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.