Temple Beth El Addition Donated

Attorney Edward W. Newman Gives $1 Million For New Wing; Named in honor of Rabbi Litvak

Rabbi Emeritus Richard Litvak, former senior rabbi of Temple Beth El for 40 years, including overseeing the building of the current facilities, will now have a new office in a new wing named after him.

Attorney Edward Newman, a 30-year member of the Temple Beth El and founder of the law offices of Newman & Marcus, is donating the bulk of the money for the project. The $1 million wing includes a teen lounge, a coffee shop and an office for the new rabbi emeritus.

“We wanted to help expand our Jewish Community Center’s activities,” Newman said. “This expansion gives a place for students to gather in the Teen Lounge in addition to a coffee lounge for our community.”

With Rabbi Rick official “retirement” last May, Rabbi Paula Marcus has taken over the Senior Rabbi’s office, but Newman wanted to ensure there would always be a place for Rabbi Rick to hang his hat.

“Knowing that Rabbi Litvak will never really retire, we have set aside an office for him in the new wing,” he said.

The retirement celebration: “40 Years of Leadership, Laughter and Learning,” featured a reunion choir and speakers that included former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Resurrection Catholic Community’s deacon Patrick Conway and Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold.

Included in the project will be an outdoor patio off the lounge.

“We are adding 1,500 square feet to the structure in addition to the patio and a reorganization of this part of the building,” said Teall Messer, project architect.

Messer said that construction should be completed in early 2017.

Newman founded Newman & Marcus in 1973. After receiving his J.D. from Stanford University in 1969, he served as a staff attorney for Community Legal Services of Santa Clara County. His practice is in the areas of real estate and real estate litigation throughout California and beyond.

His recent community activities and services include 6-term President of Pasatiempo, Inc. historic golf club, Member and Chair of Capitola Planning Commission 2005-continuing; Chair Capitola General Plan Advisory Commission 2010-2013; President and member Board of Directors Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks 2007—continuing.

Along with being a center for the Jewish community of Santa Cruz County, Temple Beth El’s preschool is regarded as one of the best in the county and is open to families outside the Jewish faith. The congregation has grown over the years from 40 families to more than 500.

Temple Beth El is located at 3055 Porter Gulch Road, at the corner of Porter Gulch Road and Soquel Drive, in Aptos.