History

History of the North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation

Compiled by Bob Langsfeld and Miles Adler

The founding of a Jewish Congregation on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe was initiated in 1979 when a Jewish group conducted the first Holiday service at a private residence.  It was during this period that the group was fortunate to obtain the services of Sid Mann of Reno, the son of an Orthodox Rabbi.  Monthly services by Mr. Mann were organized in local homes on the North Shore.

The first community Seder was held in April of 1982 at the Carnelian House (now Garwoods) in Carnelian Bay. That summer marked Wayne Mogilefsky’s Bar Mitzvah. According to newspaper reports it was the first such event held at Lake Tahoe. In 1982, a very dramatic Bar Mitzvah was held on the West Shore for B.J. Topol. The Torah was flown by helicopter from Temple Emanuel in Reno to Tahoe City, then taken by horseback to the Topol home.

In May of 1982, a Board of Directors was appointed and the North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation officially came into being. In less than two years, the small group had grown to a solid core of fifty families. North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation summer programs were initiated in the summer of 1983 and were a huge success, enabling many visitors and part-time residents to meet our Jewish community at North Lake Tahoe. Rabbis who have played a major role in this program were Fred Krinsky, Morris Hershman, Earl Kaplan, Steven Chester, Ben Beliak and Sam Brodie.

The Presidents of NTHC since 1982 were Syd Brosten, Fred Vidro, Roger Kahn, Ernie Feld, Carolyn Friedman, Syd Brosten (once again), Seymor Koster, Ernie Grossman, Toni Langsfeld, Jerry Weinberg, Ed Gurowitz, Jeff Berkley, Jon Miller, Andy Barchas, Judy Friedman, Bob Langsfeld, Miles Adler and Jerry Flanzer. 

In 1985, Jeffrey Krinsky led us in Passover and High Holy Days Services at the Crystal Bay Casino. Beginning in 1987 services were held at Sierra Nevada College in Incline. The Hebrew Union College provided student Rabbis from 1987-1992.  By this point it became apparent that NTHC was ready for a resident rabbi. Rabbi Ernie Nadler, who was originally contracted to serve as part-time religious leader in August 1991, began serving full time in 1996. Since we did not have a permanent home, we continued to hold twice monthly services, High Holy Days Services, Religious School and various events at the North Tahoe Conference Center in Kings Beach. Sadly, Rabbi Nadler passed away in 2003. Oren Postrel returned as our full time Rabbi for a short time, then Rabbi Anne Persin was our spiritual leader from 2007 through 2011.

The greatest accomplishment in the history of our Congregation came to fruition in September of 2002. Thanks to the dynamic leadership of Ernie Grossman and the building committee, we now have our very own temple building. Never again will we be rootless. It is like walking into our own familiar and comfortable home after wandering through the desert for many years. The dedication of the new Community Center and Synagogue building occurred on August 24, 2002 and re-dedicated on December 8, 2002. The Sisterhood was instrumental in raising funds for the furnishing of the kitchen, led by chairs Judy Varadi and Jackie Wheeler. Monthly communication among our geographically dispersed members was critical and led by the efforts of many including Margaret Lewicki and Judy Friedman through the publication and mailing of The Shofar.

Since the construction of our beloved building in 2002, we have seen tremendous growth, both in membership and programming. The North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation has indeed fulfilled its role as the central address for Jewish life on the North Shore and we have much of which to be proud.

The pulpit has seen change since 2011 when Rabbi Ann Person left. Rabbis Meredith Kahn and Beth Beyer served as spiritual leaders each for approximately 3 years, until 2016. The following year (and beyond), Rabbi Larry Raphael led bi-monthly Torah Study and Shabbat Services, supplemented by lay-leadership conducting services on alternate weeks. In September, 2017, we entered into association with our current Rabbi, Evon Yakar, who serves in a similar position at Temple Bat Yam in South Shore. This affiliation has broadened the concept of “one larger Jewish Community” in the Lake Tahoe basin and has enhanced programming for both congregations.

With two congregations to serve on the High Holidays, we have engaged Student Rabbis from the University of Judaism -HUC, LA campus for assistance. Special appreciation to Avi Fine and Chaya Lehman, each of whom served us for two years. Cantor Eric Friedman added a beautiful tenor voice. Second day Rosh Hashanah services are combined with Temple Bath Yam at Spooner Lake. During the nearly 30 months the building was closed during the COVID epidemic, we engaged in zoom programming in association with Temple Or Rishon in the Sacramento area.

The Temple Board of Trustees continues to provide leadership and guidance. The Board has been well served with special contributions by Ernie Grossman, Bob Safran, Pam Dickerman, Heidi Doyle, Veronica Kaufman, Barbara Ansel, Mike Frank, Ina Bauman, Rebecca Meyerholz, Larry Heifetz, Kevin Ascher and numerous others.

The Temple Sisterhood has provided the congregation with abundant support this last decade. Led by leadership stalwarts Bea Axelrod, Margaret Grossman, Rose Orenstein, Cookie Steinberg, Vita Dworkin and Bonnie Yachbes, Sisterhood has purchased a new Torah for the congregation, refurbished the Temple Kitchen and provided for the Oneg Shabbat, Break the Fast and the annual family Chanukah Dinner and Faire. A small group has made a big difference.

The Religious School was led by Bonnie Meyers until her retirement in 2016. Rabbi Yakar assumed the directorship in 2016-2017 before his formal association with the congregation as spiritual leader. The Religious School had grown in the past 5 years to record numbers, both in the school and B’nai Mitzvah numbers. The teaching core of Lisa Sussman, Cookie Steinberg, D’vora Cohen and Lisa Richards deserve much praise for their efforts through the years.

We now celebrate 20 years in our Temple building on Latone Avenue.  The future is bright. Our focus going forward is the expansion of the concept of a “Greater Lake Tahoe Jewish Community” with further outreach to Truckee and the Carson Valley. The continuity of our community is vital.

We look forward to building and strengthening a strong Jewish Community. The future for us has never looked brighter.

Purpose of the North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation:

The purpose of this congregation is to promote the enduring and fundamental principals of Judaism and to ensure the continuity of the Jewish people; to enable its adherents to develop a relationship with God through communal worship, study and assembly; to apply the principals of Reform Judaism on the values and conduct of the individual, family, and the society in which we live.

December 1, 2022