Congregation Beth Israel (San Diego) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Congregation Beth Israel |
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Hebrew: בית ישראל
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership |
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| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 9001 Towne Centre Drive, University City, San Diego, California 92122 |
| Country | United States |
 Location in California
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| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Synagogue architecture |
| Date established | 1887 (as a congregation) |
| Groundbreaking | 2000 |
| Completed |
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| Site area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
Congregation Beth Israel (Hebrew: בית ישראל) is a Jewish community and synagogue located in University City, San Diego. It follows the Reform Judaism tradition. This congregation is the oldest and largest Jewish community in San Diego. Its history goes back to 1861, and it officially became a congregation in 1887.
Contents
History of Beth Israel
Early Beginnings in San Diego
Jewish people first arrived in San Diego in 1850. Each year, they held special services for the High Holidays. These are important Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In 1861, a group led by Marcus Schiller formed a community called "Adath Yeshurun." Later, in early 1887, they officially became "Beth Israel."
First Synagogue Building
Beth Israel's first building is still standing today. You can find it in Heritage Park, near Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. This wooden building was built in 1889. It was located at Second Avenue and Beech Street.
The construction happened after a big growth in San Diego. This growth was thanks to the California Southern Railroad. The railroad connected San Diego to other areas in 1885. The first services in this building were held on September 25, 1889. This building is one of the oldest synagogues in the western United States. The congregation used it until 1926.
Moving to a Larger Location
In 1926, the congregation moved to a bigger building. This new location was at Third and Laurel. At that time, about 60 families were part of the congregation. The Third and Laurel site was a whole city block. It had several buildings. Besides the main synagogue, there was a social hall and a school building. There were also some small apartments.
New Home in University City
In 1993, Beth Israel bought a 3-acre piece of land. This land was in University City. Construction on their new facilities started in January 2000. The new buildings were officially opened in October 2001. The site has five buildings. They cover more than 65,000 square feet. When the congregation moved in 2001, they kept the school and social hall from the Third and Laurel site.
Current Status of the Congregation
Beth Israel is San Diego's largest and oldest Jewish congregation. It has over 2,000 members. This includes nearly 1,100 households. The spiritual leaders are called clergy. The current clergy includes Senior Rabbi Jason Nevarez. There is also Rabbi Cantor Jeremy Gimbel. Assistant Rabbi Elana Ackerman-Hirsch is part of the team. Rabbi Arlene Bernstein is the Cantor Emerita. In June 2019, Senior Rabbi Michael Berk became Beth Israel's Rabbi Emeritus.
Notable People from Beth Israel
- Alan Bersin (born 1946): He held many important government roles. He was President Obama's "Border Czar." He also served as the US Attorney for Southern California. He was California's Secretary of Education. Mr. Bersin was also the Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection. He worked for the US Department of Homeland Security and was a vice president for INTERPOL.
- Louis Rose (1807–1888): He was a pioneer who helped develop San Diego.
