SPIRITUAL QUEST LED RABBI TO JUDAISM.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

ENCINO - By his own admission, Rabbi John Borak has traveled a twisted road to the bimah at Temple Ner Maarav in Encino.

From asking his parents as a child, ``Why am I the only one in the family going to church?'' to ``What is Judaism?'' as an adult, the former air traffic controller and owner of a public relations firm has been asking spiritual questions his whole life.

``I was pretty much raised without religion. After I asked my parents why I had to go to church, I didn't. For my first 30 years I was very anti-religious,'' Borak said. ``I thought religion was bunk. I was able to sustain that argument because it is easy to look on the dark side of any religion.''

His spiritual journey took him from fundamentalist Christianity in his youth to attending Roman Catholic Masses with a host family in Mexico when he was 15 years old.

As an adult, Borak heard a call into Dennis Prager's ``Religion on the Line'' program. The caller asked questions that struck a chord with Borak: ``I think I am already a good person so why should I be religious? Why should I be spiritual?''

``Prager said because religion is to spirituality as language is to thinking. It's a way to express what goes on in our soul,'' Borak said. ``This was a very intriguing statement to me. So at the age of 31 or 32 I started investigating religions.''

Studying Buddhism and American Indian spirituality among other traditions, Borak eventually converted to the Roman Catholic faith. He became frustrated, however, that the only advice to his questions and doubts as a Christian was to pray harder for faith to come to him.

``There is a basic difference between Christianity and Judaism. Christianity is based on faith and belief that Jesus is the Christ,'' Borak said. ``But if you never accept this, the door is closed to you.''

``Judaism is exactly the opposite. God calls us first to do things, to make the world a better place. Faith comes later.''

Jewish friends encouraged him to learn more and he enrolled in the Introduction to Judaism class at the University of Judaism in Bel-Air.

``The more I learned, the more beautiful I thought Judaism was,'' Borak said. ``I did convert and I felt, like other converts have, that in my soul I've always been Jewish.''

His decision to become a rabbi, even though his public relations firm was successful, was due to ``not feeling great about myself'' in promoting some of his clients.

Borak was chosen as the spiritual leader at the more than 50-year-old Conservative temple in July 2002. Not being a Jew by birth was not an issue with the congregation, said Uri Grinblat, the ritual vice president.

``I felt he was born a Jew. From the first day, I felt he not only could be my rabbi but he could be my friend,'' said Grinblat, a native of Israel and a longtime temple member. ``He is very open-minded. I found that fascinating.''

The close-knit congregation at Ner Maarav - Hebrew for ``Candle of the West,'' said Grinblat - has high hopes that Borak's knowledge of Judaism and his relaxed style will attract new families as temple members.

``When you've talked with him, you see that he is sensible, calm and gives very good advice,'' said Ian Smith, temple president and almost 20-year member. ``He has the energy to try new things and experiment with the temple's services and programs. I've learned a lot from the rabbi. I'd like to see the temple grow with him.''

Shabbat services are held at 8 p.m. every Friday except the 7 p.m. family service held on the first Friday of the month at Temple Ner Maarav, 17730 Magnolia Blvd., Encino. Open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 10, Aug. 24 and Sept. 14. Call [phone].

Holly Andres, [phone]

holly.andres(at)dailynews.com

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John Borak is rabbi at Temple Ner Maarav in Encino.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer