 Temple Beth Israel 's services and religious functions were lay @-@ led for decades . Its first rabbi was Marcus Simmons . Originally from England , he was a graduate of University of London and Oxford University , and was ordained at the Hebrew Theological Seminary . He emigrated to the United States in 1957 , and joined Beth Israel in 1959 . The members were not , however , agreed that a full @-@ time rabbi was required , and in 1961 , he accepted a rabbinical position in Downey , California . 
 Temple Beth Israel <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>services and religious functions <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> lay @-@ led for decades . Its first rabbi was Marcus Simmons . Originally from England , he was a graduate of University of London and Oxford University , and was ordained at the Hebrew Theological Seminary . He emigrated to the United States in 1957 , and joined Beth Israel in 1959 . The members <a href='negative_concord' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>not</mark></a>, however , agreed that a full @-@ time rabbi was required , and in 1961 , he accepted a rabbinical position in Downey , California . 
Temple Beth Israel  services and religious functions was lay @-@ led fa decades . Its first rabbi was Marcus Simmons . Originally from England , he was a graduate of University of London and Oxford University , and was ordained at da Hebrew Theological Seminary . He emigrated to tdaUnited States in 1957 , and joined Beth Israel in 1959 . The members ain't , however , agreed that a full @-@ time rabbi was required , and in 1961 , he accepted a rabbinical position in Downey , California .