On June 3, 1971, Rabbi Chester was ordained in Cincinnati. That night, fire swept through Temple Beth Israel burning holes in the ceiling of the sanctuary, and severely damaging the social hall and the stained glass windows. Fortunately members of the Temple reached the building in time to rescue the three Torahs and other priceless and historic artifacts. It has been reported Heinz Ahronheim and Bob Glick ran into the burning building to save the Torahs. Although scorched, the Torahs were repairable. During the rebuilding, the congregation met at the First Methodist Church and borrowed Torahs from the prison to conduct services.
Dr. Edith Ahronheim was the first woman to become Temple president. She held the office from 1976 to 1978. Ten years later Barbara Rudolph became the second woman president of Temple Beth Israel, and presided from 1986 to 1988.
Rabbi Chester led the congregation for five years with Irwin Tannenbaum his successor from 1976 to 1984. Retired Rabbi Phillip Frankel served for six months until Jeffrey Gale arrived late in 1984 from London where he was trained at the Leo Beck School. He stayed three years as did Robert Shafran. Rabbi Alan Ponn joined us in 1990 and in the fall of 1999, became Rabbi Emeritus.
The Tree of Life was donated to the Temple as a memorial to Sadie and Louis Glick by the Glick family as an ongoing fund-raiser for the Temple to commemorate happy occasions.
