Edgar Magnin

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Edgar F. Magnin (1890-1984) was Rabbi and Spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai B’rith/ Wilshire Boulevard Temple, and was considered “Rabbi to the Stars.”^[who?] Born in San Francisco to relatives that founded the Magnin department store chain, Magnin was ordained by the Hebrew Union College in 1914 and became rabbi of the Congregation B’nai B’rith in Los Angeles in 1915. After assuming the leadership of the oldest Jewish congregation in Los Angeles in 1919, Rabbi Magnin distinguished his 69-year tenure at Wilshire Boulevard Temple by becoming closely tied with the motion picture and television industry. Among the many life-cycle events he performed were the wedding of Norma Shearer and Irving Thalberg and the funerals for entertainment stars, and movie moguls. Responsible for the construction of the magnificent Wilshire Boulevard Temple and the Warner murals, now a national historic monument, Rabbi Magnin was active in Los Angeles civic affairs, and in interfaith dialogue. He participated in the inaugural ceremonies of Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Ronald Reagan, and served on more than 20 executive boards and advisory councils.