Congregation Beth Israel (Hebrew: בית ישראל) is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue in University City, San Diego. Incorporated in 1887, Beth Israel traces its roots back to 1861; and is the largest and oldest Jewish congregation in San Diego.[2][3][4]
| Congregation Beth Israel | |
|---|---|
Hebrew: בית ישראל | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership |
|
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 9001 Towne Centre Drive, University City, San Diego, California 92122 |
| Country | United States |
  Location in California | |
| Geographic coordinates | 32°52′15″N 117°12′23″W / 32.870901°N 117.206322°W |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Date established | 1887 (as a congregation) |
| Groundbreaking | 2000 |
| Completed |
|
| Site area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Website | |
| cbisd | |
| [1] | |
History
editJews first came to San Diego in 1850, and organized High Holiday services each year. In 1861, led by Marcus Schiller, they organized a congregation called "Adath Yeshurun". In early 1887 they formally incorporated under the name "Beth Israel".[3]
Beth Israel's first building still stands in Heritage Park, which is adjacent to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The wooden building was erected in 1889 at Second Avenue and Beech Street, in the wake of a boom in economic activity and population that resulted from the November 1885 completion of the California Southern Railroad connecting San Diego to the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in Barstow, California. Services were first held there on September 25, 1889. One of the oldest synagogue buildings in the American West,[5] it was used by the Congregation until 1926, when the Congregation moved to its second, larger building at Third and Laurel.[3] At the time the congregation numbered around 60 families.[3]
The Third and Laurel site occupied a full city block, and included a number of structures. In addition to the synagogue building, there was an adjacent social hall, a school building, and a number of small apartments. When the congregation moved in early 2001, it retained the school and social hall.[3]
Beth Israel purchased a 3-acre (1.2 ha) lot in University City in 1993. Construction on new facilities there began in January 2000 and were dedicated in October 2001. The site comprises five buildings totaling more than 65,000 square feet (6,000 m2).[3]
Jonathan Stein, who was Senior Rabbi at the synagogue, became Senior Rabbi at Temple Shaaray Tefila on New York City's Upper East Side.[6]
Current status
editBeth Israel has over 2,000 members and nearly 1,100 households, making it San Diego's largest and oldest Jewish congregation.[2] The clergy includes Senior Rabbi Jason Nevarez, Rabbi/Cantor Arlene Bernstein, and Associate Rabbi Jeremy Gimbel. In June 2019, Senior Rabbi Michael Berk became Beth Israel's Rabbi Emeritus.
Notable members
edit- Alan Bersin (born 1946), President Obama's "Border Czar," US Attorney for the Southern District of California, California Secretary of Education, Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection, US Department of Homeland Security Secretary for International Affairs, and INTERPOL vice president.[7]
- Louis Rose (1807–1888), pioneer developer of San Diego.
References
edit- ^ "Clergy: About us". Congregation Beth Israel. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.[self-published source?]
- ^ a b "About CBI introduction". Congregation Beth Israel. Archived from the original on November 3, 2005. Retrieved August 1, 2014.[self-published source?]
- ^ a b c d e f "History of CBI". Congregation Beth Israel. Archived from the original on February 16, 2006. Retrieved January 20, 2010.[self-published source?]
- ^ Eroles, Maricarmen (July 16, 1989). "San Diego's Oldest Jewish Temple Will Get Face Lift". Los Angeles Times. p. Metro 1.
- ^ Schwartz, Henry. "Temple Beth Israel", The Journal of San Diego History, Fall 1981, Volume 27, Number 4.
- ^ "Our History and Vision". Shaaraytefilanyc.org. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ "Alan Bersin, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy," Department of Homeland Security.
External links
edit
- Official website
- Official web-site for Heritage Park, which includes a photo and information for Temple Beth Israel (1889)