By Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel
ENCINITAS, California — The Leichtag Foundation welcomed three new directors of Jewish agencies in San Diego at a reception at the Hive on Thursday, January 10. The honorees were Rabbi Gary Oren of Hillel, Betzy Lynch of the Jewish Community Center, and Michael Jeser of the Jewish Federation. Charlene Seidle of the Leichtag Foundation introduced them and invited the guests to share details of their qualifications and backgrounds. Questions were later asked by the audience of about 60 people including representatives from several Jewish organizations plus North County residents.
The guests spoke extemporaneously. Rabbi Gary Oren was ordained at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, has a BA from California State University at Fullerton, and earned an MA in Middle Eastern studies at Tel Aviv University.
Betzy Lynch said, “I have had the gift of working for 20 years in the Jewish Community Center movement in five amazing communities across the country. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to impact the Jewish community of the present and future.”
Michael Jesser was recently Project Manager at Family Leave , and former Project Manager at Vehicle Sharing. He attended Murdoch University and Institute of Technology Education at Rutgers University.
This was my first visit to the Leichtag Foundation although it is a stone’s throw from Seacrest Village where I reside. Among the many activities that occur at this former farm is an area where they continue to grow vegetables and fruit, which are sold once a week at a ‘Farmer’s Market.”
Classes are offered to the public on how to grow their own vegetables, and how to be better farmers. The Leichtag Foundation also contributes free food to local lower income families.
*
Merel is the cantor emeritus of Congregation Beth Israel in San Diego. He may be contacted via sheldon.merel@sdjewishworld.com