Our History
40 Years: Temple Solel
July 30, 1978
Yom Hashoa Service at St. Andrews with Rabbi Richard Schachet – Discussion of establishing Reform Synagogue in local area
August 23, 1978
Announcement of formation of Congregation in newspaper
August 27, 1978
Organizational Meeting at St. Andrews Episcopal with Rabbi Erwin Herman, National Director of New Synagogues for UAHC
September 8, 1978
First Shabbat Service held at St. Andrews
October 25, 1978
First day of Religious School
December 26, 1978
Search for new Rabbi started
August 24, 1979
Rabbi Bernard Goldsmith announced as new spiritual leader
September 27, 1979
North County’s first woman cantor to celebrate the High Holy Days, Anita Jordan Bard at Temple Solel
December 20, 1979
Vote to acquire a 2 acre site on El Camino Real (55 families)
January 30, 1981
Dedication of the Holocaust Torah donated by Annette and David Alpert in honor of David’s father, Joseph Alpert
December 21, 1981
First meeting of Youth Groups
November, 1982
“Jews By Choice” and Adult B’nai Mitzvah classes started
April 1, 1983
First Shabbat in Interim Facility, 2210 Encinitas Boulevard
June 11, 1983
First Confirmation Service with Rabbi John Rosenblatt officiating first Adult B’nai Mitzvah
January, 1984
Women’s Group officially becomes Sisterhood
September, 1984
Rabbi Lenore Bohm begins as part-time Rabbi
October, 1984
Kathy Robbins joins staff as Cantorial Soloist and Musical Director
July 1, 1985
Rabbi Lenore Bohm hired as full-time Rabbi. First woman Rabbi to lead a congregation in San Diego County and 1 of 15 female primary congregational Rabbi’s in the US
August 17, 1986
Ground-breaking for 552 South El Camino Real, Encinitas location of Temple Solel (185 families)
October 25, 1987
“Torah March” from Encinitas Boulevard location to new facility at 552 South El Camino Real (350 families)
November 20, 1987
New Ark in Sanctuary dedicated in memory of Bernice Gordon
December 18, 1987
July, 31, 1988
Dedication of the Alpert Mendelson Library
August 19, 1988
Dedication of Sanctuary stained glass windows donated by the Cushman family
February 24, 1989
Dedication of Bima Beautification donated by the Leichtag family
November 22, 1989
First Interfaith Thanksgiving Service celebrated in North County
March, 1990
Dedication of the Megillah donated by Harry Gladstein in memory of Victor Ottenstein’s father
October 10, 1990
Dedication of Festival Torah Mantles donated by the children and grandchildren of Mort and Agatha Winski
April, 1991
May 10, 1991
Dedication of Ruth L. Harvey Torah donated by Lauren Fischer
June 30, 1991
Rabbi Lenore Bohm retires from Temple Solel
July 1, 1991
Rabbi David M. Frank joins Temple Solel
October 18, 1991
Installation of Rabbi David M. Frank
November 1, 1991
Dedication of Sefer Torah
September, 1993
Opening of Temple Solel Early Childhood Center Preschool
September 10, 1993
September 12, 1993
Alpert Mendelson Library re-opened after reorganization and renovation of library by committee led by Penny Adler
December 8, 1995
by Leslie Perlis
January 25, 1996
Chai Celebration in honor of Temple Solel ’s 18th Birthday
Fall 1997
Entered escrow for new land to move Temple Solel – Architect for new site chosen
July 1, 1997
Rabbi Ted Riter joins the clergy
July 1, 2005
Rabbi Jeff Brown joins the clergy
September 9, 2005
“Torah March” and move from El Camino Real location to new facility at 3575 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff by the Sea (770 families)
September 10, 2005
Shabbat Services take place at new temple campus
June 30, 2010
Cantor Kathy Robbins retires from Temple Solel
July 1, 2010
Cantor William Tiep joins the clergy
March 9, 2014
Dedication of the Lawrence S. Pidgeon Sanctuary
July 1, 2014
Rabbi Adam Wright joins the clergy
August 26, 2016
Dedication of Larry’s Sport Court in honor of Lawrence S. Pidgeon
July 30, 2018
Temple Solel 40th Anniversary Celebration
May 18, 2019
Rabbi David M. Frank Retirement Celebration
June 30, 2019
Senior Rabbi David M. Frank retires from Temple Solel
July 1, 2019
Senior Rabbi Alexis Berk joins the clergy
January 17, 2020
Installation Ceremony for Rabbi Berk