Congregation Shir Chadash is a fully egalitarian, open and affirming congregation dedicated to serving the worship needs of all segments of our area’s Jewish community. People connect with God and Judaism in different ways, and our aim is to provide a welcoming home for all of them.

Congregation Shir Chadash is also proud to be a Jewish voice in the broader community. For example, Rabbi Laibson and president Linda Waltzman are both part of the Board of Governors of the Greater Long Beach West Orange County Jewish Federation, and Rabbi Laibson is a past-president of the South Coast Interfaith Council.

Rabbi Howard Laibson was ordained by Hebrew Union College in 1981. He has worked with congregations for nearly thirty years. He holds Masters Degrees in Education/Counseling and Hebrew Literature. Rabbi Laibson has served on national commissions related to Jewish Education and Interreligious Affairs. He especially enjoys teaching, singing and song leading, and story telling. He is married to Ellen Goldsmith, and they have two daughters.

Rabbi Howard O. Laibson
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Cantor Emeritus Yehuda Keller has served our congregation for 34 years. He received his Cantorial Commission from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1978. He is a past president of the Cantor's Assembly Western Region. He and his wife Rita have been married for 32 years. They have four children and four grandchildren.

Cantor Emeritus
Yehuda Keller