Generations and Memory – Day 5

5 Elul 5774
By Cheryl Escoe

Generations and Memory

In 1959, on Eighth and Bush Streets in Santa Ana, Temple Beth Sholom was a small reform congregation.  The youth groups O.C.T.Y. and B.S.T.Y were open to all Jewish teens and preteens.  Our parents were members, it was there that Barry and I first met.  As teens we attended youth group events throughout Southern California and enjoyed meeting and making new friends.  Some of them we still see today.  We continued seeing each other after high school graduation and in 1964, we were married by Rabbi Bergman.  It was the second life cycle event in our family, since Barry had his Bar Mitzvah there.  We maintained our membership as we continued our education and jobs.  In 1968, Barry was asked by Helen Aaron to become the youth advisor, a position he held for many years.  That same year our daughter Joelle was born and was blessed by Rabbi Stern at her naming ceremony.  Rabbi Stern continued to have a presence in our life as he officiated at her Bat Mitzvah and confirmation.  I became a B’nai Mitzvah the same weekend as Joelle’s.

When Joelle married Paul Sterman in 2006, Rabbi Cohen officiated at their ceremony.  The next year when Hannah was born Rabbi Cohen greeted her at the hospital and continues to greet her as she attends Sunday school and Camp Sholom.

I write this as many of you decide on whether or not to join or rejoin TBS.  We need to see our temple rebuilt as we go through this tough time.  We will remain members and look forward to the ground -breaking event on Sept. 7th.

L’dor V’dor
Cheryl and Barry Escoe

Comments are closed.