Chabad of Culver City serves the community with Jewish Values

Even as a child, Rabbi Levi Begun's path and purpose were clear to him.

Begun knew he wanted to serve the community — particularly the Jewish Community — long before he established Chabad of Culver City. He drew inspiration from his father's outreach efforts, and his grandfather is the Head Rabbi of Chabad West Coast, part of one of the largest religious organization networks in the world.

Chabad is a network of Hasidic Jewish organizations founded in 1775. Unlike most Orthodox Jewish organizations, it is not self-segregating and focuses on outreach to Jewish and non-Jewish communities.

Begun's path to establishing this vision in Culver City has been one of perseverance, built on the foundation of service his parents and grandparents set for him.

Finding Roots

Finding this early calling is almost necessary for a Rabbi, as Begun's training started very early. When he was just 15, he moved to France to participate in a rigorous study to become a rabbi known as a yeshiva, replacing high school for those seeking to pursue the title.

Having lived his childhood in Los Angeles, the move was a stark change both geographically and culturally. His parents are the directors of the Chabad Jewish Community Center in Cheviot Hills, but Begun said his community as a whole was very non-religious.

It was Begun's mother and father who ensured those who practiced Jewish traditions throughout the year could properly celebrate them.

"Whether it was Chanukah or Passover, they were always making sure everyone had what they needed and were provided for," Begun told Culver Crescent.

It took five years for the younger Begun to complete his yeshiva in France, and he was in the country during the Charlie Hebdo and Hypercacher kosher market attacks in 2015.

"Some of them were a bit close to home for me," Begun said, "and that was a very important part of my life."

Immediately after his yeshiva, Begun spent some time in Brooklyn, New York, where he was tested to be ordained as a rabbi in 2016 at just 22 years old. But he left New York after finding something even more precious than official recognition as a rabbi.

Begun met his now-wife Rochy in 2016, and the two were married in September of that year. But Begun, who grew up in Los Angeles, decided that he wanted to start his newfound family where he grew up.

So after about a year together, the Beguns packed up a moving truck in September 2017 to move down, with their first daughter Chana having been born just two weeks before. The couple eventually decided to settle in Culver City, where they found a need for Jewish services.

"My father brought it up to me," Begun said, "because there was definitely a need for a Jewish Community Center and the outreach and programs and community events that come with it."

He founded Chabad of Culver City in 2017 as its Rabbi, answering his calling to lead a Chabad just as his Maternal Grandfather did for the Chabad West Coast and his Paternal Grandfather did as the first Chabad Rabbi of Brazil.

There are many important figures in the history of Chabad, but Begun noted Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson as a source of inspiration for what he wanted his branch's values to be.

Schneerson's vision was much more open than traditional Orthodox Jewish organizations, which are much more isolationist than what Begun hoped to bring to Culver City.

"The Rabbi's vision was taking the risk of sending his own people out to communities where it may not be easy to find Jewish education," Begun said.

"A Personal Touch"

While Begun worked within the Chabad's extensive network, he still had to start the organization from the ground up, as any other entrepreneur might.

This means finding the resources — namely money — required to provide the kinds of services that Begun was looking to bring to Culver City. Today, the Chabad of Culver City holds a once-a-year fundraiser that raised around $230,000 in 2024, but that support is built on the back of its rabbis' efforts.

Membership is not required to participate in Chabad's services, so it relies exclusively on fundraising and donations from community members to function. Even before moving to Culver City, Begun recalls waking up in the early morning hours to meet with people who supported his ideas for the Chabad of Culver City.

"I worked day in and day out to come up with the basic funds so I could get started with building a community here," Begun said.

Being genuine and personal is crucial to Begun's approach both in fundraising and providing services. He ensures that people who give to the Chabad know precisely what their money is going towards, a gesture that has proven to be appreciated.

"A very big supporter of ours told us recently that we're the only organization that reports back and tells me the impact they have," Begun recalled. "That's what I feel is an essential part of the process."

Begun doesn't have complete control over where that money goes. Instead, he defers to a financial management specialist with experience working with rabbis and non-profits like Chabad to determine the allocation of Chabad's available funds. Begun receives a small compensation, but not enough to support himself, his wife, and their five kids.

"It's a very modest amount," Begun said. "I don't want to take much because I am responsible for Chabad."

To earn the extra income needed to survive in Southern California, his wife works as a full-time third-grade teacher. She also has a business selling homemade babka and challah: Babka Paradise.

While wives are not traditionally ordained as rabbis in the Chabad system, Begun emphasized the importance that his grandmothers, mother, and wife Rochy have in maintaining the health and community of any Chabad.

"A rabbi gets ordained and does much of the teaching," Begun said, "but when it comes to keeping the community together, the wife is just as involved."

For Begun, the money raised for Chabad is not for him but for serving the community he calls home.

A Mission of Service

Through his fundraising efforts and the support of a community that believes in what he and Chabad stand for, Chabad Culver City quickly grew into the organization Begun had envisioned.

This growth was illustrated best through Chabad's biggest event of the year: the Chanukah Menorah lighting. Begun's family finished settling down in Culver City around December 2017, and they were able to hold a Menorah Lighting — Chabad of Culver City's first official event — at City Hall with a few people they had met in the city.

The following year, several hundred people attended Chabad of Culver City's second menorah lighting, and it has since grown into multiple menorah lightings held at different locations during the eight-day Chanukah holiday. The Chabad also has its own nine-foot tall Menorah to use for these ceremonies.

With the first day of Chanukah falling on Christmas this year, Chabad of Culver City held its first menorah lighting on the second day of Chanukah at Culver Steps. The event featured live music, food, a magic show, and remarks from key figures like CCPD Captain Andrew Bellante and CCUSD Board President Triston Ezidore.

"The Culver City Police Department extends heartfelt gratitude to the Culver City Chabad for our ongoing partnership and your unwavering support," a post on the event from the CCPD official Instagram page reads.

This year's four Grand Menorah Lightings had a different theme, ranging from Klezmer music — traditional Ashkenazi Jewish music — to a Chocolate Gelt Drop held by the Culver City Fire Department alongside the menorah lighting. Several Chanukah events aside from the Grand Menorah Lightings were held, including a Shabbat Community Dinner on December 27.

In addition to hosting events like the Menorah Lighting to celebrate the many Jewish holidays throughout the year, Chabad hosts weekly Torah classes and Shabbat services, along with other smaller events like Challah bakes and Tefillin wrapping.

Chabad of Culver City also holds more traditional secular events like singles nights, painting events, and baking sessions for more traditional foods like cookies.

Among the most profound of Chabad of Culver City's events was hosting a pair of Holocaust survivors who came to speak to people in the city—Morris Price in 2019 and Joseph Alexander last February. Attendees were so moved by the latter that Begun also brought Alexander to Culver City High School to speak to around 500 students.

"Some of them lined up just to touch his hand and say thank you," Begun said of the students.

While Chabad is centered around Jewish living and principles, one of its important characteristics is its engagement with non-Jewish people. Celebrating Jewish heritage is an essential part of Chabad's identity, but Begun's purpose first and foremost is to bring joy and connection to people's lives through Chabad of Culver City outreach and services.

"Our doors are open all the time if people need anything," Begun said. "Whether it's a warm meal or a hug, we have always been leaving our doors open and ensuring everyone feels welcome."