Stephen Wise Temple

What Stephen Wise Temple does

Stephen Wise Temple is a private, non-profit Reform Jewish congregation founded in 1964 in the Bel Air area of Los Angeles, California. It serves the religious, educational, and communal needs of a multi-generational Jewish membership base through on-site worship services, lifecycle clergy support (brit milah, b'nai mitzvah, weddings, funerals, pastoral counseling), and an extensive suite of affiliated institutions including Wise School (K-6 Jewish day school and Early Childhood program), Camp Wise, the Aaron Milken Center, and the Center for Jewish Life.

The organization generates revenue through multiple recurring streams: on-site membership contributions (sliding-scale, 100% tax-deductible), Wise School tuition, Camp Wise fees, religious school and adult education programs (including the Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning), catering and venue services via Wise Events, Wise Years senior programming fees, memorial plaque sales, transportation services, and the tiered WorldWise Access remote membership ($180-$1,800/year) targeting Jewish individuals outside Southern California. Its go-to-market motion is community-led: prospective members are contacted personally by the Director of Membership and onboarded into affinity groups (Wise Women, Wise Guys, YAD, Wise Empty Nesters, Wise Years) and the Wise Hearts caring community.

Its technology layer is a multi-platform digital distribution stack — a member portal (Shulcloud), live and on-demand streaming via website, YouTube, Facebook, Roku, Fire TV, and smart TV apps, plus podcast distribution across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and TuneIn (most notably the Search for Meaning podcast hosted by Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback). The temple is led by Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, Senior Cantor Emma Lutz, and Executive Director Jodi Berman, with additional clergy, program directors, and ~251-500 staff supporting operations.

Name

Stephen Wise Temple

Legal name

Stephen Wise Temple

Website

https://wisela.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Stephen Wise Temple is a non-profit Reform Jewish congregation in Los Angeles, founded in 1964, serving a multi-generational membership through worship services, K-6 day school, summer camp, adult education, and lifecycle programming distributed on-site and via a multi-platform streaming and remote-membership program called WorldWise Access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services (Reform Jewish Synagogue)

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Religious Education, Kids & Family Faith Programming (MPABALAM), Religious Music & Worship Broadcasting (MPABALAN), Religious/Faith-Based Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAF)

Keywords

• Religious services
• Jewish education
• Community programming
• Lifecycle clergy support
• Reform synagogue

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Contributions: Members pay annual or periodic membership contributions to support the temple's programming, staff, and campus maintenance. The temple offers a sliding-scale contribution model, welcoming members who cannot contribute fully with reduced rates. Membership contributions are 100% tax deductible.
2. WorldWise Access Remote Membership: Tiered remote membership program for individuals and couples outside Southern California, with minimum contribution of $180/year and three tiers (Basic, Expanded, Deluxe) offering escalating access to online programming, virtual clergy sessions, and High Holy Day tickets.
3. Wise School Tuition: Wise School operates an Early Childhood program and K-6 school, generating revenue through tuition. Wise School admission is managed through a dedicated contact (Beth Behar, 310.889.2275).
4. Religious School and Education Programs: Revenue from religious school enrollment and adult education programs including the Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning.
5. Camp Wise Summer Camp: Summer camp program generating revenue through camper tuition and fees. Contact: [email protected].
6. Wise Events Catering: Catering services for temple events including the Blue and White Ball and other celebrations, managed through Wise Events department.
7. Wise Years Senior Program Fees: Seniors group (Wise Years) charges program fees: $36 full season / $8 single session for members; $72 / $16 for general community.
8. Memorial Plaque Sales: The temple sells slate and glass memorial plaques for placement in the Sanctuary, with options for purchase through the member portal.
9. Wise Temple Youth (Grades 4-12): Youth programming for grades 4-12 generates revenue through membership and activity fees.
10. Transportation Services: Transportation services are offered to members, generating revenue as a member service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Stephen Wise Temple is a Reform Jewish synagogue that provides weekly Shabbat and High Holy Day worship services, lifecycle clergy support (births, weddings, funerals, pastoral counseling), and year-round Jewish education through Wise School (Early Childhood and K-6), religious school, and adult learning via the Melton School. It complements worship and education with a community ecosystem of affinity groups for all life stages (Wise Women, Wise Guys, YAD, Wise Empty Nesters, Wise Years), youth engagement (CYE, Camp Wise), social action (Center for Tikkun Olam), caring community (Wise Hearts), and a tiered remote membership program (WorldWise Access) delivered via a multi-platform digital streaming infrastructure.

Product overview

Stephen Wise Temple is a Reform Jewish synagogue offering a comprehensive suite of religious, educational, and community programs. The organization provides traditional worship services (Shabbat, High Holy Days, holidays) with live and on-demand online streaming through Wise Online. Educational offerings include Wise School (K-6 and Early Childhood), Religious School, and the Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning through the Center for Jewish Life. Community programming spans all life stages: Wise Women, Wise Guys, Young Adult Division (YAD), Wise Empty Nesters, and Wise Years (seniors). Youth engagement is handled through the Center for Youth Engagement and Camp Wise. The organization also operates the Center for Tikkun Olam for social action, the Aaron Milken Center for community programming, and Wise Hearts for caring community support. Remote engagement is available through WorldWise Access membership tiers and the Search for Meaning podcast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wise School: Jewish day school serving students from early childhood through grade 6
• Wise Women
• Wise Guys
• Wise Years
• Young Adult Division (YAD)
• Wise Empty Nesters
• Center for Jewish Life (CJL)
• Center for Youth Engagement (CYE)
• Center for Tikkun Olam
• Camp Wise
• Aaron Milken Center
• WorldWise Access
• Search for Meaning

Products and services

• Wise Online (Shabbat and High Holy Day Worship Services) Weekly Shabbat and High Holy Day worship services offered in-person and streamed live and on-demand through the temple's Wise Online digital platform. Available to members and the broader community for spiritual engagement, lifecycle observance, and Jewish holiday worship.
• Wise School (Early Childhood and K-6 Jewish Day School) Jewish day school offering Early Childhood (up to age 5) and K-6 education programs, integrating academic curriculum with Jewish learning. Enrollment managed through the school admission office.
• Camp Wise Summer Camp Summer camp program for children and families, offering Jewish overnight and day camp experiences coordinated with the temple's youth programming.
• WorldWise Access Remote Membership Virtual membership program for Jewish individuals and couples residing outside Southern California. Three tiers (Basic at $180/year, Expanded at $360/year, Deluxe at $1,000/year) offer escalating access to online learning, virtual clergy sessions, High Holy Day tickets, and archived content.
• Search for Meaning Podcast Video podcast hosted by Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback featuring conversations with thinkers, artists, and change-makers about meaning and purpose. Distributed across major podcast platforms for broad public access.
• Annual Temple Membership Annual membership contributions on a sliding-scale basis granting members access to worship services, lifecycle clergy support, programming, affinity groups, and community events. 100% tax deductible.
• Lifecycle Clergy Support Clergy-led services for lifecycle events including births, baby namings, Brit Milah, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, weddings, funerals, and pastoral counseling. Available to members and the broader Jewish community.
• Adult Jewish Learning (Center for Jewish Life and Melton School) Adult Jewish education through the Center for Jewish Life, offering lifelong learning, Torah study, and the Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning curriculum. Open to both members and the broader community.
• Wise Events Catering Catering services for temple events including the Blue and White Ball, lifecycle celebrations, and other community gatherings, managed through the Wise Events department.
• Wise Years Senior Program Senior community program for adults 60 and better featuring monthly speakers, lunch, films, and games on the second Tuesday of each month. Available to members ($36 full season / $8 single session) and general community ($72 full season / $16 single session).

Quantifiable outcome

• The Search for Meaning podcast features episodes with notable guests including Lisa Edelstein, Steven J. Ross, Ambassador Gary Grappo, Ralph Shayne, and Amanda Berman.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ezra Network of Jewish Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStephen Wise Temple is a partner congregation with the Ezra Network of Jewish Family Services, supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. A dedicated social worker is assigned to the temple to provide essential support including financial assistance, government program eligibility, one-on-one sessions with social workers, legal and job counselors, referrals, and workshop information.
• Jewish Federation of Greater Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe temple is supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, which funds the Ezra Network social worker assigned to Wise and supports various community programs. The Federation also coordinates Israel emergency solidarity campaigns in which Wise participates.
• Jewish Federations of North America – Operation Swords of Iron CampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStephen Wise Temple participates in and promotes the Jewish Federations of North America's 'Operation Swords of Iron' campaign, supporting victims of terror, rebuilding infrastructure, and addressing trauma from Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
• United Hatzalah of Israel (Hatzalah Emergency Campaign)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe temple promotes United Hatzalah of Israel's emergency campaign to equip 1,000 additional volunteers with protective gear, oxygen tanks, defibrillators, trauma bandages, and tourniquets. The campaign goal is $20 million.
• Magen David Adom IsraelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStephen Wise Temple promotes Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency medical services organization, to its members as a trusted partner for donations supporting front-line emergency medical response capabilities.
• IsraAIDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe temple promotes IsraAID's emergency response in Israel, which provides psychosocial support, urgent aid, and recovery assistance to vulnerable communities and evacuees following the October 7, 2023 attack.
• Israeli Wounded Veterans (Beit Halochem)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStephen Wise Temple promotes Israeli Wounded Veterans, which supports disabled Israeli veterans and terror victims through rehabilitation centers in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, and Beer Sheva, serving over 51,000 individuals.
• HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) – Israel Emergency ResponseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe temple supports HIAS's emergency response in Israel, addressing access to food, household supplies, cash assistance, housing support, psychosocial support, and community-building programs for Israelis and asylum seekers.
• Kavod (Israel Emergency Relief)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKavod is a tzedakah collective that pools resources from individual donors to have a greater impact in relief efforts. Stephen Wise Temple promotes Kavod's Israel Emergency Relief fund to its members.
• Association for Spiritual Care in Israel (ASCI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStephen Wise Temple promotes ASCI, which ensures professional spiritual care for Israelis in crisis. Apart from one part-time administrator, all work is executed by volunteer members.
• Jewish Federation – Solidarity Campaign (Israel Crisis)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jewish Federation of Los Angeles created an emergency Israel fund to direct contributions where needed most. Stephen Wise Temple promotes this campaign to its community following the October 7, 2023 attack.
• Wise SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWise School is an affiliated Jewish day school (K-6) and Early Childhood program operated in partnership with Stephen Wise Temple. It shares the campus and is co-branded, with the Head of School reporting within the temple's organizational structure. The school participates in campus events including Mountaintop Shabbat and holiday celebrations.
• Camp WisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Wise is the affiliated summer camp program of Stephen Wise Temple, offering Jewish overnight and day camp experiences for children. It is co-branded and operated in coordination with the temple's youth programming.
• Aaron Milken CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Aaron Milken Center is a major affiliated program housed on the Stephen Wise Temple campus, home to the Parenting Center and the Beit Midrash where Spirit of Shabbat and other educational programs are held. Named after philanthropist Aaron Milken, it is integral to the temple's educational ecosystem.
• UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStephen Wise Temple partners with the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies for educational events and lectures, including a 2024 lecture by Fania Oz-Salzberger on October 6, 2024.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wilshire Boulevard Temple: The other flagship large Reform Jewish congregation in Los Angeles, with a comparable multi-generational membership model, K-6 day school (Wilshire Boulevard Temple School), and active streaming/digital programming. Most direct comparability in city, denomination, and scale.
• Temple Israel of Hollywood: Large Reform synagogue in the Los Angeles area serving a similar Jewish family demographic with worship, education, and lifecycle services; offers a comparable blend of community programming and digital reach.
• Sinai Temple: One of the largest Conservative Jewish congregations in Los Angeles with its own day school (Sinai Akiba Academy), comparable family/lifecycle services, and a similarly large campus footprint. Strong overlap in audience and programming despite denomination difference.
• Valley Beth Shalom: Large Conservative synagogue in Encino serving a similar affluent Los Angeles Jewish family demographic with day school (Valley Beth Shalom Day School), camp programming, and lifecycle services. Comparable scale and programming mix.
• Congregation Beth Am: Large Conservative congregation in Los Angeles with day school (Beth Am Day School), youth programming, and lifecycle services targeting a comparable family demographic in the LA area.
• Temple Emanu-El (NYC): One of the largest Reform Jewish congregations in the United States, located on the Upper East Side. Operates a comparable multi-generational membership model, significant day school presence, and national thought-leadership footprint.
• Central Synagogue: Large Manhattan Reform synagogue with extensive programming across worship, education, family engagement, and digital media (notable podcast/streaming presence). Strong functional comparability in scale and programming breadth.
• Congregation B'nai Jeshurun (NYC): Large NYC synagogue known for music-driven worship and progressive engagement with younger families. Comparable scale and a benchmark for streaming/sermon-content production that influences other large congregations including Stephen Wise Temple.

Emerging players

• IKAR: LA-based Jewish community that has built a reputation for innovative, post-denominational worship and engagement; comparable in targeting younger Jewish adults and digital-first programming, though smaller and newer than Stephen Wise Temple.

Regional players

• Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco): Historic Reform synagogue in San Francisco with comparable scale, lifecycle programming, and Reform Jewish identity. Useful West Coast comparable outside of LA, though not in direct competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/WiseTempleLA
• Facebookfacebook.com/WiseLA
• Instagraminstagram.com/stephenwisetemple
• Xx.com/wisela

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stephen Wise Temple