by stacey palevsky
staff writer
Don’t ask Ernie Alexander what he’s done for Jewish education in the East Bay.
Ask him what he hasn’t done. That list is shorter.
Alexander, 88, has served on the board of the Center for Jewish Living and Learning (and its earlier incarnation, the Jewish Education Council) for more than 35 years. He helped get the Midrasha Community High School program off the ground, and still serves on its board of directors. He also sits on the board of Lehraus Judaica, is a lifetime trustee of Temple Beth El in Berkeley and is the director and operator of Tel Shalom Jewish Cemetery.
As a big supporter of Young Judea, he and his wife bought White Sulfur Springs Camp in St. Helena and turned it into a Young Judea camp (the camp no longer operates).
“He’s the ideal Jewish community leader,” said Seymour Fromer, the first director of Midrasha Berkeley, who has known Alexander for nearly 50 years.
“His leadership gets people to work together,” Fromer continued. “The most important thing he has is respect. I’ve never heard anybody, in all these years, say a negative thing about Ernie Alexander.”
More praise will be heaped on the 88-year-old Berkeley resident May 6, when he receives the inaugural Shomrei ha’Kabbalah award from the CJLL of the East Bay. The award will be presented at EDNight, the CJLL’s first evening dedicated to the community’s 400 educators.
Alexander, who’s quick to claim he’s “only an advocate, not an educator,” was reluctant to accept the award. But when Rabbi James Brandt, director of the CJLL, explained to him that EDNight would honor all the community’s educators, Alexander was sold.
“By starting a high-profile award, we’re really trying to raise appreciation for people in education,” Brandt said. “Nobody gets into Jewish education for the financial rewards, and we want to show them they’re valued.”
Added Alexander, “Honoring the teachers is the important thing.”
Alexander has dedicated most of his adult life to raising money, attention and standards for Jewish education in the East Bay. Some say he’s a legend.
Alexander’s tenure in Jewish education is so long and deep that even he can’t remember it all. When he tries to recall a particular day or board meeting, he closes his eyes and scratches his stubbly chin.
He was born and raised in Alameda, and aside from a stint in the army during World War II he’s lived his entire life in the East Bay. He said his own Jewish education was “not so good,” and he wanted better for his children and their community.
Alexander has four children — three of whom are teachers — 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Before Alexander got involved, there were no Jewish day schools or a Midrasha in the East Bay. Alexander’s advocacy has helped the area’s Jewish education “really blossom,” Brandt said.
“A lot of people play golf or tennis,” Alexander mused. “This is my hobby.”
EDNight begins 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 6, at Congregation Beth El in Berkeley. Hors d’oeuvres and dessert will be served. Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, author and lecturer, will deliver the keynote address. Registration is required. Call Liz Lucas at the Center for Jewish Living and Learning, (510) 839-2900 ext. 235, or email liz@jfed.org.
CopyrightJ, the Jewish news weekly of Northern California