Temple News
Betty Jo Fredrich, 1928-2003
Dear friend of Temple Beth Solomon, Betty Jo Fredrich, beloved wife of Albert Fredrich, passed away Saturday, January 4th, just ten days before her 75th birthday. She suffered a heart attack and kidney failure brought about by year-long health problems.
She was born Betty Jo Ward on January 14, 1928 in St. Louis. She worked for the May Co. in St. Louis and after an invitation by Mary Greenstone to visit Los Angeles, she transferred to the May Co. in Los Angeles and settled here in 1957. Mutual friends introduced Betty Jo to Albert Fredrich and after dating for two months they married on April 18, 1959.
She began working for Temple Beth Solomon, alongside Albert, in May of 1990 and the two of them stayed with us until we moved in 2000. She was like family and kept our temple clean and running smoothly. Since she had nursing experience, she helped elderly congregants when they were ill and would help them to shop for food and attend to personal errands. Her heart was huge.
Her passion was her dogs; they were just like her children. She had her own personal Betty Boop "store" in her apartment, everything from key chains to needlepoint pillows of her favorite character, and was often called by that nickname.
Betty Jo was and active member of the deaf Women's Club and the Los Angeles Club for the Deaf and enjoyed group trips to Las Vegas.
We will miss her. Our deepest sympathies go to Albert and her family. We will honor her memory at our Shabbat services on March 7. May her memory be for a sweet blessing.
Jewish Journal Article
Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf receive prominent mention in a recent article on deaf Jews that appeared in the Jewish Journal. For those of you who missed this article here is the link to it: Listening to Needs.
Sinai Religious School Students Visit
On Friday, December 6, the students of Temple Sinai's religious school class visited Temple Beth Solomon for our Hannukah service. We crowded into the President's lounge for the service-standing room only. The room was filled with light as dozens of Menorahs were lit. Bess Hyman's Menorah was made out of a potato just like the one her grandmother used as a young girl in Austria in the 19th century when her family was too poor to afford a metal one.
Temple Sinai Religious School Class
The Temple Sinai students signed the Shema which the had been taught the week before when Bess Hyman, Eileen Aikens, and Jan Seely visited their classroom at Temple Sinai as they do every year. Many of the student also participated in our service. Bess Hyman told Isaac Bashevis Singer's story about Rebbecah and David, two young people in the Warsaw Ghetto, who found in the example of the Maccabees the courage to escape from the Ghetto, join the partisans fighting the nazis, and eventual go on to settle in Israel.
After the services we has a sumptuous oneg with sofganiot (jelly doughnuts) and chocolate suckers in honor of the holiday.
Mazel Tov
Selah Bleu
Mazel Tov to Gayle and Doug Ellis upon the arrival of their new granddaughter, Selah Bleu. She arrived to proud parents Stefanie and Len at 1:10 am, Wednesday, November 20th weighing 8 lbs. 11 oz., 19 3/4" long. Gayle and Doug say: "She looks beautiful and we all are filled with joy and happiness."