TEMPLE BETH DAVID HISTORY

The year 1961 was historic. The Peace Corps was founded. Alan Shepard made the first U.S. manned spaceflight. And, as a result of seven dedicated families, a peaceful place known fondly as Temple Beth David was founded as a reform synagogue.

Al Caplan, Jack Broscow, Lou Zommick, and Ben Cohn were some of the first founders. Back then, congregants and students met at a church in Los Alamitos. High Holy Days took place at various locations. When we decided to build on land in Wesminster, each board member was asked to guarantee the bank loan by putting their personal homes as collateral. In 1973 we merged with a conservative synagogue, Temple Hillel, and by 1976 we graduated our first confirmation class.

We had several part time rabbis, most notably Rabbi Morton Fierman and Rabbi Henri Front. Our first full time rabbi was Rabbi Bernie Goldsmith. Now we have two women as our Rabbi and Cantor Soloist – Rabbi Nancy Myers and Cantor Soloist Nancy Linder.

Our pre-school is well known and respected, our spirited choir has much to do with our being called the “singing synagogue,” and from the beginning, we had a strong and active Brotherhood and Sisterhood. Sisterhood even ran a catering service for members’ simcahs to raise funds. A year after an extreme makeover in 2005, we began the tradition of holding Synaplexes that attract hundreds of congregants and guests.

Now in 2009, we enjoy a vibrant membership of more than 300 families ranging in ages and backgrounds. In 2008 we launched our new logo depicted a family tree representing our welcoming nature, our commitment to spiritual and personal growth, and our love of family, friends, and newcomers.