60th Anniversary History Nuggets - Congregation Beth David

Special Shabbat service marks the 100th anniversary of the first bat mitzvah in the United States, with many women who had celebrated their bat mitzvah participating.
Lior Ben Hur plays and sings for several special Friday night services.

Rabbi Nathan Roller is the new Rabbi Educator.
Covid-19 pandemic strikes; building is shut down on March 9, the day after the Megillah reading. The congregation shifts to a Zoom platform for prayer services, study, lectures, classes, and social activities.
Synagogue book group marks its 20th anniversary.

Rabbi Jaymee Alpert is the new senior rabbi, replacing Rabbi Philip Ohriner.
June – Settlement against the building contractors results in all debts being paid off, and $1 million directed to the endowment fund for building maintenance.

2004 – Hazak Chapter, for members 55 years and older, is formed under the leadership of Thelma Ramm and Sandy Silver. First President was Howard Gannes.

2000- Beth David Memorial Gardens is dedicated.
2000-Andrew and Judith Varadi gift a new parochet, designed by artist Ina Golub.
2002–New stained glass windows and remodeled sanctuary dedicated.

1999 Year of the Torah launched, with Rabbi Shmuel Miller scribing a new Torah.
1999 Donor tribute wall mosaic, designed by Dahlia Perahia, unveiled.
1999 Congregation Beth David wins three Solomon Schechter gold medals for the Beth David Star, Havdallah and History program and the Miriam Gannes Memorial Reading Program.

1991–Social Action Committee launches its first annual Mitzvah Day. (Pictured: Michael Leitner cooking at Mitzvah Day)
1996–Participation in the annual Faith in Action Rotating Shelter begins.
1996–New Ark and Ner Talmd. gifts of Joan and Henry Stone, are dedicated.

First adult b’nai mitzvah ceremony – Sandi and Ken Bretz
First group adult b’not mitzvah ceremony, with 13 women: Emily Berman, Hillary Farkas, Lynda Harmatz, Marcia Kaplan, Hylda Leitner, Judy Levin, Enid Malkin, Bea Papo, Ruth Schifrin, Sylvia Seligson, Myra Siegel, Sandy Silver, and Barbara Taubman. (Pictured right)

The Robert E. Levinson Memorial Library was dedicated, a year after his death. Dr. Levinson was a lay cantor and bar/bat mitzvah tutor for 13 years.
Rabbi Daniel Pressman hired, following Rabbi Jerry Danzig. Rabbi Pressman served for 33 years.

1977 – Rama Strod became the religious school principal, and served for 21 years
1979 – Ground breaking for new sanctuary
1980 – Dedication of the new sanctuary and first services

Women were granted equal rights and obligations within the congregation; B’nai Mitzvah serve as Ba-alei Kriah at High Holy Day Services.
Saratoga site was purchased from the Church of Ascension.

1965: First edition of the Beth David Star (edited by Len and Olga Farber)
1965: First Building Fund ($10,000 from 13 families)
1968: Hebrew School becomes a three-day per week program with Henrietta Oberndoerfer as the school administrator.

January 1963: First services were conducted by Herb Dreifuss and Nat Kallman–first sermon led by Jerry Daniel
February 1963: Hebrew Class was taught by Ruth Dreifuss at Harvey and Mildred Katz’s home
February 1963: First Sisterhood meeting was held in February 1963. Mildred Katz was President
September 18, 1963: First High Holy Day Services were held led by Rabbi Josef Zeitin
October 1963: First Sisterhood Newsletter was published in October 1963 called The Chai Line
October 3, 1964: First Bar Mitzvah – Jonathan Meltzer, the son of Henrietta and Harold Meltzer
August 1964: Congregation Beth David affiliated with the United Synagogue of America