The contents of the collections consist of documents, records, newsletters, minutes, newspaper clippings, photographs, financial records regarding the congregation, from 1962 to 1998 with the majority being from the 1970's  – 1990's.

Congregation Beth Tefilah was founded in 1962. It was the first permanent East County conservative congregation. Its founding directors were Aaron Kolkey, Robert Kolkey, Arthur Bressman, Eugene Janoff, Dr. Earl Richmond, William Wayne, Irving Coleman, Robert Kipnis, Irving Krantz, Morris Cahan, Abraham Sandler, Louis Sander, Marilyn Frankel, Rose Fischbein, Abe Wilks, Isaak Abramowitz. Bert Schloss was the first president and Marilyn Frankel was the secretary. The first rabbi was Rabbi Lawton and the first permanent rabbi was Sidney Rappaport who came in 1963. In 1971 their synagogue building was dedicated at 69th St, just off El Cajon Blvd in San Diego. In 1999 their building was sold and the congregation merged with Adat Ami Synagogue to become Ohr Shalom Synagogue, now located in the former home of Congregation Beth Israel, at 3rd and Laurel Streets in San Diego.

7.50 Linear Feet

The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine.  Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.

This collection is open for research.