became the spiritual leader of Temple Beth El and Center in San Pedro in July 2005, after having served four years as the Associate Rabbi of Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, California. He was ordained in 2001 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, and studied in Jerusalem and Los Angeles as well. Rabbi Briskin earned a B.A. with Distinction in Political Science and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991. He served for three years as the administrator of the Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel Foundation in Cambridge, MA and completed rabbinic internships at congregations in Long Island, NY, Fountain Valley, CA, and Juneau, AK and at the USC Hillel Foundation as well.

Rabbi Briskin is a strong advocate for social justice. He is also devoted to working with families with young children, with young adults, and with teens. Most important to him as a rabbi is his commitment to reach out to all members of Temple Beth El and helping to sustain the congregation's warm and welcoming environment. He looks forward to the opportunity to spend quality time with our members throughout the year in formal and informal settings.

In his spare time, which, with two young boys is limited, Rabbi Briskin cycles, collects wine and roots for the 2007 ALCS Boston Red Sox. Most important to him personally is the quality time he spends with his wife, Karen, who is a teacher at the Rancho Vista Elementary School in RPV, and their children, Ezra and Avi. The Briskins live in San Pedro.