Synagogue celebrates six decades of service

Chula Vista’s oldest synagogue celebrated six decades of serving the South Bay’s Jewish community in October.

Temple Beth Shalom in western Chula Vista, turned 60 on Oct. 21.
A 60th anniversary celebration was held at Elijah’s Banquet Hall in San Diego. The celebration featured a gala, a walk-through time presentation of the synagogue and a talk by Dr. Joellyn Zollman, who discussed the South Bay’s Jewish families who settled in the South Bay.

“When we first opened up, this was pretty much the only game in town as far as synagogues,” said Arlene LaGary, Temple Beth Shalom’s President. “It’s remarkable that we’re still here.”

LaGary said that Temple Beth Shalom is still the only synagogue in Chula Vista.
Before the building at 208 Madrona St. became Temple Beth Shalom, it was home to St. John’s Episcopal Church. The church sold the Spanish-style building to the synagogue in 1958 when it moved to First Avenue, where it still stands today. LaGary said when the synagogue took over the building it removed all of Christian symbols and replaced them with Jewish symbols.

She said the synagogue is the only facility in the world that she is aware of that has a minora on top of a bell tower.

In 2016, the synagogue was designated as a Chula Vista historic site.
LaGary said the fact that the synagogue has been around for 60 years is a testament to the congregation its serves.

“That’s significant,” she said about celebrating 60 years. “Because churches and synagogues depend on the congregation to keep them going.”

She said the synagogue has big plans in the next few years.

Right now, Temple Beth Shalom is undergoing a few renovations in updating its facility.
But, LaGary said the synagogue could use a renovation and that future plans include fund raising to pay for it.

Currently the synagogue serves about 65 families. LaGary said it is the synagogue’s hope that they can attract more families to their services.

The congregation is very diverse. Temple Beth Shalom serves Ashkenazi Jews, who are Jews from Europe and Sepjardi Jews from Spain. LaGary said many of the synagogue’s worshipers are Spanish speaking and some even come from across the Mexican border to attend services. She said not only does the synagogue serve the South Bay, it serves worshippers across the county with people coming as far as Hillcrest and Kearny Mesa.
Rabbi Michael Samuel has been at the synagogue for 11 years teaching several classes and holds services every Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday’s at 10 a.m.

LaGary said she hopes the synagogue could someday host another anniversary celebration.
“The plan is to be here for another 60 years,” she said.