This past April (2024), our Congregation Beth Am community mourned the loss of an extraordinary woman, Angela Lapin, Arella bat Avraham v’Sarah, z"l, who epitomized the virtues of an Eishet Chayil (Woman of Valor). Not only was Angela was a cherished friend, but she was a devoted member of Beth Am for nearly 25 years, significantly contributing to our Kehilah (community). Alongside Rachel Selk, Angela established The Lunch Bunch, volunteering to prepare Shabbat lunches for our community over many years. Angela was also an accomplished amateur photographer, generously offering her talents for numerous Beth Am Galas and the broader San Diego Jewish Community. Her photographic contributions were particularly impactful during the Beth Am Torah Project in 2013, with many of you treasuring the beautiful images she captured.
Beth Am members Jeffrey Storch and Rachel Selk are leading an initiative to install a permanent artwork in our synagogue to honor Angela’s memory and the values she embodied: gratitude, joy, peace and service to others. Congregation Beth Am has commissioned a tapestry from the esteemed elderly artists at Yad LaKashish in Jerusalem. Angela, a Jew by choice, is symbolically represented in this piece through the spirits of Ruth and Naomi, as well as the joyful spirit she personified.
To support this enduring tribute to Angela, we are raising funds in her honor and memory. The proceeds will cover the cost of the artwork and contribute to the growth of our synagogue in a manner befitting this tapestry. Future generations of Congregation Beth Am members will view this tapestry and recognize the profound impact Angela had on our lives, exemplifying hoda’ah (thanks), simha (celebration), hesed (compassion), and shalom (peace). We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support in creating this lasting memorial to Angela Lapin, z"l.