Our History
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
October 18, 1985: Rabbi Lenore Bohm installed as Rabbi
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: Dedication of Temple Solel—Our first permanent facility in North County
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: Sefer Torah written for “Bar Mitzvah” year begun
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: Sanctuary Remodeling donated by Victor Ottenstein in memory of his wife, Sondra. Sanctuary rededicated.
September 12, 1993: Alpert Mendelson Library re-opened after reorganization and renovation of library by committee led by Penny Adler
December 8, 1995: Dedication of Jewish calendar stained glass windows by Leslie Perlis
January 25, 1996: Chai Celebration in honor of Temple Solel ’s 18th Birthday
July 1, 1997: Rabbi Ted Riter joins the clergy
Fall 1997: Entered escrow for new land to move Temple Solel - Architect for new site chosen
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 site
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
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