FEATURE STORY
CONGREGATION BETH AM AT 40 BY BARBARA BIRENBAUM
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or 40 years, Congregation Beth Am’s Conservative community has called North County home and continues to grow stronger, inspiring connection and continuity. Recognizing and honoring the past and setting the stage for growth and progress, the congregation is planning to celebrate this auspicious milestone with a grand celebration weekend, January 21-23, 2022, entitled Hinei Ma Tov, because it is just so good to be together after all these years. In 1982, a group of dedicated Jewish families wanted to establish a Conservative presence in Coastal North County San Diego. The undertaking proved to be prophetic. Rabbi Wayne Dosick, together with a small group of families, formed Congregation Beth Am. Settling in the facility affectionately called the “Tire Store,” membership grew quickly with people coming from as far south as La Jolla and as far north as Oceanside. The very first year, Beth Am opened their
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Hebrew school, the Jewish Learning Center. During the early years, the synagogue was run by volunteers who genuinely felt like family. This family feeling continues and is felt strongly by regulars of all ages. HOUSE OF THE PEOPLE
During the first years, the congregation focused on growth, learning, and helping people get involved. True to its name, Beth Am had truly become the “House of the People.” After Rabbi Dosick left and before a new rabbi was hired, Judy Sperling and her husband Jack, who were among the founding members, led services each Friday and Saturday, keeping those early members connected and living up to their name. In July of 1991, Beth Am hired Rabbi Arthur Zuckerman, lovingly known as Rabbi Zucky. Membership quickly grew from 160 to over 400 families. Rabbi Zucky instituted the 7 days/week minyan, programming for all ages, a preschool, and youth department.
