Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills Kicks off Year-Long 75th Anniversary Celebration with Festive Gala

LOS ANGELES - Feb. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills began the celebration of its 75th anniversary year with a festive evening of music, dancing, drinks, delicious desserts, and shared memories. Over 200 members and non-members filled the synagogue’s Greer Social Hall, decorated in an array of hot neon colors and balloons.

Chaired by Toni Corwin, Lisa Bochner, and 75th Anniversary Chair Lisa Kay Schwartz, the gala event honored 75 years of excellence in serving Los Angeles’ diverse Jewish community. Longtime members shared brief vignettes of their most poignant memories at the synagogue, and California Assembly Member Richard Bloom presented a resolution of congratulations to Temple Emanuel.

An impressive exhibition of Temple Emanuel memorabilia featured objects and icons dating back to 1937, including documents, membership lists, and photos of dignitaries who attended past dinners and events. The display will remain on view in the temple’s foyer at 300 North Clark Drive for the rest of the year, and will rotate archival materials from its rich and vibrant history.

To kick off this monumental year, Temple Emanuel recently completed an expansive renovation of its auditorium, classrooms, and outdoor landscaping, following a full remodel of the Corwin Family Sanctuary and the debut of the Greer Social Hall, both completed in 2011. The synagogue’s schools have also been enhanced with new educational leadership, with the recent appointment of two exceptional directors for the Temple Emanuel Academy Day School and Religious School, respectively.

Temple Emanuel has been a vital and active part of the Beverly Hills and Greater Los Angeles Jewish communities since 1937.  Led by a dynamic team of clergy, Rabbi Laura Geller, Rabbi Jonathan Aaron, and Cantor Yonah Kliger, the Temple continues to pride itself on its diversity and open and engaging synagogue practices.

“Temple Emanuel is honored to have served the community for the last 75 years,” says Rabbi Geller. “We are excited to usher in a new era of worship and study and in turn, to facilitate many opportunities to enhance spirituality and knowledge.”