Daniel Pick

Since 1941, the Pick family has been part of San Diego and its Jewish community. My parents Richard and Gracia were married at Tifereth Israel synagogue in 1955, and were members of Congregation Beth Israel. My mother was an active participant in the Beth Israel Hunger Project every Sunday for many years. I was married at the original Temple Beth Israel in Heritage Park on Lag B’Omer in 1997.

San Diego and its Jewish community have grown together during my life. The JCC moved from its original home on 54th street to the Jacobs Family Campus, and Congregation Beth Israel from its second home on Third and Laurel to its new campus near UTC. Jewish Family Service moved from the Leichtag building in Hillcrest to its new campus on Balboa Avenue, and new synagogues like Beth El and Beth Am were built to serve the community, as well as the San Diego Jewish Academy to educate the young.

These institutions have deepened and enriched Jewish life in my beloved hometown, and it’s only fitting as a lifelong resident and a Jew that I contribute my share to sustain them for future generations.