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 Reform Jewish synagogue located in University City, San Diego, California. It was officially started in 1887. However, its history goes back even further, to 1861. It is the largest and oldest Jewish community in San Diego.
Contents
History of Beth Israel
Early Beginnings in San Diego
Jewish people first arrived in San Diego in the year 1850. Each year, they would gather for special services during the High Holidays, which are important Jewish festivals. In 1861, a group led by Marcus Schiller formed a community called "Adath Yeshurun". Then, in early 1887, they officially became "Beth Israel".
The First Synagogue Building
The very first building used by Beth Israel is still standing today. You can find it in Heritage Park, which is next to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. This wooden building was built in 1889. It was located at Second Avenue and Beech Street.
This happened after a big growth in San Diego's economy and population. A railroad, the California Southern Railroad, had just been completed in November 1885. This connected San Diego to other parts of the country. The first services in this new building were held on September 25, 1889.
This building is one of the oldest synagogue buildings in the western United States. The congregation used it until 1926. By then, the community had grown to about 60 families.
Moving to a Larger Location
In 1926, Congregation Beth Israel moved to its second, bigger building. This new location was at Third and Laurel. It was a large area, taking up an entire city block. Besides the main synagogue building, there was also a social hall and a school building. There were even some small apartments.
When the congregation moved again in 2001, they kept the school and social hall from this location.
The Current Home in University City
In 1993, Beth Israel bought a 3-acre (1.2 ha) piece of land in University City. Construction on their new facilities began in January 2000. The new buildings were officially opened in October 2001.
The current site has five buildings. Together, they cover more than 65,000 square feet (6,000 m2) of space.
Current Status
Today, Congregation Beth Israel is a very active community. It has more than 2,000 members and nearly 1,100 families. This makes it San Diego's largest and oldest Jewish congregation.
The leaders of the synagogue are called clergy. The current clergy include 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. This is an honorary title for a retired rabbi who has served the community for a long time.
