San Diego (special) -- When violinist Zina Schiff concertizes Saturday evening, June 12, at  Ner Tamid Synagogue in honor of Rabbi Aaron Gold's retirement, she will be saluting not only a spiritual leader but a dear friend.

She told HERITAGE that she is planning a concert program that will recall important chapters in the Conservative rabbi's life. "For example, I want to play a Chassidic suite to reflect his roots," she said. "And I am planning to play something associated with Israel, for his deep commitment to Israel; and then, perhaps, something that has flair and drama, something that symbolizes the way he went about building five congregations" over his 50-year career in the rabbinate.

Although Schiff resides in Northern California with her physician husband Dr. Ron Eisenberg and daughters Avlana and Cherina, her association with Gold stems from the fact that her mother, Rose Schiff, has been a longtime active member of San Diego's Tifereth Israel Synagogue. Gold had served as rabbi there for 18 years before accepting pulpits in Orange County, where his wife Jeanne's parents live, and six years ago at Ner Tamid.

"I first remember meeting him at the home of my late cousin, Dr. Maurice Schiff. I think Cherina (who is about to start college) was just a baby at the time," Schiff said.

Since then, the Golds have attended many, if not all, the concerts given by the violinist in San Diego at such venues as Copley Sympony Hall with the San Diego Symphony; Sherwood Hall with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra and the Lyceum Theatre, where her recitals were part of Jewish Arts Festivals. 

"Rabbi Gold loves music," Schiff said, "and he has such a gorgeous voice."

When Cherina became a bat mitzvah, the ceremony was held in San Diego County which is home not only to Schiff's mother, but also to her sister, San Diego Symphony violinist and HERITAGE columnist Eileen Wingard. Cherina's bat mitzvah service was officiated both by Gold and his successor at Tifereth Israel, Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal.

During one of Schiff's concert tours in Israel, in which she performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded two CDs -- Bach/Vivaldi and A Lark Ascending -- the Golds also happened to be in Israel for a conference. "We were at the same hotel, and we so enjoyed spending the time together," Schiff said.

The violinist recently returned from another Israeli concert tour in which she played with the Kibbutz Orchestra. HaAretz, a leading Israeli daily, said of her Tel Aviv performance that she "swept the audience away by her flawless, passionate and joyful rendition of Mozart's Concerto #5."

Gold once gave her a far more glowing review to the violinist, who was taught to play by the virtuoso Jascha Heifetz. Gold told a journalist that Schiff's playing was "the nearest thing to heaven."

"He is such a friend," Schiff said. "Out of the blue, he will pick up the phone and call us in Tiburon just to see how we are doing. He is a warm and loving mensch. "

Tickets for Schiff's tribute concert and the dinner honoring Gold still may be obtained through Ner Tamid Synagogue by telephoning (619) 592-9141.