TEMPLE LOOKS FORWARD TO ANOTHER 50 BETH TORAH CELEBRATION WILL INCLUDE TIME CAPSULE.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

GRANADA HILLS - Celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding, Temple Beth Torah will conclude its yearlong observance on June 12 by honoring the past and meeting the future.

Memories and artifacts of the temple - from its formation by nine couples in 1951 to the present - will be tucked into a time capsule and sealed for the 100th anniversary during the last day of Hebrew school.

But the ``little temple that could,'' as members fondly call it, has been making a few key changes that are leading the Reform congregation to a fresh start for the next 50 years.

Hiring a full-time rabbi, who just happens to be female, to join 14-year veteran Cantor Sharone Rosen was just the start of a new direction last July.

``We're unique because we have a woman rabbi and cantor. I think that's wonderful and marvelous,'' said Susan Arlien, whose parents, Lil and Larry Dean, were among the founding temple members. ``The rabbi is like a bright and shiny star. She lights up a room.

``All you have to do is come to a service and hear the cantor's big beautiful voice and hear the rabbi, and you'll go away with a sense of belonging.''

Arlien has been a member of TBT since she was 12, and was one of the first two young people to be confirmed at the temple. Arlien has been a member of the choir since her mother, the temple's organist for 30 years, started it.

``I grew up at the temple. Why has it lasted for 50 years? It's the people. A building doesn't make a temple, not by a long shot,'' Arlien said.

``It's a haimish (comfortable) temple. It's family. They laugh with you, and they cry with you. They're not snobby or snooty. They're real people.''

Since 1989 the temple has been sharing a sanctuary, social hall and classroom space with St. Andrew and St. Charles Episcopal Church. The relationship between the congregations has resulted in participation in community outreach programs and attending each others' special events.

Loosely translated from Hebrew, Beth Torah means ``House of Torah.'' The commitment to the study of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, and religious education for everyone is the link between the past and the future.

``Our school is a hidden treasure. It's a school where the rabbi knows every child by name and they have a close relationship with their teachers,'' said Rabbi Sheryl Nosan. ``Every child in school was invited to participate in both English and Hebrew at our family service last month. The kids have been asking to take on a greater role in services, and that's exciting for our future.''

While the temple is hoping to grow in members and expand its spiritual horizons, Nosan believes change won't be radical or without thoughtful planning.

``We're going to continue to be grounded in the core values, Torah and community. We're not going to be the largest or the most powerful Jewish community because that's not what we're about,'' Nosan said.

A new prayer book, ``Paths of Prayer,'' published by a Canadian congregation in 1996, will be introduced at the Shabbat service on Friday. The ``gender inclusive'' book, with poetry and prayers from both Reform Judaism's tradition and Israel, is a next step into the future for the venerable congregation.

``There's a need for prayers to be contemporary and to be meaningful,'' Nosan said. ``The prayers are new and fresh in orientation. It describes God in ways that reflect spirituality and invite God into our life. Part of our challenge is to make the old new and the new holy. We're grounded in our proud past, but we're looking forward to a bright future.''

Rabbi Sheryl Nosan and Cantor Sharone Rosen will lead the Shabbat service with choir at 8 p.m. Friday. Temple Beth Torah meets at 16651 Rinaldi St., Granada Hills. Call [phone].

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As part of Temple Beth Torah's 50th anniversary celebrations, Rebecca Berg, Rabbi Sheryl Nosan and Susan Arlien, from left, show the time capsule the temple is preparing for 2052.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer