Closing Our Speakers Series with Rabbi David Ellenson, President of Hebrew Union College

by President Emily Jennewein

In the culmination of our 150th anniversary Speakers Series, Beth Israel warmly welcomed Dr. David Ellenson, President of Hebrew Union College, to Beth Israel on April 27.  Last time I had the pleasure of hearing Rabbi Ellenson speak was a moment I will personally treasure. It was just last May, when he blessed Rabbi/Cantor Arlene Bernstein as she was ordained a rabbi in Los Angeles.

In this year, when Beth Israel is scribing a new Torah, it is a great honor to mark our sesquicentennial anniversary, and conclude our Speakers Series, with a distinguished Torah scholar of our Movement, Rabbi Ellenson.

Beth Israel has hosted this series of seven compelling Speakers, each one a leader of our Reform Movement and of the Jewish intellectual world.  Throughout the Series we have looked back over the 150 years since our founding, and looked ahead to the bright future. Our speakers included  holocaust scholar Deborah Lipstadt, noted pulpit Rabbi David Wolpe, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, among other notables. Each has raised fundamental questions and issues that have enlightened, provoked and inspired us. I’m very proud that our Speakers Series has advanced Beth Israel’s historic mission as a convener of thought-leadership in San Diego.

We also are honoring Beth Israel’s commitment to adult and youth education.  The ALEINU leaders and educators who are joining our clergy in sitting on the bimah this evening include Susan Ulevitch is the chair of the evening, Jerry Sampson is the current chair of ALEINU, Audrey Levine is a member of our Youth Engagement Think Tank, which is re-envisioning the way families connect to educational programs. Ava Kurnow is our esteemed director of religious school education, Tammy Vener is our director of early childhood education and the national chair of  the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism. And Bonnie Graff is our program director, who dedicates herself to excellence in adult education.

A donation has been made to Beth Israel’s Bill & George Burnett Library Fund in appreciation of the award-winning work of the ALEINU committee and of our Youth Engagement Think Tank.  It will be an honor to add books in your names to our Sophie and Arthur Brody Library.  In addition, all of our teachers are being honored this year with a dedication and opportunity to scribe in our 150th anniversary Torah.

Also, I’d like to thank Mary Ann Scher, whose extraordinary leadership has brought to life our entire 150th anniversary year, creating opportunities for many congregants to re-bond with Beth Israel in meaningful ways.

Beth Israel’s Thank You to Our Most Generous Donors Featured Reform Movement Head, Rabbi Eric Yoffie

By Emily Jennewein, President

Bud and Esther Fischer hosted Beth Israel's Thank You Event

This year’s event to thank Beth Israel’s Century Club, Dor L’Dor members and major donors was especially significant because our keynote speaker was the head of the Reform Movement, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, who retires in June after 16 years at the helm of our Movement.

Beth Israel was extremely privileged to host Rabbi Yoffie at the spectacular home of Esther and Bud Fischer, high on the bluff, above the Pacific Ocean. Cindy and Lorne Polger chaired the reception.

Emily and Chris Jennewein with Rabbi Eric Yoffie

Rabbi Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, which represents 1.5 million Reform Jews in 900 synagogues across North America, said membership and participation in synagogues is fundamental to Judaism in America. He also thanked those in attendance for their steadfast support and involvement in the life of Beth Israel.


The reception was Beth Israel’s annual event to thank our Century Club members whose generosity makes it possible for Beth Israel to have open arms to all who want to be members, regardless of the ability to meet our dues. Beth Israel values inclusiveness and openness, and our Century Club members make it possible for us to live these values.



Rabbi Michael Berk with Cindy Polger, who chaired
the Thank You Event with her husband, Lorne.

We also honored the members of our Dor L'Dor Society, those who have left a legacy bequest to Beth Israel that will become part of our endowment. Those legacy gifts will forever benefit our synagogue and ensure the strength of the Reform Jewish community in San Diego.


And we thanked all our major donors to Beth Israel, including those who have made dedications as part of our 150th anniversary Torah Project. Our major donors’ generosity allows Beth Israel to assure the vitality of our synagogue this year and for the next 150 years.

Linda Goldberg and Bonnie Graff.

I’m proud to be able to report that every member of Beth Israel’s Board has made early, personal commitments to our fundraising initiatives. Our leadership takes very seriously the responsibility to strengthen our congregation, the historic center of Jewish life in San Diego. Our Board leaders continue the strong legacy established by a group of Jewish pioneers on the wild, remote coast of California, who created a community so successful that it has endured 150 years and seems still to get stronger.

Our visionary founders sought to establish Jewish connection then, and Beth Israel continues on that same quest now. Through the generosity of our members, we sustain a thriving, inclusive community where people find ways to connect to Judaism and to one another. The support of our donors ensures Beth Israel’s ability to do so effectively for generations to come. For that, I thank each of you who make Beth Israel a financial priority.

Sallye and Larry Krause with Jerry and Lee Levy.

George Scher with Jerry and Marge Katleman

Nadine Finkel and Gail Malkus.