Wilshire Boulevard Temple


The construction of this Byzantine-revival behemoth was overseen by Edgar Magnin, dubbed 'Rabbi of the Stars' due to his numerous Hollywood pals. Movie theaters inspired the synagogue's design, while the impressive murals, depicting 3000 years of Jewish history, were commissioned by Hollywood Warner Brothers moguls. Guided tours of the building are available by emailing or calling in advance.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Chapman Plaza

0.45 MILES

It might look like an extravagant Spanish baroque villa, but this complex began life as one of the first drive-in markets in the western US. Opened in…

2. Bullocks Wilshire

0.95 MILES

Clad in terracotta tiles and adorned with copper decorative motifs, this 1929 art-deco diva was the country’s first department store designed for shoppers…

3. MacArthur Park

1.65 MILES

The centerpiece of MacArthur Park is its 14ft-deep lake. Originally a swamp, the lake reached 6th St before the extension of Wilshire Blvd sliced right…

4. Hancock Park & Larchmont Village

1.66 MILES

LA has gorgeous homes galore, but there’s nothing quite like the old-money mansions flanking the tree-lined streets of Hancock Park, a genteel…

5. Hollywood Forever Cemetery

1.99 MILES

Paradisiacal landscaping, vainglorious tombstones and epic mausoleums set an appropriate resting place for some of Hollywood's most iconic dearly departed…

6. Ace Gallery

2.52 MILES

This amazing gallery sprawls an entire floor of the Desmond Building (c 1927). The art is all modern-edged, including minimalist canvases, strobing video…

7. One Archives

2.53 MILES

One Archives houses the world's largest LGBT library. Its roots are in One, the first homophile magazine published in the US (1953–67), and the 30,000…

8. IAm8Bit

2.53 MILES

When production company IAm8Bit isn't producing crazy, creative launches and events, it's curating equally out-of-the-box, multimedia exhibits. Past shows…