Congregation Beth El

Camden is well known for its ethnic communities. The large Polish, Italian, Irish, German, and Jewish communities played a great role in Camden's history in the 19th and first part of the 20th century, while Black and Puerto Rican families have given the city much of its recent flavor.

Congregation Beth El was Camden's first Conservative synagogue, representing one of American Judaism's three main movements. The congregation built and occupied a wonderful synagogue and school building on Park Boulevard, opposite Farnham Park, after World War I, which it occupied until 1968, when the new building on Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill was occupied.

The Beth El buildings were used by the Parkside Catholic School in the early 1970s, and were renamed St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic School within a few years. The buildings were torn down around 2000 to make way for the Boys and Girls Club building donated by Camden native Louis Katz, the owner of several professional sports franchises.

In March of 2006 I received a package of information from Rabbi David Herman, the son of Cantor Louis Herman, whose voice for many years inspired the faithful at prayer, and Mrs. Yetta Herman, who was involved for many years in Jewish education at Beth El. Besides David's own story of people and events at Beth El and in Parkside, there were copies of the 80-plus pages of Beth El's history through 1970, which you will find on this page.

March 2006

The congregation's later and related stories are on the pages for Congregation Beth El — Cherry Hill, Beth El Sisterhood and The Children of Beth El.

“In the Beginning G-d created Beth El as a dream in the hearts of men.” These words formed the opening sentence of Beth El's Golden Jubilee Proclamation read by President Martin Odlen at Kol Nidre services September 21, 1969 (5730).

Who were the men who had the dream? Certainly Benjamin Natal, Camden's first Jewish lawyer, was not only one of the dreamers but also one of the great organizers and activators who helped turn the dream into reality. In the opinion of many, he might rightfully be called the “Founding Father” of the congregation.

Before Mr. Natal's involvement in the Beth El dream, we can trace his communal activities back to 1912. Under his leadership, a group filed a certificate of incorporation in 1912 for the Young Men's Hebrew Association of Camden: “To promote and embrace the broadest cultural and social efforts and diversion, strongly emphasizing Jewish values, encouraging every ennobling aspiration, improving the intellectual and moral faculties, thereby bettering the Jewish community and maintaining it at its highest standard.”

The first meetings of the YMHA were on the second floor of Abe Fuhrman's furniture store at Broadway and Division Street. Soon after they moved to the Dannenhower Building at the southwest corner of Broadway and Kaighn. On May 21, 1917 the YMHA chartered its first real building at 572 Walnut Street.

On January 2, 1916, a mass meeting was scheduled at the North Broadway Theater at Broadway and Kaighn. Mr. Natal is referred to in the letter as temporary president of the proposed congregation “Rodeph Sholom.” Apparently Rodeph Sholom of Camden never materialized but the dream of a modern synagogue remained.

On October 3, 1920, a meeting was held in Mr. Natal's law office for the purpose of organizing a new congregation in Camden. The twenty-five men present included Harry Barroway, Dr. Otto Reiter, Reuben Pinsky and Manny Pearl. Each of the latter four contributed fifteen dollars and the dream became real. Others at that meeting were Louis Cades, Kolman Goldstein, Harry Teitelman, Herman Natal, Louis Berkowitz, Morris Handle and A. I. Rovner. Jacob Leventon attended a subsequent meeting.

On October 17, 1920, South Jersey's first Conservative congregation was officially “organized” and elected Morris Handle as Beth El's first President. The public was invited to attend a mass meeting at the Forrest Hill Theater, Haddon and Kaighn Avenues, to celebrate the formation of “Congregation Beth El of Parkside.” The main speaker that day was Rabbi Max Klein.

The Parkside area of Camden where Beth El began extended from Park Boulevard to Haddon Avenue. As early as 1912, Jews had begun to move into Parkside but the real influx started in 1916. By 1920, there were several hundred Jewish families living there.

Other synagogues in Camden at that time included B'nai Abraham at 335 Liberty Street, Sons of Israel at 8th and Sycamore Street, and Ahav Zedek on Benson Street. These were all strictly Orthodox synagogues and were all under the leadership of Rabbi Naftoli Riff.

The new location for Beth El at Park Boulevard and Belleview Avenue was secured in May of 1921 for the price of eight thousand dollars. The directors decided to first erect a School Building that would also serve as a temporary synagogue. Construction began in July of 1921 and was completed in time for the High Holy Days, which began on October 3rd. By the time the building was completed, the congregation numbered close to fifty families.

Before the High Holy Days of 1921, Beth El had elected an “English-speaking Rabbi.” Rabbi Solomon Grayzel was a graduate of Columbia University and had just been ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of New York. The Cantor who officiated with Rabbi Grayzel at those first High Holiday services was Ephraim Fogelnest from New York.

On November 1, 1921, Beth El was officially incorporated by the state of New Jersey. At the invitation of Rabbi Grayzel, the wives of members were invited to a meeting on November 1, 1921, for the purpose of organizing a Sisterhood. Mrs. Benjamin Natal (Minnie) became Sisterhood's first President. The School Building-Temporary Synagogue was dedicated on November 13, 1921.

The first issue of the Synagogue's news bulletin was published on April 12, 1922. It was called the “Beth-Elite” and consisted of two pages. It appeared just before Passover and gave the holiday schedule of services. The front page reported a minstrel show having been put on at Beth El by the Camden Young Judeans under the direction of Mr. Harry Grossman.

The Jewish community was gratified to read in the local newspapers of Beth El's ambitious building plans. The Cantor for the High Holidays of 1922 was Jacob Mickleman. He became Beth El's first permanent Cantor that year and served until 1945. Louis Berkowitz was elected as Beth El's second president.

Louis Berkowitz was reelected President of the Congregation. Mrs. Louis Paletz became Sisterhood's third president. By 1924, sixty children were enrolled in the daily religious school and an additional one hundred and fifty attended the Sunday School. A building fund drive for a main synagogue building was initiated. On the twenty-second of June, the cornerstone of the new synagogue was laid.

In 1924, Benjamin Natal was elected to the presidency. He had been President of the Young Men's Hebrew Association and later chairman of the Beth El School Board. In that year, the formal dedication of the new main synagogue took place at the High Holiday services.

The pattern for Beth El's eventual dues structure was proposed in the “Beth Elite” of May 1925. An article mentioned “how dreadful it was for the Rabbi to have had to make an appeal for funds on Rosh Hashonoh.” A plan was described whereby a “lump-sum” payment would include membership dues and two seats for the High Holidays as well as tuition.

The Confirmation Class of 1925 included: Esther Abramowitz, Miriam Brunn, Eleanor Cohen, Yetta Cohen, Florence Einstein, Ethel Frank, Aaron Greenfield, Rose Lazere, Jean Levin, Dorothy Levy, Irwin Marston, Edwin Nurock, Mildred Obus, Murray Orbach, Beatrice Pinsky, Adele Scharlin, Abraham Schneider, Doris Simon, Florence Tollin, Sara Wine.

Rabbi Grayzel was apparently disillusioned with the “profit-motive” as the impetus for the Beth El Ball and Journal. In his message for the Journal of 1926, he wrote: “It is a result of the deplorable fact that our synagogues are poorly supported…shall we not look forward to the time when such gatherings will be called out of motives not of profit, but of a pure desire for joy and fellowship?”

Rabbi Grayzel left Beth El in 1926. He later became editor of the Jewish Publication Society and wrote the acclaimed one-volume “History of the Jews” used in religious schools throughout America. Rabbi Arthur H. Neulander succeeded him. Rabbi Neulander, also a Seminary graduate, was later to return to Beth El as interim rabbi during World War II.

Rabbi Neulander left Beth El in 1927. He recently retired as Rabbi of the Jewish Center of Bayswater in New York and is one of the Conservative Rabbinate's leading authorities on Jewish law. He was succeeded at Beth El by Rabbi Nachman S. Arnoff. Rabbi Arnoff, Beth El's “bachelor Rabbi,” was also a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary. He had spent eight months living and studying in Jerusalem.

Louis Cades became Beth El's fifth president. He had succeeded Benjamin Natal who was later appointed to the Camden County Court of Common Pleas.

In 1928 the Synagogue's bulletin, The Beth-Elite, acquired its current title, The Beth El News. A new publication appeared on the Jewish scene in Camden called “The Community Observer.” The first issue appeared in May of 1928. Rabbi Arnoff was listed as Editor; Ben Cohen — Co-Editor, Reba Obus and Lillian Grass — News Editors; Carl Auerbach — Business Manager, and Leon Mickleman — Circulation Manager. Jacob Leventon became Beth El's sixth president.

Because of economic conditions, the Beth El News was mimeographed instead of printed. The practice of reading the names of the “Yahrzeits” at Friday night service began in 1929. In the Beth El News of May 1929, there is a note about plans for a summer school in which Hebrew would be taught three times a week in addition to a recreational program in nearby parks.

In the Community Observer of November 1, 1929, there is mention of a High School Department being started at Beth El, “mainly for the welfare of boys and girls between the ages of twelve and eighteen.” Meetings were held every Saturday afternoon for young people who wanted to maintain their contact with the synagogue.

Stephen S. Wise visited Camden and delivered a “stirring eulogy” of America's wartime president, Woodrow Wilson… The Community Observer mentioned a reorganization of Camden's Federation of Jewish Charities, with Abraham Furman elected president… Sisterhood's Bazaar raised over $1,000 in two nights.

Although Beth El had been organized in 1920, the tenth anniversary was celebrated by Sisterhood at a special meeting on December 7, 1931. The meeting was held in conjunction with Hadassah and Council of Jewish Women. Guest speaker was Dr. Israel H. Leventhal of New York's Brooklyn Jewish Center.

The early Beth El had a club for young adults known as the Junior Auxiliary. Succeeded by the “Associated Membership” of the 1940s and the Young Associates of the 1960s, it was in 1931 that the Junior Auxiliary became the Beth El League, scheduling eight meetings, with Harry Pinsky listed as “announcer.”

One of Beth El's most prominent families, the Asbells, moved to Camden in 1932. Martin Asbell later became chairman of the Beth El School Board and a leading figure in the Conservative Movement throughout America. Herbert Kolosky also became a Beth El leader in this era.

Despite economic conditions, Kol Nidre appeals were still conducted; contributions of three dollars were greatly appreciated. Ben Natal, writing in the Beth El Ball Journal that year, said “in these days of depression an evening spent in merriment and diversion will relieve us of that morbid feeling brought about by these troublesome times.”

On October 28, 1933, the Beth El Forum was inaugurated. The first speaker was Hyman Lublin who spoke on “The Jew in the Modern World.” Other early speakers at the Forum included Rabbi Israel H. Levinthal and Dr. Mordecai M. Kaplan. The Forum series soon attracted audiences of 1,500 people and became one of the most important Jewish forums in America.

December 16th, 1934 marked the annual dinner and installation of officers. At the affair the program featured the Beth El Choir consisting of Mrs. Maurice Russell (Sadie), Joseph Becker, Samuel Gordon, and Harry Silver under the direction of Cantor Mickleman. Israel Katz became Beth El's seventh president.

Rabbi Arnoff left Beth El sometime before the Spring of 1935. He became a Chaplain in the United States Army during World War II and was killed in an army truck accident following his discharge at Fort Kilmer. A memorial service was held for him at Beth El on September 22, 1946. Beth El's search for a new rabbi ended when Rabbi Philip Lipis spoke at the High Holiday services in 1935. He remained for twelve years. Jesse Satenstein became congregation president; Mrs. Ben Natal continued as Sisterhood president.

The Beth El Journal contained a special tribute to the memory of Philip Auerbach, “sincere, earnest, indefatigable” chairman of the Beth El Ball Committee since its inception. Mr. Jesse Satenstein and Mrs. Ben Natal were re-elected to head the congregation and sisterhood. 1936 Congregation dinner — Cantor Jacob Mickleman appears on far right center.

In the Beth El Ball Journal of 1937, Rabbi Lipis wrote about “the new spirit — a spiritual rejuvenation at Beth El.” He wrote of the successful Forum, organization of an alumni and the beginning of the Men's Club which he had organized in January of that year. Samuel F. Ginns became the Congregation's eighth president. Mrs. Harry Lutz (Zelda) became Sisterhood president.

Leon Rose was general chairman of the Beth El “Public Forum.” Featured in the 1938–39 series were Milton Steinberg, Pierre Van Passen, Horace Kallen, Gerald P. Nye and Dorothy Fuldheim. Each program had a different chairman. The price for the entire series was $1.50. Samuel Ginns continued on as congregation president. Mrs. William (Reba) Laub became sisterhood president.

Another article in the Beth El Ball Journal mentioned the possibility of building a Community Center. E. George Aaron became Beth El's ninth president. He later became Director of Public Affairs for the City of Camden.

At the start of Beth El's third decade, the war in Europe was beginning to turn into a conflagration. The Beth El Ball Journal of 1940 was entitled “The American Way — Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness.” The Journal contained President Roosevelt's picture and an article by Rabbi Lipis entitled “The American Democratic Way of Life.” Meyer Adleman became the congregation's tenth president.

President Meyer Adleman told a special committee entrusted with the task of raising $3,000 in Journal ads for the Beth El Ball of 1941, that if they succeeded, every member on the committee would be his guest in a night of “royal celebration.” Morris Liebman became Beth El's eleventh president. He had been serving as Federation president during the critical wartime years.

America had entered the war following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. During the war years, Beth El went all out for the “war effort.” Patriotic slogans appeared in the Beth El News and Journals. “Support the Mighty Seventh War Loan.” The News listed names and addresses of servicemen so that the congregation could write to them. Louis Markowitz became congregation president.

The Beth El Ball of February 1943 was entitled the “Freedom Jubilee.” The Second World War was then at its height and the Ball was dedicated to the “members of our community who are serving in the armed forces of our country.” The last page of the Journal was a gold page with a list of names of Beth El's servicemen. Rabbi Lipis left in March 1943 to serve as Chaplain in the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Rabbi Arthur Neulander served as interim rabbi. Meyer Sakin became congregation president.

The twenty-third Beth El Ball on March 26, 1944, at the Walt Whitman Hotel in Camden was dedicated “to our fighting allies.” President Morris Liebman expressed a hope and a prayer via his message in the Journal that the combined forces would bring the war to a speedy close. Rabbi Max Weine succeeded Rabbi Neulander. Beth El's servicemen numbered 145.

In 1945 Beth El's dues were $25.00 but some members voluntarily increased their dues to $50.00. The congregation numbered approximately 350 members. On May 13, 1945, the Servicemen's Tablet was dedicated. Rabbi Weine officiated at the dedication. The Honorable E. George Aaron, Director of Public Affairs of Camden was on the program together with Mayor George Brunner.

The Confirmation Class of 1945 included: Stanley Abel, Barbara Cherkin, Betty Edelman, Allan Einstein, Lawrence Getz, Beverly Goldman, Rosalind Goldman, Harris Kramer, Marjorie Laub, Elaine Lewis, Eugene Markowitz, Arnold Meltzer, Shirley Prager, Elsa Relin, Joan Roth, Hope Sacks, Bertha Shapiro, Beverly Sive, Maxine Soloff, Norma Sussman, Dorothy Weiss, Joan Zutz.

In January, Harry Berkowitz was appointed to the American Prosecutor's staff of the German War Criminal Trials at Nuremberg. He wrote a letter to the “Voice” from Dachau, Germany, where he had successfully prosecuted ninety-one Nazis who were then sent to the gallows. A. David Epstein was President of Federation in that crucial post-war year. Herman Z. Cutler became congregation president.

In that crucial year that would herald the United Nations partition of Palestine, the Voice featured an article in the January issue, entitled “Permanent War declared by Irgun.” In December, a blaring headline on the front page of the Voice read, “Homeland Becomes Reality. Our dream of centuries is realized as UN votes 11-37 for Partition, with 6 abstentions.”

The Beth El News of February announced that Rabbi Lipis had returned from his wartime chaplaincy and was back as spiritual leader. Rabbi and Mrs. Harry Kellman came to Beth El as permanent rabbi later in 1947. Rabbi Kellman was to spend twenty years at Beth El, inspiring much of its growth and success.

The May 21st issue of The Voice heralded the foundation of the State of Israel with the headline, “Yishuv Raises Banner of Republic of Israel.” There appeared on the front page Israel's Declaration of Independence. Norman Heine succeeded Benjamin Asbell as chairman of the Beth El School Board.

The Seventh United Thanksgiving Service was held at Beth El on November 25, 1948, with participation from Jewish congregations of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties. The service was chaired by Jack F. Cozen. Cantor Moses E. Saitz and the Beth El Choir — directed by Samuel Gordon — led the musical portions. See Beth El Sisterhood for more information about 1948.

Mr. Louis Markowitz was elected to the presidency after serving as president since February following Mr. Cutler's resignation. Mrs. Max Leff was again elected sisterhood president. The Beth El Ball, chaired by Irv Levinsky and co-chaired by Martin Odlen, was held at the Woodcrest Country Club on February 27th. The Journal was dedicated to former President Herman Z. Cutler. Rabbi Solomon Grayzel returned to speak at Beth El.

The campaign for a new Jewish Community Center in Camden had as initial chairman of the Building Fund, Maurice Clyman. The vigorous campaign's top leadership consisted of Meyer Adelman, Florence Getzov, Alice Galanter, and Zelda Lutz. The first Reform services in Camden were held in February 1950 at the Walt Whitman Hotel.

A dinner for men only — chaired by S. Arthur Levy — featured an appearance by Governor Alfred Driscoll. The men paid fifty dollars for the privilege of attending the “Men's Donor Dinner,” the forerunner of “The Rabbi's Dinner” which was to be held annually to raise money for Beth El's educational programs. Isadore Krakower, Beth El's educational director, produced “A Modern Haggadah for Young People” with illustrations by local artist, Freda Reiter.

In February of 1952, a meeting was held at the home of Dr. Robert Kaplan to discuss the feasibility of starting a “Hebrew Day School.” In September, The Camden Hillel School opened at Sons of Israel with an enrollment of nine students. Ben Zion Steinberg became president of the school. Harry Berkowitz succeeded Louis Markowitz as President of the Congregation.

Morris Liebman, Past President of Beth El and Federation was appointed head of the Allied Jewish Appeal Campaign of 1953–54. David Markowitz was the chairman of the Community Center Council. On March 8, 1953, a dinner was held at the Walt Whitman Hotel to honor Rabbi Lipis for his contribution to Jewish education. Rabbi Harry Kellman was installed as a permanent rabbi of Beth El.

On January 26, 1954, David Breslau, a former teacher in Beth El's religious school and a veteran of World War II, came back to Beth El to speak for Pioneer Women. The United Synagogue Youth group at Beth El which began in 1953 was received with great enthusiasm. On November 14th, the Beth El Academy, an after-school Hebrew program, graduated its first class. N. Herman Rappaport became congregation president.

Herbert Kolosky became chairman of the Bureau of Jewish Education. Beth El's Carl Mitnick became Chairman of the AJA. Beth El appointed Dr. Samuel Rosenblum to succeed Jacob Levin as principal of the Religious School. Dov Gilden became Sexton of the synagogue in January. On March 25th, funeral services were conducted in the main sanctuary for past president, Herman Z. Cutler (1946–47), whose years of leadership at Beth El were inspiring.

On February 5, 1956, the newly completed Jewish Community Center on Route 70 was visited by 4,300 people at an “open house.” Norman Heine, former head of the Bureau of Jewish Education and the AJA, became President of the Jewish Federation. Joseph Schurr became the first chairman of the Community Center's Board of Managers and Samuel Rosenberg became head of the AJA Campaign. Reba Natal became Sisterhood president.

In 1957 Beth El's Religious School received the United Synagogue's Solomon Schecter Award for the best school in the category of 200–1000 families. Principal of the religious school was Dr. Samuel Rosenblum. Max Odlen became President of the Congregation. Mrs. Joseph Ostrov (Geraldine) became Sisterhood President. Milton Sternberg succeeded Joseph Markowitz as President of the Men's Club. Norman Heine was reelected President of the Federation.

On June 23, 1958, the Beth El auditorium was the scene of the Hillel School's first, and unfortunately last, graduating class. In the fall of 1958, with the demise of the Hillel School, Beth El started an all-day kindergarten called the Foundation School, which met five days a week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The school was under the supervision of Dr. Rosenblum. The Seventeenth United Thanksgiving Service was held at Beth El on November 27, 1958, with Cantor Louis J. Herman and the Beth El Choir participating.

On April 10, Adult Education Sabbath was celebrated at a Friday night service. Speakers included students who spoke on “what I got out of my adult study group.” At High Holiday Services, for the first time, there was an exchange of pulpits between the auditorium service and the main sanctuary. Cantor Abraham Singer led the auditorium service. In honor of Beth El's forthcoming 40th anniversary, a Chanukah party was held honoring members of the staff.

On February 28 of 1960, members of the Cantor's Assembly from the South Jersey and Philadelphia area gave a concert at Beth El for the benefit of the Cantor's Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Soloists were Cantors Louis Herman, Laybel Chaitovsky and Seymour Schwartzman. The Beth El Ball on March 27, 1960 at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia marked the fortieth anniversary of the Congregation's founding. Rabbi Isaac Furman succeeded Rabbi Kellman as interim rabbi.

In January of 1961, President Morris Albert publicized the opening of the campaign to raise $70,000 to pay for the site of the new Beth El in Delaware Township. In order to realize Rabbi Kellman's plan to have as many people as possible able to say, “This is my Land,” contributions were limited to no more than $1,000 per person. Leon Mickleman, son of Beth El's first cantor, was elected president on May 10, 1961.

Leon Mickleman, Dorothy Brown and Gene Morse were re-elected presidents of congregation, sisterhood and men's club respectively. In observance of Jewish Music Month's Eighteenth Anniversary, a special musical service was held on Friday evening February 16, 1962. In May of 1962, the Beth El Foundation School acquired a new name — The Beth El Academy. Martin Odlen began his second term as Beth El's President.

In 1964 the Building Committee was under the co-chairmanship of Max Odlen and Morris Puro. Other members were Milton Nurock, Joseph Odlen, Paul Tanker, Morris Tucker and Sidney Uhr. On Saturday evening June 13, 1964, Rabbi Kellman, Cantor Herman and the Beth El Choir conducted a special Havdalah service.

In 1965, as plans for the new synagogue were being completed, other plans for the sale of Beth El's Parkside property were underway. The property was to become the site of a Senior Citizen's Housing Project. This plan never materialized. Morris Liebman was honored by Israel Bonds on February 28 at the Cherry Hill Inn. On May 3rd, Meyer Adleman received the Federation's Community Service Award. He had been Honorary President of Federation since 1940.

On April 22, 1966 at the Friday night service, Beth El's shammes (sexton) Dow Gilden was honored for more than ten years of devoted service. In addition to the performance of the routine duties of shammes, “Dov” as he is affectionately called, teaches bar mitzvah boys to read the Torah. Together with his wife, Freda, they have added greatly to the development and character of Beth El.

On March 6, 1966 — Rabbi Naftoli H. Riff died. Rabbi Riff had served as the spiritual leader of the Orthodox community in Camden for nearly five decades. He was the great-grandson of Rabbi Naftoli Zvi Berlin of the world-famous Voloziner Yeshivah in Lithuania.

By 1967 it was quite obvious that the original one million dollar projected cost of the new Beth El was most unrealistic. The sum of two million dollars now loomed as the actual cost of the structure by the time it would be completed. Edward Saline and Maurice Clyman had become most actively involved with the Building Committee. David Markowitz and Fannie Markowitz were honored for their decades of service to Beth El.

Dr. Edward Ludin, past president of the Young Associates, was appointed head of the Allied Jewish Appeal. Joseph Ostrov became head of the Israel Bonds Drive. On May 1, a historic first took place at the Community Synagogue as the Parkside Beth El celebrated its last High Holiday Services in the Park Boulevard building with an emotionally moving ceremony. In December 1967, the new building on Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill was occupied. Mrs. Joseph Ostrov was honored by Israel Bonds.

Harold E. Waggoner, architect of the new synagogue, informed Beth El that the new building had been awarded top recognition at the Annual National Conference on Religious Architecture in St. Louis. On April 16, 1969, Martin Odlen was reelected president of the congregation. Irving Kessler became president of the Men's Club. Mrs. Lawrence Zitomer followed Mrs. Simon Seidman as president of Sisterhood. The Young Associates sponsored a “Gala Golden Jubilee Eve” on October 4th, with a special program and entertainment at the new Beth El.

At Kol Nidre services September 21, 1969 (5730), President Odlen read the Golden Jubilee Proclamation: “In the Beginning G-d created Beth El as a dream in the hearts of men.”

1970 opened with Rabbi Kahn's first “Rabbi's Dinner” on January 12th. Continuing the proud tradition established by Rabbi Kellman, the Rabbi invited the men of the congregation to participate in this important fund-raising venture. Past President Arthur Goldman was chairman of the event which was highly successful. On Friday night, January 16, Beth El celebrated Golden Jubilee Sabbath by honoring the presidents of all the affiliates.

The following photos and documents were compiled in the Golden Jubilee year (1969–1970) as a retrospective collection of Beth El's history.