Rabbi Chaim "Charles" Heilpern         List of honorees         Louis Rose Society         Jewishsightseeing home

Writings about Rabbi Chaim "Charles" Heilpern

-World War II
   
(At left) Rabbi Chaim Heilpern, wearing clothes of  British military chaplain, points a passage out to his nephew, Monty Romney, in this  
photograph estimated by another nephew, David Romney, as having been taken in 1945.   At right, according to David Romney, "My uncle and 
aunt are sitting in the middle of the front row.  On my aunt's right is Mrs. Frieda Saipe, her best friend and closest co-worker.  On my 
uncle's left is Sadie Halpern, the daughter of my uncle's predecessor, Rabbi D. Halpern (1917-1926). This photo is reprinted in the 
Centenary Book though I have copy of my own (see September 2005 photo and entry)            

-1957-
Undated 1957 —"The last thing I discovered about  my uncle was that he spent one year as rabbi of the Conservative Congregation in Palo Alto in 1957/58.  The remaining years of his life remain a mystery." —David Romney to Donald H. Harrison (Louis Rose Society), November 2005.

-1974-
August 1974—Rabbi Chaim Heilpern dies in San Diego on August 28; his funeral is conducted at Home of Peace Cemetery by Rabbi Samuel Penner.—David Romney to Donald H. Harrison (Louis Rose Society), November 2005.

-2003-
September 25, 2003—David Romney, Rabbi Chaim Leib Heilpern: Minister of the Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation during World War II; The Mysterious Disappearance of My Uncle Chaim," Calgary Jewish News, reprinted at oldsynagogues. org; http://www.coseti.org/www.oldsynagogues.org/bournemouth_13.htms

-2005-
June 2005—Visit to Rabbi Chaim Heilpern's gravesite, Home of Peace Cemetery, San Diego, California:

HEBREW INSCRIPTION—Our teacher, Rabbi Chaim ben Avraham, may the memory 
of this pious man be blessed.  10th Elul 5734.  May his soul be bound up in the bond
 of eternal life.

September 2005— Steven H. White, Ivor Weintroub and David Weitzman, Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation Centenary, page 30, concerning Rabbi Heilpern's tenure as spiritual leader from 1927 to 1946:  Rabbi Heilpern was both an orator and chazan, and his brilliant preaching is said to have attracted large numbers of visitors to the synagogue. He worked untiringly on behalf of refugees, evacuees and members of the armed forces. His secular offices included Chairmanship of the International Services committee; Rotary Club, Royal Victoria and West Hants Hospital, Council of Social Service, Executive of World Congress of Faiths, Chairman of the Army and Navy Committee, and numerous other offices.  He was awarded the certificate for meritorious service from the National Jewish Welfare Board. He traveled extensively, visiting the USA, Australia and Cyprus. Mrs. Heilpern was the founder and Chairman of the Bournemouth Red Cross.

September 2005—Michael Indech to David Romney, as later related by Romney:  Michael Indech, the son of my uncle's successor, the late Rabbi Jonah Indech, wrote to me afterwards {following the September 3-4 centennial celebration}: "The communal service was something very special.  The Chief Rabbi, Dayan Erentrau, the Mayors of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole plus members of the Bournemouth Town Council and the Chief of Police were present at the Musaf service.  The Chief Rabbi spoke eloquently and special prayers to celebrate the occasion were made. The synagogue was packed.  I was honored with an Aliyah to the Torah. There was a beautiful Kiddush afterwards.   There were about 150 people present at the afternoon and evening services with a beautiful sit down Seudah Shlishit.  The Chief Rabbi gave a brilliant discourse, something to be remembered.  The Shul had set up an exhibition in the Menorah Suite of the 100 years history of Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation, with pictures and descriptions.  I learnt a lot about things that I never knew before.  Your uncle was well represented."

-2006-

2006-06-30 Donald H. Harrison, "New Weekly Feature: An Alef Bet of San Diego County's  Jewish community," jewishsightseeing.com

-2007-
2007-05-21—Donald H. Harrison, "Two dead rabbis, father and son, symbolically reunited in San Diego," San Diego Jewish World