Daniel Rotto              List of honorees         Louis Rose Society         Jewishsightseeing home

Writings by Daniel Rotto

-1993-

September 16, 1993
—Daniel Rotto, "The Akedah: The Binding of Isaac," delivered at Congregation Dor Hadash on Rosh Hashanah


-2004-
October 3, 2004
Daniel Rotto, "Leviticus 21:22," delivered to the Whittier Havurah

-2005-
April 10, 2005—Daniel Rotto was honored with the  presentation of the Ira and Judith Eisenstein Award at the Jewish Reconstruction event of April 10th 2005. The following is his Personal Statement which was included in JRF Tribute Brochure: In 1981 after having been active for some 50 years in Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Congregations I had not found my Spiritual Home. However it was in 1981 after reading Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan’s opus “Judaism as a Civilization” that I realized here  was a view and practice of Judaism that I could identify with. Kaplan’s writings  have  changed my outlook on religion in general, and the God concept in particular. Kaplan’s concept of God as  a Force or Process within the universe-a Power within us -that is a natural force that enables us to achieve our ideals, or the sum of everything that makes life worthwhile-a Force in the universe making for goodness, justice, mercy and truth-that was a concept I could understand. We moved to San Diego in 1982 only to find that there was no Reconstructionist Congregation in the San Diego area.  Then one day an ad appeared in the local San Diego Jewish paper stating: "Reconstructionist Judaism Is Coming to San Diego."  We met with Rabbi Ron (Herstik), and along with Rabbi Ron and several other families we founded  what today is Congregation Dor Hadash-A New Generation. The first Religious Services were held on Rosh Hashanah in September 1983/ Elliott Weinstein served as the President and I as Vice-President.  However, being a retired accountant it became incumbent upon me to also become Treasurer and  take on the obligation of  budgeting and keeping the books During the beginning years, I, along with others did all that was necessary to keep the congregation moving ahead. The rabbi and myself prepared the mailings, the announcements, wrote and published the monthly newsletter called the Hakesher; and then the Rabbi and I folded, pasted and put on the stamps and mailed  out the various announcements. During the years  I have either chaired or served on just about every committee that was formed. During my term as president, the membership rose to 135 member families; and it was at that time that Rabbi Ron and I sat down and decided that it was time to appoint a long-range planning committee.  We presented our “Vision” of how we saw the congregation perhaps in three, four or five years hence.  One of our first and main dreams was that we would have a home of our own where all activities would take place under one roof. It took time to accomplish this-as it wasn’t until December 1995 that we had the opportunity to sign a long-term lease for a  Dor Hadash facility and were then able to enhance the building with a lovely Sanctuary for Religious Services, several classrooms for our 85 students, a social hall and kitchen, and  a professionally run library by my wife, Helene. All I can say is “Thank You All” in helping us to carry out the Mission of Congregation Dor Hadash which is: "To Inspire Exploration of Jewish Spirituality And Create a Caring Committee." We continue to grow and what is of most importance, is that our young people have become more and more active in participating in the congregational activities.

 -2006-
March 4, 2006
D'var Torah, Terumah, delivered by Daniel Rotto on the occasion of his second bar mitzvah, at age 83.