Temple Beth Zion Historical Timeline
1943
Founding 1943: Temple Beth Zion is
Founded.|
1947
Rabbi Cohen 1947-49: Bernard
Cohen is Rabbi. Incorporation 1947: Temple Beth Zion was
re-incorporated, to correct earlier mistakes.|
1949
Rabbi Woythaler 1949-56:
Rabbi Bert A. Woythaler. Kunin
Torah February 27, 1949: The dedication of a new Torah Scroll which was
presented to the synagogue by Mrs. Frieda Kunin. Groundbreaking 1 June 26,
1949: Ground is broken for the Temple's new building.|
1950
Cantor Blackman 1950-56:
Julius Blackman is Cantor.|
1951
Groundbreaking 2 June
24, 1951: Ground is broken for the Talmud Torah Building (the current social
hall, kitchen, and upstairs classrooms). Bella Brucker 12/14/51: Bella Brucker died. The newly built
Talmud Torah Building is named the "Bella Brucker Talmud Torah" building in her
honor.|
1952
Brucker Fund 1952: Bella
Brucker Memorial Fund is established in memory of Bella Brucker, for her
dedication to Temple Beth Zion and her "desire to kindle the flame of Judaism
in our youth and to inspire them with a zest for religious living."
Katz Dance 1952: Mickey Katz and His
Orchestra perform for the Spring Dance. Youth Dance 1952: Corky Wayne Emcee's the temple youth
dance, promising a "...swell evening." Purim Shpiel 1952: The temple's little theater group
performs a Purim Shpiel.|
1953
New Sanctuary 1953: The
temple begins construction of a new sanctuary, designed by Herman Charles
Light, AIA. Bond Drive
2/26/53: Israel Bond Drive at Olympic Lodge of Bnai Brith, Temple Beth
Zion, with entertainment provided by comedian and author Joey Adams and concert
cantor and actor Moishe Oysher. Youth Activities 1953: The Temple Beth Zion Youth
Activities Chairmen reports that Temple records indicate there are "over 375
boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 18."|
1956
Rabbi Weinstein 1956-59:
Chaim J. Weinstein is Rabbi. Rabbi Zirkel 1956-58: Chaim Zirkel is Associate
Rabbi.Cantor Fordis
1956-60: Samuel Fordis is Cantor.|
1957
Fourth Annual Concert
1957: Temple Beth Zion's Fourth Annual Concert. Cantor Samuel Fordis
directs the choir. Sara
Winsberg 3/30/57: Bas Mitzvah, Sara Winsberg. Mark Aaronson 4/6/57: Bar Mitzvah,
Mark Aaronson. Torah Study
Classes 1957: Rabbi Chaim Zirkel conducts Torah Study Classes on Sabbath
afternoons.|
1958
Greenberg Torah 1958:
David and Minnie Greenberg donate a Torah to the temple in memory of their
daughter, Bella Brucker.|
1959
Rabbi Cohn 1959-65: Rabbi Franklin
Cohn. Dramatized Haggadah
1959: "Dramatized Haggadah" by Rabbi Franklin Cohn, is published by
Temple Beth Zion.|
1960
Cantor Blumenthal
1960-64: Salo Blumenthal is Cantor.|
1964
Cantor Breen 1964-68: Michael
Breen is Cantor. Torah Table
Cover 1964- : The Confirmation Class of 1964 donates a cover for the
Bimah Torah Table that is still in use for Shabbat services.|
1965
Rabbi Tenenbaum
1965-2010: Edward Tenenbaum is Rabbi. Uretzky Torah 1965- : The Uretzky family loans their
family Torah for use at Temple Beth Zion Shabbat services. The Torah was
written prior to 1920 and saved from the progrom in Kopatkevitch, Belarus, USSR
in 1921.|
1966
Liberty Award 1966: Temple
Beth Zion presents the Passover "Liberty Award" to the Honorable Arthur J.
Goldberg, United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Mr. Goldberg selected
California Supreme Court Justice Stanley Mosk to represent him in receiving the
award. Rabbi Cohn's "Dramatized Haggadah" is narrated by Mr. Carl
Reiner.|
1968
Cantor Green 1968-78: Harold
Green is Cantor.|
1978
Linda Rich 1978-85: Linda Rich is
Cantor.|
1979
Harry Holowich 10/28/79:
Bar Mitzvah, Harry Holowich.|
1985
Cantor Guralnick
1985-: Janis Guralnick is Cantor.|
1993
Judith Whitelaw Appeal:
"click for full text"Los Angeles, 11/9/1993.
Dear Friends and Fellow-Members:
My name is Judith Whitelaw. I am sure I am totally unknown to you. Well, just
before the High Holidays, I became a member of "Temple Beth Zion".
I walked out of every other congregation I went to. But, the moment I entered
Temple Beth Zion, I felt a peacefulnesss coming over me, which I so badly
needed, and I said to myself, "this will be your 'spiritual' home from now on".
I also promised myself to go back to my roots.
2010
Goodbye Rabbi Tenenbaum We are
saddened that Rabbi Edward Tenenbaum passed away on August 21, 2010 while
preparing for Sabbath services. TBZ Break-the-Fast The 1st Annual Break-the-Fast Meal
at Temple Beth Zion was hosted by the Board of Directors. It provided a
friendly, family-style environment for congregants quickly to end their
25-hours of fasting and praying. Ed
Hollander: Yom Kippur Sermon; click for full text; Yom Kippur, the Day of
Atonement, is traditionally a day, in which we seek forgiveness of our sins
from God. Yom Kippur is traditionally a twenty five hour fast day, and is
considered a full Sabbath day in which we do not work, drive, bathe, wear
leather, or have sexual relations. Many people dress in white and wear athletic
shoes made of cloth or other non-leather materials. It is a time to divorce
one’s self from our everyday luxuries. It is the most important holiday
in the Jewish Religion.
2011
2011 Purim Party We had an enjoyable Purim Party at Temple Beth Zion, attended by adults and children. There were games, music videos, food, and a reading of the Megillah. Pictures can be seen on the Events Page.
Price Is Right Taping A group from Temple Beth Zion spent the afternoon participating in the audience for a studio taping of the Television game show "The Price Is Right"
50th Anniversary of Bar Mitzvah The 50th Anniversary of the Bar Mitzvah of Jerry Harris was celebrated. Jerry helped lead the services, just as he did 50 years ago for his Bar Mitzvah at Temple Beth Zion.
Goodbye President Lynne The Congregation sadly paid its respects to Lynne Sturt Weintraub, long-time President of Temple Beth Zion. She passed away in April, 2011. Lynne was instrumental in keeping the Temple active over the years. She maintained a relationship with the Los Angeles Clergy Police Council. Several members of the Police Department paid respects by attending her funeral.