, my God, we have to meet a new person.' We're treading a difficult line from where we have come from. But it's been interesting. It has kind of surprised me.

``The main thing for us is to be positive. She's really done a great job being friendly and reaching out to everyone.''

Offel's friendliness is one of her strengths, said Fischer, along with her scholarly acumen that shows itself in her Shabbat sermons.

``She has an interesting way of getting the Torah portion of the week to relate to events of the past week,'' Fischer said. ``She doesn't have an overbearing style. I think she has found her own way and it seems to be working.''

Offel grew up in the Bay Area and attended a Reform congregation. But it wasn't until she neared her 30th birthday, when she became an adult bat mitzvah, that Offel immersed herself in that region's Jewish community.

Offel, who graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a degree in communications, had a successful career as a marketing and promotions director when, at age 35, she decided to attend rabbinical school. She was ordained nine years ago.

``I wanted to be involved with people in a more meaningful way,'' Offel said. ``I had been involved in chaplaincy work and the Jewish healing movement. I worked with Kaiser Hospice in the Valley region for four years. I really see healing on a broader scale and what is nice for me now is to be able to work with families for the entire life cycle.''

Offel wasn't a total unknown to the Temple Kol Tikvah congregation. For the past three summers, she was a substitute rabbi when Jacobs was on vacation.

And she worked as interim associate rabbi at Temple Aliyah, a Conservative temple in Woodland Hills, from last September to June.

Jacobs has high praise for his successor.

``The unique strength is what she brings from the business world, but she's got a well-rounded experience,'' he said. ``She's bringing Kol Tikvah years of experience in the community.''

Offel isn't making waves of changes in Temple Kol Tikvah's Friday night Shabbat services, although a prayer that she wrote on the subject of peace is now read during the service.

``We live in a time when people are `on' 24/7, with e-mail and cell phones. Going to Shabbat services is a focused time to take themselves out of daily life and focus on being in community,'' Offel said. ``It's also a way to focus on what it means to be a human being.''

Whether she is answering questions from the congregation about why bad things happen, teaching the importance of observing Shabbat or breaking the traditional viewpoint that a rabbi has to be a man, Offel is impressing her congregation.

``Her sermons are easy to grasp. There's always something to take home and think about,'' said temple President Sandy Calin. ``Rabbi Jan is low-key and a very calming presence.''

< The first day of Elul, a monthlong period of self-reflection before Rosh Hashanah-Jewish New Year, begins at sundown Friday. Shabbat service led by Rabbi Jan Offel and Cantor Caren Glasser, 7 p.m. Friday, Temple Kol Tikvah, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. Call [phone].

holly.andres(at)dailynews.com

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Rabbi Jan Offel reflects on being the interim rabbi after the June retirement of Rabbi Steven Jacobs at Temple Kol Tikvah.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer