History
Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living represents the evolution of a dream that began more than fifty years ago in Oakland. It was there in September 1950 that a dedicated group of Jewish leaders placed the cornerstone for the first Jewish Home for the Aged in the East Bay. In the years that followed, the renamed Home for Jewish parents expanded, but was unable to accommodate the growing number of elders who wished to live there. During the l980s, therefore, efforts to build a new home were initiated, and a site in Danville was purchased through the overwhelming generosity of contributors in the largest capital campaign in regional history. Major gifts from Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the Koret Foundation, and Jacques Reutlinger enabled the project to be brought to fruition, establishing the Esther and Jacques Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Campus, and the Koret Senior Life Center, which welcomed its first residents in 1999.
RCJL was originally an agency of the Jewish Community Federation of the Great East Bay, but it became an independent not-for-profit entity in the early l990's. It now retains a close working relationship with the Federation as it serves elders throughout our area. From decades past to decades in the future, we will continue the long history of caring for elders combining Jewish culture and tradition with respect for all cultures and beliefs with premier services in a community our residents call home.
Board of Directors 2006 - 2007
- President: Josh Feller
- Past President: Syd Saperstein
- Vice President: Ken Begun
- Secretary: Angela Kurtzman
- Treasurer: Larry Kaufman
- Assistant Treasurer: Joe Hurwich
Directors:
- Sandy Belden, CLU
- David Douglas
- Linda Feldman Duritz, M.D.
- Bette B. Epstein, Esq.
- Richard Goldstein
- Ernest Glaser
- Judy Greif
- Linda Polse
- Judi Saperstein
- Andrew Scharlach, Ph.D.
- Matthew Schoenberg
- Cheryl Silver
- Karla Smith
- Marc Usatin, M.D.
- Rabbi Rick Winer
- Steven S. Wolfe, M.D.
Emeriti:
- Rose Belzer
- Nat J. Brodke, D.D.S.*
- E. Fritz Schmerl, M.D.
- Ben J. Weiss*
- Cyrill L. Weiss
*deceased
