The History of Temple Beth Emet

**From our Temple Beth Emet - Dedication Year Book, 1963**

(author unknown)

The first meeting, called to discuss the formation of a conservative congregation in Orange County, convened in December, 1955, in a private home in Fullerton, California. Although most of those present were probably unaware of it, that first meeting set the pattern of growth and action that remains with us to this day. During this preliminary meeting the decision to establish such a congregation was made, funds were donated to open a bank account, a general meeting date was set and pro tem leaders were appointed. The speed with which this group moved can best be indicated by the fact that the first meeting of the Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Emet (recently renamed to Temple Beth Emet Women's League) was called for January 23, 1956. Between these two dates, services were held at the Anaheim Y.M.C.A., followed immediately by business meetings during which the organization was formalized, a name was chosen, a constitution and bylaws committee was appointed, and application was made to the State of California for charter as a non-profit corporation. Application was made to the United Synagogue of America for affiliation, a housing committee was appointed to find temporary, and eventually permanent quarters for our congregation and the Sisterhood and Men's Club were organize.

One may well imagine the frantic pace set by the people responsible for all this, and wonder when it would begin to taper off. The answer to that is - it didn't. On February 19, 1956 our constitution and by-laws were ready for congregation approval, and were so approved at a meeting held at the Northrop Recreation Hall in Anaheim. During this period our Religious School was forming and was formulating the policies by which it still is operated. The first issue of our Temple Bulletin, The Temple Beth Emet Tidings, was printed in March of 1956, and carried the announcement that Hebrew School registration was in process, announced Services, a general meeting for election of permanent officers and board members, and to community Seders. On March 23, 1956, we held services for the first time in Wesley Hall at the White Temple Methodist Church in Anaheim (now the Anaheim United Methodist Church), and began an association that still continues, warming the hearts of our congregation and theirs.

Every year we held an ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, alternating location between Temple Beth Emet and the Anaheim United Methodist Church. In 1998, the Emanuel Pentecostal Romanian Church of God joined our ecumenical Thanksgiving Service and, in addition to their choir, contribute their symphony orchestra to the service. Hosting responsibility now rotates between the three participatants each year. It is always a joyous and moving service highlighting the three combined choirs.

The recital of events must of course, leave to the imagination the behind-the-scenes activity of the committee people responsible for these moves, but as our plans progressed, their work became ever mor demanding, more urgent, and more fascinating. Our first Hebrew School sessions were held at a home in Garden Grove on April 4, 1956 when we voted to buy the late lamented property at Emily and Adele, a house that would serve as our Temple until a more suitable structure could be built. The pace continue.

TBE's first home on Emily Street:

On May 20, our first pre-registration was opened for our Sunday School, and forty children were registered. During this period, the social life of our congregation was not being ignored. Our first spring dance was held at the Garden Grove Women's Civic Club, on April 28. There were many smaller affairs through this period. And now came the function towards which, with everything else going on, we had been pointing to since our beginning - our first High Holy Day Services. This too was held at the Garden Grove Women's Civic Club, and began with Rosh Hashanah Services at 8:00 PM on September 5, 1956 and terminated with Yom Kippur Services on September 15. On September 23 our Sunday School officially opened at Emily and Adele, with 120 children enrolled. And now, with our own property purchased, our Hebrew and Sunday School classes in session, our first High Holy Day Services behind us, and our membership growing daily, the frantic pace that had been maintained for almost a year finally changed; it got faster.

A yearbook campaign, started June 18, was in full swing; a youth program was developing; a search for a Rabbi was under way; services were being held school teachers were being trained at night courses in Long Beach so that they could teach in our school, and Chanukah was coming. The Sisterhood organized Chanukah workshops and the educational committee organized a school party. Through the balance of December and January 1957,our Temple was being refuTrbished (a process that really never ended), nominating committees were in session, card parties were sponsored by Sisterhood, Social Action lectures were held, and the Men's Club set up its Sweethearts Dance for February 16. Somewhere during this period our school enrollment climbed to 150, and teachers became a very high priority time in our scheme of things. Sunday mornings at the Temple became an experience no one should miss, Temple programs and functions continued through elections in March 1957.

On March 22, our services were conducted by a guest Rabbi, Aaron J. Tofield, from - of all places - Oklahoma City. In May of 1957 the decision was made, and Rabbi Tofield accepted our pulpit. In the same month our membership dues were increased. Sisterhood sponsored a Gay Nineties Night at Northrop Recreation Hall on May 25. The pre-teen group had its first dance party on May 18, and the religious and social life of our congregation continued into the summer months. In July Rabbi Tofield and his family officially joined our community, and on August 3, we had our first full-scale dinner dance in his honor. The arrival of our Rabbi triggered a greatly expanded educational, religious and cultural program, immediately evidenced by the beginning of an Adult Education program on October 7, the formation of plans for a junior congregation, and our High Holy Day Services beginning on September 25, 1957, conducted for the first time you our own Rabbi. Our fall religious school semester opened with over 200 children, and the handwriting was on the wall.

And now our Temple began to assume a new position in our community. Our Rabbi was able to represent us and the total Jewish Community in addresses at the local churches, the Ministers Union, the service clubs of our area, and in the full scope of community affairs which had always involved us, but in which we never had been involved. From this point in the progress of our Temple, while not spectacular, assumed a steady pattern of growth and development which totally absorbed our leaders in planning sessions for the future. During the late months of 1957 and the early months of 1958, much attention was paid to the acquisition and retention of members, the broadening of program, and the development of future leadership. Part of this planning bore fruit on July 1, 1958, when our Cantor Moddel joined our community. This added one more laurel wreath to our Temple's crown. We were now the only Congregation in this country with an Oklahoma Rabbi and an Irish Cantor. With the arrival of our Cantor, we began the development of a musical department and a choir whose beautifully rehearsed performances brought a new dignity and meaning to our services.

In mid 1959 we officially constituted our Building Committee and our Building Fund Committee, and began formally to plan for new property and new buildings for our congregation. This project brought with it many key dates and actions; the final decision on land, and its purchase; the planning of the facilities; the choice of a contractor - all culminating on June 2, 1963 in the dedication of our new facilities. And now we approach our 8th High Holy Day Services, in our new home.

Ground Breaking - November 22, 1962/25 Heshvan 5723

Temple Beth Emet under construction - 1962

School Under Construction - January 1969

Located on five acres of land, Temple Beth Emet is central to the various communities which it serves. The buildings, dedicated June 1963, contain the sanctuary, capable of accommodating 1200 worshippers; the social hall and stage used for school assemblies, social gatherings, dinners, Holiday celebrations and other occasions of joy; a kosher kitchen, youth center with eight classrooms; and Temple and School administrative offices.

Temple Beth Emet's Dedication - June 1963

It is the aim of Temple Beth Emet to help young and old to make full use of the great heritage of the Jewish people, by beautifying their lives and making them more meaningful through our traditions and customs. The program and method of our Temple are geared for modern Jewish living, in keeping with the Conservative Movement. We dedicate ourselves to the worship of God and the study of Torah, to good citizenship and mankind's service.

The foregoing is an accurate account of the events which lead us to the position we now enjoy. But a congregation is more than events, more than land, more than a building, more than money. A congregation is people, and to write about its history without writing about its people is to write without knowledge and without heart. From our formative meeting to our recent dedication ceremony, our course has been guided, and charted, and pushed, by you - our people. To you who have demanded of your leadership, both lay and professional, the very best they were capable of giving, and to you who answered those demands with the best you had in you, goes the credit and the glory for what has been done here during the past eight years.

To name the many who come to mind would be to slight the many more who inspired and supported them.

"Let our Temple be known for what it is - a monument to all our people and to all mankind"