Temple News
Temple Beth Solomon Celebrates 50 Years
Our synagogue, Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf, in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, the only deaf synagogue in the world, will proudly celebrate its 50th anniversary, October 24, 2010.
By the late 1950's many members of the Los Angeles Hebrew Association of the Deaf longed for a synagogue in which they could nurture their unique style of worship, educate their children and have deaf social interaction. With the help and advice of Rose Zucker, who had a young deaf daughter, Helen (Inga), and the Regional Director of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Rabbi Solomon Kleinman, a synagogue of, not for, Deaf Jews was born. In a gesture of deep gratitude, the Charter Members of Temple Beth Solomon named the synagogue after him stating: "Rabbi Kleinman gave us our first insight into Judaism."
When Rabbi Kleinman was informed that many Jewish deaf children, living in residential schools, were sent to church on Sundays with their Christian classmates he knew that somehow a class or school for them must be created so they could be exposed to their Jewish heritage. When Rose mentioned there were as many as 500 Deaf Jews in the Los Angeles area, he thought-Why not create a Deaf congregation with a school!
In June of 1960, deafness and Judaism came together when Temple Beth Solomon held its first Shabbat service in the Chadwick Chapel of Temple Israel of Hollywood, with Rabbi Kleinman officiating and Jewish actor and comedian, Georgie Jessel in attendance. This was followed in September at Wilshire Boulevard Temple by the first-ever Deaf Jewish Holiday services, officiated by student rabbi, Don Singer and a deaf sign language choir.
An open meeting was called on December 5, 1961 to elect a full board and seven days later 120 proud deaf Jews officially became the Charter Members of Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf.
TBS was known as the "mobile congregation" traveling to various host synagogues for six years until 1966, all the while planning and saving for their own permanent home.
November, 1965, the decision to purchase the property of Temple Beth Torah in Arleta was made-the total purchase price was $58,000.00 and in March of 1966, after six years of bake sales, and fundraisers, they placed their hard-earned down payment into escrow.
A local Jewish newspaper announced the undertaking as: "...an endeavor of a group of people who have not let their deafness shut out the lyrical joys of Judaism...in six years the deaf congregants have raised the $30,000 they used as the initial down payment, doing their fundraising the hard way...there were no 'angels', no massive grants or funds. This was indeed a wonder of a self-help program that excites the imagination."
TBS has survived the destruction of two major earthquakes, the passing of 95 of their original 120 charter members and financial ups and downs. But with a tremendous amount of help, good leadership, good fortune and lots of love, they have made it for 50 wonderful years. Their legacy boasts of a small group of extremely dedicated, hard-working, deaf pioneers with a vision, who were able to offer a place for the entire Los Angeles Deaf community, Jew and gentile, hearing and deaf alike, to worship, to learn, to celebrate and to congregate face-to-face-the deaf way.
In celebration of this monumental occasion, Temple Beth Solomon invites the community to join them on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010 from 11-4 pm at the Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA. We will celebrate with a Gourmet Brunch from 11am-1pm and then have a very special Program with entertainment and raffle prizes from 1-4pm.
Cost for the event is $50.00 per person. You can make checks
payable to TBS & send to:
PO Box 33396
Granada Hills CA 91394
Contact: Jan Seeley, Director for any questions phone:
818-363-5580
email: tbsdeaf@verizon.net
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In memorium: Roz Boxer
TBS Charter Member, Roslyn Lena (Kunin) Boxer, 96, passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter, Elaine Aiello, in Lake Worth, Florida on Sunday, April 18, 2010.
Roz Boxer
Born in New York City on January 16, 1914, and raised in Brooklyn, she was the daughter of Isidore and Gussie (Zentner) Kunin of blessed memory. She attended the Wright Oral School in New York City and graduated from the New Jersey School for the Deaf in Trenton. She was formerly married to the late Julius L. Boxer.
During her 51 years in Los Angeles, California, Roz took great pride in volunteering for the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, (GLAD), who honored her in 1991 as the Volunteer of the Year. She also enjoyed serving meals to the senior citizens at the Westside Jewish Center for many years.
Roz moved to Maryland in 2000, spending winters in Florida and summers in Maryland. She was always surrounded with love and joy from her family and was thrilled when they took her on outings; never being able to resist brownies, Oreos, and chocolate when offered.
In addition to her daughter, Elaine Aiello of Gaithersburg, MD, Roz is survived by her son, Sherwood (Mary Sue) Boxer of Germantown, MD; four granddaughters: Stephanie (Mark) Summers of Germantown, MD, Ingrid (Albert) Wade of Tyrone, GA, Amanda Boxer of Germantown, MD, and Abbey (Ken) Thigpen of Hagerstown, MD; and great grandsons, Jonathan and Cory Summers of Germantown, MD and Tyler Wade, of Tyrone, GA.
The graveside service was conducted at Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles, on April 22, 2010, by Rabbi Rebecca Dubow and attended by family and friends. Memorial gifts may be made to:
- Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf, PO Box 33396, Granada Hills, CA 91394
- Jewish National Fund, PO Box 8183, Silver Spring, MD 20907 ~ www.jnf.org for tree or water donation
- Deaf Seniors of America, Joseph S. Rose, Treasurer, 7370 Michael Avenue, Easton, MD 21601
- Gallaudet University, Development Office, 800 Florida Avenue NE, Washington, D. C. 20002
If you are looking for the electronic edition of the CN click here.