What an Honor it Was to Dine with Our Double Chai Members!

By President Emily Jennewein

 Opening the 150th anniversary Speakers Series on November 11, Beth Israel honored its Double Chai members -- those who have been members for 36 or more years -- with a beautiful dinner and evening featuring Professor Deborah Lipstadt, Holocaust scholar, who addressed the congregation during services.

It is so gratifying to realize that there are a large number of Beth Israel members who joined long ago and have found an embracing community at Beth Israel as well as found meaning and purpose in our many programs and services. These many longtime members have remained loyal to the mission and goals of our congregation over many years. So this month I'd like to use this opportunity to tell a few stories about some - but not all - of the Beth Israel members who have embraced our community for the longest amounts of time, more than 50 years.

We believe Harry Tennebaum is the member with the longest tenure at Beth Israel. Harry was born into the congregation in 1928, though his family joined in 1919, more than 90 years ago. During WWII, Harry -- at the tender age of 13 and just one year past Confirmation -- was pressed into service to teach Sunday school.  He recalls that one Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, war broke out 10 am Pacific time. Since San Diego was considered a war zone, everyone was ordered off street and went home to turn on their radios.

Lifelong member Fred Weitzen joined Beth Israel in 1950. After serving on the board for ten years, Fred was elected president in 1974.  But 1974 started with a funding shortfall.  Though the temple raised standard dues to $400, Weitzen recalls, it became impossible to pay the rabbi, a situation he found completely unacceptable. So he proposed to a group of businessmen that they contribute at least $1,000 a year.  They accepted, except for a few who offered to pay $2,000 a year. In so doing, Weitzen established the Century Club, which to this day honors members who voluntarily pay above-standard dues. The Century Club allows Beth Israel to offer membership to everyone regardless of the ability to pay full membership dues. 

Matthew Strauss grew up in the temple -- his mother was Rabbi Moise Bergman’s secretary -- and Matt was confirmed in the same class as Shearn Platt. Matt met his wife Iris Strauss at a Temple Youth League party after she arrived from Chicago at age 16. Iris and Matt raised their three children at Beth Israel, where each was confirmed and married, and Iris later chaired the Temple Follies, known to all as the greatest of all mixers. 

Rabbi Morton Cohn attended Shearn and Linda Platt’s engagement party, and the Platt children were bar mitzvahed and confirmed at Beth Israel. Linda later co-founded the Stand With Israel Committee with Phyllis Cohn. 

Anabel and Ted Mintz joined in 1958 although Anabel’s mother had been a member as a child. Her mother, who owned a millinery shop at 5^th & C Streets, downtown, joined all three San Diego temples for good will – for just $25 a year at each. Anabel and Ted met at dinner dance in Temple Youth League when they were 16 and 18, and were married three years later by Rabbi Cohn. Ted built the education building at Third & Laurel and chaired the construction and development committee for our current magnificent synagogue. 

Mel Goldzband joined in 1961 and worked with Rabbi Melvin Weinman to move High Holy Day services to the Civic Theatre in 1965 when we outgrew our own sanctuary. Mel designed the set for the services, and then for 35 years managed the lighting and updated the set until he retired from this volunteer endeavor in 2000. 

Chairs of the Double Chai Member evening Arthur and Sandy Levinson were both confirmed at Beth Israel, eight years apart. The Levinsons were married at Beth Israel and raised their two children, who have in turn raised their children, in our Congregation. Next month their granddaughter, Shanna, will be a Beth Israel bride. And a year and a half from now their grandson, David, will be ordained as a Rabbi. 

I wish I had move room to share more stories about our longstanding members. Among the many present at the dinner to celebrate more than 50 years of membership were Joan and Marvin Jacobs, Elene and Herb Solomon, Ann and Ben Weinbaum, Esther and Dick Rosenberg, and Bob Berton.