Congratulations to Beth Israel Leadership Institute Graduates!

Mitch Siegler, VP, Strategy

by Mitch Siegler, VP Strategy

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I'd like to recognize you and congratulate you on this milestone. Thank you to Rabbi Berk for leading the class and providing valuable information and education on Reform Judaism and our Temple. Thanks, too, to Cindy Polger, who has spearheaded this Leadership program that has enabled us to cultivate outstanding leadership at the Temple. 

On behalf of the Board, I would like to convey the Temple’s appreciation to each of you for giving your precious time to participate in this class. It’s an important part of the CBI community and it has produced excellent results for CBI. Nearly every graduate over the last three years has taken on a key role with a committee or become a member of the Board.

I am a graduate of the Leadership program and I think it’s one of the most important things we do at Beth Israel. In the past several years, I have joined the Board, become an officer, become involved with two committees and co-chaired CBI’s long-term strategic planning program.

In 1861, a handful of local Jews, convened in one member’s living room. Much like this group, that original group was a diverse group of people. They understood that San Diego was growing, the Jewish community would thrive and the synagogue was the center for Jewish life. Their dream grew from Beth Israel’s original temple, now a part of Heritage Park San Diego, to become the synagogue at 3rd and Laurel, and ultimately to become this fabulous campus in La Jolla, with 1,200 families as members.

Today, we are here to celebrate your accomplishments in the leadership class. You’re the keepers of the flame for the original founders of CBI of 150 years ago.

As most of you already know, leadership program is a first step for involvement in CBI. Many of you are already very involved:

• Janet Perlman is very active in WBI and her mother was a founder of the Israel committee.
• Debbie Mishek is a longtime choir member who has served on the religious school committee
• Jana Rudnick has chaired the preschool committee
• Heather Keith chairs the Religious School parent committee
• Eric Breier serves on the 150th anniversary public relations committee
• Patty Cohen and Debra Block have raised children in our religious school

And there are numerous opportunities to become involved -- in our schools, adult education, in our Men’s Club and Women of Beth Israel, in religious services, in our Israel Committee, at the Hunger Project -- and many more.

I’d like to leave you with the thought that your temple needs you and to thank you for being involved. I think you’ll find that you also need Beth Israel and your connection to our Jewish community. I hope the leadership program has inspired you to become more involved, and help you realize your potential as a Jew and a member of our community