Introducing New Board President Emily Jennewein

By Emily Jennewein, President

Emily Jennewein and her family have traveled to Israel twice, most recently as

participants in Rabbi/Cantor Arlene Bernstein's Youth Choir Trip in 2008.

From left, Maddy, Chris, Penny and Emily Jennewein at the Temple

Mount in Jerusalem.

As a former journalist and volunteer for Beth Israel’s website, introducing myself to the congregation in writing feels second nature. But I also know that an article is not a substitute for a personal introduction, and I hope to talk with many members of our community over the next two years.

Let me start by saying that I feel very fortunate to be serving as your president at this momentous time in our congregation’s history, as we embark on an exciting, year-long commemoration of our 150th anniversary. It’s humbling to take on this important responsibility, but I had a fantastic, wise and intelligent mentor in Ron Simon. Ron strengthened the financial foundation of our synagogue, helped lay the groundwork for the 150th anniversary endowment campaign and personally cultivated generous endowment gifts.

A temple president can’t be successful without collaborating with an experienced team. Rabbi Michael Berk, Executive Director Lesley Mills and our board are entering our fifth year of partnering together and we are already working on setting our shared priorities for the forthcoming year.

Beth Israel has been an important part of my life since our family moved to San Diego 10 years ago.

My volunteer involvement with the synagogue began when I joined the Religious School parent committee and created a small website for the Religious School. Soon, I was asked to expand the website to encompass all the temple’s offerings and that evolved into serving as the synagogue's volunteer webmaster for several years.

I’ve also been vice president for education, served on the finance and communications committees and have worked actively on the synagogue's strategic planning process. I served on and co-chaired, respectively, the search committees that selected Rabbi Michael Berk and Rabbi Michael Satz. I chaired A Musical Night in Jerusalem, which honored Cantor Arlene Bernstein for her first 10 years with the congregation. And I just began a term on the board of Hillel of San Diego.

Outside of the temple I have for 15 years operated a marketing communications business, and for three years was the marketing director and a marketing consultant for the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego. Earlier I worked at The Coca-Cola Company and was a business news reporter at The Miami Herald and The Atlanta Constitution. I earned an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and graduated from Amherst College.

My husband, Chris, and I live in Del Mar. Chris is senior regional editor for Southern California for AOL's Patch network of local news websites. Our daughters, Maddy and Penny, are entering their sophomore years at Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania. My parents, Alan and Liz Rubin, retired to Del Mar and live around the corner from us. Our family has always practiced Reform Judaism. I was born Jewish, and Chris converted to Judaism at Beth Israel. Maddy and Penny, became b'not mitzvah and celebrated their confirmations at Beth Israel.

I look forward to continuing to communicate regularly in Tidings and through the new congregational blog at www.bethisrael.blogspot.com. But more importantly, I hope to see all of you regularly at services, programs and events at Beth Israel and to hear from you any time at board@cbisd.org.

Yom Kippur Afternoon Worship and Break-the-Fast to be Held at Our Synagogue Home

by President Emily Jennewein

In honor of our 150th anniversary, the Board is very pleased to announce that Yom Kippur afternoon services and a light Break-the-Fast will be held at our synagogue home at Beth Israel this year.

We have frequently heard requests from members who would love the opportunity to worship in our own magnificent synagogue during the High Holy Days. Because of the very special nature of this anniversary year, we will move our worship on Yom Kippur afternoon to our own synagogue starting at 1:45 p.m. with Ask the Rabbi, then continue with the Afternoon Service, Yizkor and Neilah. At the conclusion of the day of Yom Kippur worship, we will offer light Break-the-Fast refreshments.

To accommodate all who will worship with us on Yom Kippur afternoon, we plan to expand our Glickman-Galinson Sanctuary by opening the wall to the adjacent David & Dorothea Garfield Social Hall. Light Break-the-Fast refreshments will be served in the Price Family Courtyard. Beth Israel’s regular High Holy Days tickets will include admission to Yom Kippur afternoon services at our temple. Because Yom Kippur falls on a Saturday this year rather than on a business day, we are very fortunate that congregants will be able to park freely in the Gateway Parking Structure.

Rabbi Michael Berk, Executive Director Lesley Mills and members of the synagogue Board of Directors are very sensitive to the fact that for some congregants the mid-day move will interrupt what is traditionally a full day of worship in one location. We understand that what will be a delight to many, will seem a disruption to others. Please know that the decision to bring Yom Kippur afternoon services back to our temple was made after very careful consideration and weighing of this special opportunity to worship in our own synagogue as well as the disadvantages.

In an effort to ease the transition during the worship day, we will provide three legs of shuttle transportation by reservation only: from Beth Israel to the Civic Theatre for members who would like to park near our temple in the morning; from the Civic Theatre to Beth Israel at the conclusion of the morning service; and from Beth Israel back to the Civic Theatre after the Break-the-Fast, for those who parked at the Civic Theatre in the morning.

On behalf of the Board, we hope you will all join us for the unique experience of worshiping on our own campus as we conclude our High Holy Days worship in this milestone 150th anniversary year.

Aleinu Members Gathered for Special Summer Celebration

L-R: Scholar in Residence Co-Chairs Susan Ulevitch and
Steve Ritter welcomed Rabbi Norman Cohen as our
2011 Scholar in Residence last winter.

Susan Ulevitch, co-chair of Scholar in Residence, and her husband Richard, hosted the Aleinu Adult Education Committee for a summer social evening at their La Jolla home last week. The evening was a special time for members to socialize and get to know each other with just the minimum of committee work involved!

The group enjoyed Susan's gorgeous ocean view, munched on appetizers, and a fabulous dinner. Susan and Bonnie outdid themselves with delectable desserts. Aleinu welcomed new committee members Jane Lazerow and Louise Winheld. People jumped on board to volunteer to head up programs for the coming year.

Aleinu members Janine Feldman, Liz Levine and Janet Acheatel
enjoyed the Aleinu summer get-together 

What a wonderful idea this was! Many thanks to the Ulevitches for their hospitality!

Men's Club Hosted Chris Jennewein on Re-Inventing Media for an Online World

by Emily Jennewein, President
I enjoyed joining the Men's Club when it hosted Chris Jennewein, my husband, at its Dinner Forum last week on the subject of Re-Inventing Media for an Online World. Here are four slides from Chris' presentation, including his recommendations for news websites to follow:

 

Youth Director Daniel Brenner Leads Camp Shabbat

Daniel Brenner

by Emily Jennewein, President

Beth Israel's new Youth Director Daniel has added wonderful ruach to the Camp Shabbat celebrations this summer. Daniel song-leads the weekly service that concludes the camp week along with talented musician and counselor Ben Brogadir, Rabbis Bernstein and Satz, Early Childhood Education Director Tammy Vener and all the teachers and counselors.

Each of the eight weeks of camp includes a variety of fun activities that conclude on Fridays with Shabbat. Campers and their families enjoy Shabbat prayers, song, and dance after Friday lunch.

  

A special treat for me when I visited Camp was to get to admire the 2011 organic garden, which is a project that all the campers enjoy along with counselor Penny Jennewein.

Staff Bids Farewell and Good Luck to Matt Cromwell

by Emily Jennewein, President

Beth Israel staff bid a fond farewell to Matt Cromwell last week. Matt, his wife  Melanie and their two adorable children, enjoyed pizza, salad and Bonnie Graff's homemade desserts at the farewell party. 

Susan Hutchison brilliantly decorated the party room with a camping theme that was so spectacular it took the breath away of everyone present.

Matt will be leaving Beth Israel to focus on finishing his Master of Arts in History at SDSU with the goal of moving into a doctoral program and eventually teaching at the college level. He will also be doing freelance website and graphic design work on the side.

For four years, Matt has been the very able assistant to Program Director Bonnie Graff. Matt will be very much missed. Beth Israel welcomes Zach Weinstein to the program department. 

100+ Congregants Celebrated Shabbat at Potluck

by Emily Jennewein, President
More than 100 congregants joined Membership Co-Chairs Cynthia Fram and Kaylee Brogadir at Beth Israel's summer potluck dinner after our Shabbat service last Friday. The courtyard was overflowing with congregants, many of whom enjoyed dining together afterward.

Betsy Wilinsky

With her ever-present warmth and enthusiasm, Betsy Wilinsky, Director of Membership Services and Caring Community, greeted every participant as they arrived with their potluck contribution. Delicious food was plentiful.

With such a successful outcome, the Membership Committee looks forward to sponsoring more potlucks in the coming months.

Membership Co-Chairs
Cynthia Fram & Kaylee Brogadir

If you didn't make it to last Friday's Shabbat potluck, please join us next time!