Beth Israel Blog: Honoring Beth Israel's Many Community Leaders

We are thrilled to honor 75 leaders tonight.
Everyone in this sanctuary thanks you for your service.

These remarks were delivered by Emily Jennewein, president, at the Shabbat to honor Beth Israel members who have served as presidents and executive directors of organizations in the greater Jewish community.

Congregation Beth Israel has reached our 150th anniversary in large part because our leaders have dedicated themselves to building a strong, broad-based, and resilient Jewish community in San Diego. And then to guiding it as it grew and prospered. Along the way, our leaders encountered economic adversity and many challenges, but found the inspiration, fortitude and creativity to evolve, and the vision to persevere and thrive.

Rabbi David Wolpe spoke eloquently
to the gathering. And he engaged our
religious school students in conversations
about God earlier in the afternoon.

In fact, since our founding in 1861 by pioneer Jews in the dusty backwater that was early San Diego, Beth Israel has been the incubator for Jewish leadership in our city. Our synagogue was not just the first, but the only Jewish institution in San Diego for nearly 50 years. Today we’re honored to share the role with about 40 synagogues of all denominations. And with a multitude of Jewish social service agencies, schools, private Foundations, advocacy and Israel support groups that serve both the Jewish and general communities.

Betty Byrnes, center, celebrated her 78th
birthday along with daughter Laura Byrnes
and Laura's fiance, Michael.

Many of those we’re honoring tonight started their leadership careers at Beth Israel – in youth groups, on our committees and our Board – and then spread out to give back to meaningful causes in the larger community. A few years ago, when I had the privilege to work at the Jewish Community Foundation, I gained appreciation for the depth of commitment on the part of so many San Diego Jewish leaders to making the world a better place.

Marcie Merel, left, was honored for her
service as past president of
Jewish Family Service.

Tonight Beth Israel is honoring our own members who have served as presidents and executive directors of San Diego Jewish organizations. We are thrilled to honor about 75 leaders tonight. Everyone in this sanctuary thanks you for your service. Please join me in another round of applause.

I’d like to thank Andie Oster for chairing this beautiful evening, and present you with this gift from Beth Israel in appreciation of your guidance of this special celebration of our 150th anniversary. Andie most recently completed her term as Chair of Federation, and this year was honored with the Anne Ratner Award for Extraordinary Leadership.

150th Anniversary Chari Mary Ann Scher,
Kate Kassar, 150th Project Coordinator Terri Bignell

Beth Israel’s entire 150th anniversary year is chaired by one of our honorees, Mary Ann Scher. And working closely with Mary Ann is another of our community’s leaders whom we’re honoring tonight, Terri Bignell.

I encourage all of you to please join us for the fascinating lineup we have planned for the next four events in our Speakers Series, all on Shabbat evenings – dates and speakers are listed in tonight’s program.

Hillel Executive Director Michael Rabkin,
former JFS President Ron Zollman,
Zachary Zollman, Susan Shmalo and
Gene Hamilton Carswell.

And I hope everyone here – whether or not you’re a member of Beth Israel -- will feel welcome to take advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in our Torah Project. We will be working through June of this year to fulfill the mitzvah of scribing a new Torah. Dedications are available ranging from a single letter, to a parasha, to naming the entire Torah.

In closing, I hope you’ll join us and our community leaders at the dessert reception that awaits us next door in the David & Dorothea Garfield Social Hall.

Thank you for your leadership!