SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – Congregation Beth Israel, Southern California’s oldest Jewish congregation, will celebrate its 150th anniversary year by creating a new Torah scroll, hosting seven of America’s most prominent Jewish scholars in a public speaker series, and sponsoring an elegant dinner and special performance by legendary entertainer Mandy Patinkin.
Beth Israel’s roots date to 1861 when San Diego was a frontier settlement. A small group of Jewish pioneers led by merchant Marcus Schiller formed Adath Yeshurun, or the Assembly of Israel, which was later incorporated as Congregation Beth Israel.
The anniversary year, which begins in September, is filled with celebratory events, most notably:
• A congregational board meeting on Sept. 15 in the original synagogue building, erected in 1889 and now a historic landmark in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.
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• An official opening celebration for the congregation and community on Sept. 18 introducing Torah scribe Julie Seltzer and featuring a concert of Jewish-themed music by celebrated Jewish singer and songwriter Craig Taubman.
• An official opening celebration for the congregation and community on Sept. 18 introducing Torah scribe Julie Seltzer and featuring a concert of Jewish-themed music by celebrated Jewish singer and songwriter Craig Taubman.
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• A monthly speaker series, open to the public, beginning Nov. 11. Speakers include Holocaust scholar Deborah Lipstadt, influential Conservative Rabbi David Wolpe, Middle East expert Kenneth Stein, Union of Reform Judaism President Eric Yoffie, URJ Religious Action Center Director David Saperstein, former URJ Senior Vice President Leonard Thal, and Hebrew Union College President David Ellenson.
• A monthly speaker series, open to the public, beginning Nov. 11. Speakers include Holocaust scholar Deborah Lipstadt, influential Conservative Rabbi David Wolpe, Middle East expert Kenneth Stein, Union of Reform Judaism President Eric Yoffie, URJ Religious Action Center Director David Saperstein, former URJ Senior Vice President Leonard Thal, and Hebrew Union College President David Ellenson.
• Creation of a new Torah scroll by Soferet (female Torah scribe) Julie Seltzer, only the second woman in the world to write an entire Torah by herself. She will spend a year creating a new scroll, writing with a feather quill on parchment.
• A closing celebration on May 19 featuring film, television and theater legend Mandy Patinkin.
“Our congregation’s 150th anniversary is truly a momentous occasion,” said Senior Rabbi Michael Berk. “Those pioneers in 1861 set the stage for a thriving Jewish community in San Diego. They could not have imagined how many lives their efforts would eventually touch.”
Congregation Beth Israel is now composed of 1,200 member households living throughout San Diego County. It maintains an active affiliation with the Union for Reform Judaism, the national Reform movement.
The congregation’s award-winning modern campus in the La Jolla section of San Diego is the third building it has occupied over its 150- years. Most anniversary events will take place there, but services and tours are planned for the two earlier sanctuaries, one of which is still in use as a synagogue and the other of which is open to the public for gatherings including weddings.
The anniversary celebration will also the launch an endowment campaign designed to secure the congregation’s financial security over the next century.
“Beth Israel’s 150th anniversary presents a unique opportunity to stand on the shoulders of giants – those who had the courage to found and build our synagogue in 1861,” said Emily Jennewein, the congregation’s president. “It is our responsibility to continue their sacred work by securing the financial future of our synagogue for generations to come.”
A team of volunteers from the congregation have been working to plan public and congregational events ranging from the opening and closing celebrations and the speaker series to the Torah project and special events around the Jewish holidays.
“Our year-long commemoration will include unforgettable celebrations, prominent speakers, fascinating programs and memorable events for all ages,” said 150th Anniversary Chair Mary Ann Scher. “Our schools, youth groups, and programming department area all planning 150th themed events and activities to engage every member in our celebration.”
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Preceding provided by Congregation Beth Israel