The Open Temple

What The Open Temple does

The Open Temple is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Jewish spiritual community founded in 2010 and headquartered in Venice, California (EIN 46-1156168). It was created by four interfaith/blended/international families that approached Rabbi Lori Shapiro, then at USC Hillel, to design personalized Torah education and a contemporary Jewish community experience. The organization operates from Open Temple House at 1422 Electric Avenue and the adjacent Electric Lodge (Kelman Theater) at 1416 Electric Avenue, where it delivers Shabbat services, lifecycle events, and holiday programming to a primary community in Venice and greater Los Angeles. Its programmatic portfolio is built around 'radical ritual' and performance-art-infused Jewish practice, with signature offerings including Shabbat Take Me Higher (monthly immersive service), the Creative Torah Academy (a Hebrew school of the arts serving K-7th grade across Arts 36, Venice Yeshiva, and B Mitzvah tiers), the Soul Journey Introduction to Judaism course (delivered jointly with Academy for Jewish Religion/LA and accepted for conversion by the Sandra Caplan Beit Din), the High Holiday Ritual Lab, Passover Seder Quest, Portal grief circles, and Learner's Minyan Torah study.

The Open Temple's technology footprint is non-proprietary and consists of commodity SaaS — Salesforce for CRM, Monday.com for project management, Mailchimp for email, Luma/Eventbrite for ticketing, Zoom for virtual delivery (Soul Journey), Google Drive for archival, and an in-house aleph-bet online Hebrew learning platform. There is no disclosed proprietary technology stack, AI/ML capability, or application product. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer through in-person attendance at Venice venues, supplemented by a Zoom-delivered global course. Marketing relies on community word-of-mouth, organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo), email newsletters, and recurring earned media in Jewish and general outlets (Wall Street Journal, Jewish Journal, Haaretz, Times of Israel, Spectrum News).

Revenue is generated through a Co-Creator donation-based membership model ($1,800-$5,400 annually or $200-$400 monthly, with a $100/month humble tithe tier), tuition for educational programs ($1,800-$7,700 per student), ticketed event admissions ($10-$360), and general tax-deductible donations. Sliding-scale and financial assistance are offered across all programs. The organization is led by Founding Rabbi/Artistic Director Lori Shapiro with a 5-person core staff (Director of Operations, communications, rabbinical students, CTA coordinator, band musicians) and is governed by a Board of Directors; it has no parent company, no venture capital funding, and no disclosed subsidiaries.

Name

The Open Temple

Legal name

The Open Temple

Website

https://opentemple.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Open Temple is a Venice, California-based 501(c)(3) Jewish nonprofit founded in 2010 that delivers contemporary, performance-art-infused Shabbat services, Hebrew school (Creative Torah Academy), adult conversion education (Soul Journey), and lifecycle events to interfaith, blended, and Jewish-curious families in Los Angeles, funded primarily by Co-Creator donations, tuition, and event tickets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Jewish Religious Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Jewish spiritual community
• Hebrew school education
• Shabbat services
• Jewish lifecycle events
• Adult Jewish education

Headquarters

HQ city

Venice

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Co-Creator Donations / Membership: Annual and monthly suggested donations from Co-Creators (members) ranging from $1,800–$5,400/year for individuals/families, $200–$400/month, $100/month humble tithe, and $540/year for non-local members. These form the primary recurring revenue base, described as supporting the organization similar to public radio.
2. Educational Program Tuition: Revenue from Creative Torah Academy (Arts 36, Venice Yeshiva, B Mitzvah classes), Soul Journey adult education course, and Concierge B Mitzvah tutoring. Tuition ranges from $500 to $7,700 per student per year.
3. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual event admissions including Shabbat Take Me Higher, High Holiday services, Passover Seder Quest, and special happenings. Prices range from free (Co-Creators) to $180 per person for major holiday services, with all-access passes at $360.
4. General Donations: One-time donations from non-members via PayPal or check, positioned as supporting the organization like a local public radio station. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Open Temple is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit Jewish spiritual community center based in Venice, California. It delivers immersive Shabbat services (Shabbat Take Me Higher), a creative arts-based Hebrew school called Creative Torah Academy (Arts 36, Venice Yeshiva, B Mitzvah), a 20-week Intro to Judaism course (Soul Journey), High Holiday Ritual Lab programming, rabbinic lifecycle officiation, and grief support circles, all funded primarily through a Co-Creator donation-based membership model.

Product overview

Open Temple is a single unified spiritual community offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on 're-enchanting Judaism.' The core offerings include weekly Shabbat Take Me Higher immersive services, the Creative Torah Academy (a Hebrew school of the arts with three tiers: Arts 36, Venice Yeshiva, and B Mitzvah), the Soul Journey Introduction to Judaism course, and seasonal programming including the High Holiday Ritual Lab and Passover Seder Quest. Supplementary offerings include Portal grief circles, Learner's Minyan, Torah Study, and Co-Creator membership which provides access to rabbinic services and event benefits. The B Mitzvah program has both standard and Concierge variants for flexible scheduling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Creative Torah Academy (CTA): A creative Hebrew school of the arts for children in Kindergarten through 7th grade, integrating Torah, Jewish civilization, thought and traditions through art, music, movement, theater, nature and spirituality.
• Venice Yeshiva
• Arts 36
• B Mitzvah Program
• Soul Journey
• Shabbat Take Me Higher
• Portal: A Circle for Healing

Products and services

• Shabbat Take Me Higher Monthly immersive Shabbat service at the Electric Lodge theater combining radical ritual, performance art, live music by the Open Temple Band, and Torah study. Targeted at unaffiliated Jews, interfaith families, and spiritually curious individuals seeking a contemporary Jewish spiritual experience.
• Creative Torah Academy A creative-arts-based Hebrew school for children from kindergarten through 7th grade, integrating Torah, Jewish civilization, thought and traditions through art, music, movement, theater, nature, and spirituality. Tuition approximately $1,800 per student per year plus Co-Creator membership.
• Arts 36 Creative Torah Academy program for kindergarten through 4th grade, featuring Holiday/Shabbat Experiences, Arts Classroom Experiences, and Family/Home Experiences. Designed for families with young children.
• Venice Yeshiva Creative Torah Academy program for returning 5th graders and all 6th graders, focusing on Rabbinic Judaism, Midrash, Aggadah, Halacha through chevruta study partnerships.
• B Mitzvah Program Bar and bat mitzvah preparation program for 7th grade and up, including customizable ceremonies at locations of choice, small group Hebrew lessons, and access to the online aleph-bet learning platform. Tuition ranges from $6,500 to $7,700.
• Concierge B Mitzvah Personalized tutoring service for families with complicated schedules, providing flexible Hebrew and ceremony preparation at locations chosen by the family. Pricing determined after meeting with the rabbi.
• Soul Journey: An Introduction to Judaism 20-week trans-denominational Intro to Judaism course delivered via Zoom, co-hosted with Academy for Jewish Religion/LA and accepted for conversion by the Sandra Caplan Beit Din. Total tuition $500 with payment plans available; 50% discount for Co-Creators.
• High Holiday Ritual Lab Multi-day immersive High Holiday programming combining traditional liturgy with radical ritual reimagination, including Rosh Hashanah beach services, Yom Kippur experiences, Selichot schvitz, and Sukkot celebrations. All-Access Pass priced at $360.
• Portal: A Circle for Healing Monthly grief support circle for those who have lost loved ones, combining levayah (accompaniment) practice with community support. Offered in-person and on Zoom; donation-based.
• Learner's Minyan Monthly Shabbat morning Torah study and soul exploration gathering on the first Saturday of each month, designed for those learning to pray and participate in minyan.
• Torah Study Weekly Friday morning Torah study session at Open Temple House, led by Rabbi Lori and guest teachers, covering weekly parshiyot and Jewish texts. Free/donation-based.
• Life Cycle Events Rabbinic officiation services including weddings, funerals, baby namings, and conversions, available to Open Temple Co-Creators who have been part of the community for at least six months.
• Passover Seder Quest Annual immersive Passover experience featuring a pilgrimage through Venice with radical ritual, music, history, and a catered freedom meal, reimagining the traditional Seder format. Priced at $60 adults and $18 kids; free for Co-Creators.
• Co-Creator Membership Annual/monthly donation-based membership supporting Open Temple's operations, offering benefits including High Holiday passes, Shabbat passes, discounts on education, rabbinic services, and access to exclusive community events. Annual contributions range from $1,800 to $5,400; monthly from $200 to $400.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only trans-denominational Intro to Judaism class accepted for conversion by the Sandra Caplan Beit Din in Los Angeles
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Newground (Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Temple partners with Newground, a Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change, to co-host the 'Brave Togetherness: Jews & Muslims Shabbat and Iftar Dinner' — an interfaith radical togetherness program featuring structured facilitated conversation between Jewish and Muslim community members. Trained Newground facilitators lead dialogue sessions at Open Temple.
• SharsheretminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Temple partnered with Sharsheret, a Jewish non-profit supporting women and families facing breast and ovarian cancer, for a Rosh Hodesh (Divine Feminine) event. The event honored women's health and cycles at all stages of life, combining Open Temple's spiritual programming with Sharsheret's health advocacy.
• BlissIn OutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Temple co-hosted Beach Shabbat with BlissIn Out, a transformative wellness company combining yoga, mindful movement, dance, and original music. The event featured somatic movement experiences through the lens of Judaism at Venice Beach.
• Electric LodgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Temple's primary venue partner, Electric Lodge (1416 Electric Ave, Venice) houses the Kelman Theater where Shabbat Take Me Higher, Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur Family Service, and other major events are held. Open Temple House is located next door. The partnership with Electric Lodge is long-standing and central to Open Temple's programming. Open Temple also partners with Electric Lodge on the Daredevil Arts Festival.
• Academy for Jewish Religion/LA (AJR/LA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Temple collaborates with Academy for Jewish Religion/Los Angeles on Soul Journey: An Intro to Judaism — a 20-week, trans-denominational course accepted for conversion by the Sandra Caplan Beit Din. This is the only such course in Los Angeles with this designation. AJR/LA is also relocating to Loyola Marymount University campus with Open Temple mentioned in related plans.
• HypnOceanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndy Stein of HypnOcean co-presented 'The Chanukah Exhale' with Open Temple — a HypnoBreathwork and relaxation event combined with 3rd night of Chanukah candle lighting. Andy Stein merges environmentalism with mindfulness through breathwork, movement, poetry, and nature-inspired workshops.
• Rebecca Sharzer / The Wisdom of DanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Temple co-hosted 'The Wisdom of Dance: An Ecstatic Dance Havdalah' celebrating the release of Rebecca Sharzer's book. The event combined embodied dance, live DJ mixing by DJ Shoshi, and sound healing with Cristi Christensen, held at Electric Lodge.
• Sandra Caplan Beit DincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRabbi Lori Shapiro is a member of the Sandra Caplan Beit Din (rabbinic court), which accepts Open Temple's Soul Journey: Intro to Judaism course for conversion. Rabbi Lori can facilitate conversion conversations at no charge through this relationship.
• Rabbi Sid Schwarz / Clergy Leadership Incubator (CLI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRabbi Lori Shapiro was part of the inaugural CLI cohort led by Rabbi Sid Schwarz, a renowned Jewish leader and author. Rabbi Sid Schwarz continues as a special guest teacher at Open Temple, leading High Holiday programming including Hirhur T'shuvah Learner's Minyan. Rabbi Sid also directs the Kenissa: Communities of Meaning Network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Temple Beth Am (Los Angeles): Large Conservative synagogue serving LA's Jewish community with full programming across ages. A broader incumbent that competes for the same LA Jewish-family donor pool as Open Temple, though with a much more traditional orientation.
• Temple Israel of Hollywood: Historic Reform Hollywood temple with arts-and-culture programming tradition. Adjacent incumbent for creative, entertainment-industry-affiliated LA Jewish families who might otherwise join Open Temple.
• Sixth & I: DC-based hybrid historic synagogue and cultural venue offering Shabbat services, classes, and arts programming. Comparable in repurposing a non-traditional venue as a programming hub for under-40 Jewish seekers.

Direct peers

• Moishe House: Global nonprofit creating Jewish community for adults in their 20s and 30s through peer-led residencies. Targets the same 'unaffiliated young adults' demographic Open Temple's Co-Creators represent, with a community-building rather than building-anchored model.
• Lab/Shul: NYC experimental Jewish community run by Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, fusing art, music, and tradition. Highly comparable 're-enchanting Judaism' positioning and creative-ritual programming aimed at post-denominational seekers.
• Romemu: NYC Jewish Renewal community emphasizing spirituality, meditation, embodied practice, and inclusivity. Closest direct peer in mission and aesthetic — radical ritual, performance-arts-infused services, and reach for unaffiliated seekers.
• B'nai Jeshurun: Historic NYC congregation known for musical, arts-infused Shabbat services and progressive community programming. Comparable in blending musical performance, spirituality, and large-scale Shabbat/holiday experience.
• IKAR: LA-based Jewish community blending spiritual practice, social justice, and creativity for mostly under-40 families. Operates as a non-traditional synagogue alternative in LA, the same niche Open Temple serves, with overlapping programming (Shabbat, holidays, learning).

Emerging players

• OneTable: National nonprofit enabling young Jewish adults (21–39) to host Shabbat dinners. Partial overlap — both grow Jewish engagement among seekers, but OneTable focuses on peer-hosted dinners rather than a single congregation.
• The New Shul: Pioneering post-denominational Jewish congregation in LA founded in 2000. Closely aligned with Open Temple's creative, post-denominational ethos and similarly serves interfaith families in the LA creative class.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbZxTXOLt85pYwijDNNelrA/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/opentemplevenice
• Instagraminstagram.com/opentemple
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-open-temple

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 The Open Temple