Edgar Fogel Magnin was rabbi and spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai B’rith/ Wilshire Boulevard Temple, and was considered “Rabbi to the Stars.” Born in San Francisco to relatives that founded the Magnin department store chain, Magnin was ordained in Judaism's Reform

Reform

Reform means to put or change into an improved form or condition; to amend or improve by change of color or removal of faults or abuses, beneficial change, more specifically, reversion to a pure original state, to repair, restore or to correct....

 movement by the Hebrew Union College

Hebrew Union College

The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...

 in 1914 and became rabbi of Congregation B’nai B’rith in Los Angeles

Los Ángeles

Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

 in 1915. After becoming senior rabbi of the oldest Jewish congregation in Los Angeles in 1919, Rabbi Magnin distinguished his 69-year tenure at Wilshire Boulevard Temple

Wilshire Boulevard Temple

Wilshire Boulevard Temple, founded in 1862 as Congregation B'nai B'rith, is the oldest Jewish congregation in Los Angeles, California. One of the country’s most respected Reform congregations, Wilshire Boulevard Temple's magnificent sanctuary, with its iconic dome and Warner Murals, is a City of...

 through close ties with the motion picture and television industry. Among the many life-cycle events he performed were the wedding of Norma Shearer

Norma Shearer

Edith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...

 and Irving Thalberg

Irving Thalberg

Irving Grant Thalberg was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. He was called "The Boy Wonder" for his youth and his extraordinary ability to select the right scripts, choose the right actors, gather the best production staff and make very profitable films.-Life and...

 and the funerals of numerous entertainment figures and movie moguls. Responsible for the construction and opening of the current, Gothic-style Wilshire Boulevard Temple with its Warner murals in 1929, 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

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....

, and served on more than 20 executive boards and advisory councils. He is interred at Home of Peace Cemetery

Home of Peace Cemetery

The Home of Peace Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery located at 4334 Whittier Boulevard west of Interstate 710 in East Los Angeles, California.The cemetery is located across from Calvary Catholic Cemetery and next to Beth Israel Cemetery and Mount Zion Cemetery .There are a number of famous rabbis...

 in East Los Angeles

East Los Angeles

East Los Angeles can refer to:* East Los Angeles, California * East Los Angeles...

, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

.