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Living Legacy: February 2004

Family is of the utmost importance

By Shelley Leveson

A large Wheaten terrier bounds across the wooden floor of Karen and Allen Guggenheim's Saratoga home, ready to protect if necessary. "We're watching him for our son Stephen," says Karen. "You should see it when all three children come home, each with their dog. It's chaos, but it's fun."

Clearly family is of utmost importance to the Guggenheims. It was for their children that they first became involved in Jewish activities. Important decisions have always been family affairs, from the time the children were small. Before becoming president of Congregation Beth David, Allen discussed the ramifications of the responsibility with his then young children because he felt the job was a commitment for the whole family. Now that their children are grown, the Guggenheims offer plenty of babysitting help, both for pets and their beloved 14-month-old-granddaughter.

The Guggenheims' generosity is not limited to their family. Since Karen and Allen moved here some 30 years ago, they've put their time, talents and re-sources to use wherever needed. "Karen and Allen both have a deep and long-standing commitment to the Silicon Valley Jewish community," says Brian David Goldberg, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley. "As a past-president, Al continues to give his time, advice and counsel both to me, a newcomer to the community, and the entire board. He has been a particularly invaluable asset in the new campus project."

Karen instituted the Jewish Federa-tion of Greater San Jose's Women of Distinction event, serving as chair for the first two years, and has run several Super Sundays. She currently volunteers for Green Circle, an organization of the National Conference of Community and Justice. Every Tuesday, she goes to elementary schools, from East San Jose to East Palo Alto to teach about tolerance. "It's the most rewarding thing I've done in all my years," says Karen.

Allen has served on numerous boards in varying capacities, including two terms as president of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley. Under his tenure Chai House became a reality and the present JCC site was obtained. Allen was also instrumental in establishing the Living Legacy Endowment of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, of which he is a staunch supporter.

"An endowment is essential to the health and strength of any organization. The Living Legacy Endowment establishes continuity and secures the future of our Jewish community," says Allen.
Karen and Allen both grew up in Pittsburgh, but moved in vastly different circles. Karen was raised in a Jewish neighborhood in a very involved Jewish family. Her mother was the president of their synagogue's Sisterhood, and Karen remembers, "there was always something going on."

Allen grew up in a predominantly African-American community, in an intensely secular home. His grandparents, though, were Orthodox. Allen celebrated holidays with them and became bar mitzvah at their synagogue.

The two met at Allen's fraternity house at the University of Pittsburgh. To this day, Allen is unsure why he chose a Jewish fraternity when he had little Jewish connection at the time. "It just felt more comfortable to me, even though my friends were all in the Polish and Catholic fraternities."

After Allen graduated, he moved to Washington, D.C., for a job with NASA. He and Karen married several months later and she joined him in the nation's capital. They didn't start to become active in the Jewish community, however, until they moved to Southern California and had their first child, Stephen. "At that point we realized that passing on a Jewish identity to our children is an active process," says Allen.
Their extensive involvement really began a few years later, when the young family, which now included second son Scott, moved to the Bay Area. "You need to work harder at being Jewish here," says Allen. "In Pittsburgh, and even in L.A., you could feel Jewish without necessarily seeking it out." In their view, however, that was a good thing because it prompted them to continually deepen their commitment to the community.

The Guggenheims lived in Palo Alto for two years before moving to Saratoga in 1970, where they promptly joined Congregation Beth David. The family of five, which now included daughter Lori, immediately felt welcomed by the congregation. Allen has held numerous board positions, serving as president twice. Karen ran several major synagogue fundraisers, bringing in Neil Sedaka one year and Marvin Hamlisch another.

Her choice of entertainment is apt given her family's musical talents – which have also been put to use to benefit the community. Karen lends her voice to Beth David performances. Stephen Guggen-heim is now an opera singer and is also cantor at Temple Beth Jacob in Redwood City. Scott and his wife Shannon run the National Jewish Theatre Festival. "The Guggenheims have not only given generously of their own time and talents, but have involved the next generation as well," says Goldberg.

Karen and Allen Guggenheim hope the new Gloria and Ken Levy Family Campus will help build a more cohesive Jewish community. "I truly believe that if you build it, they will come," says Allen. "We need a central place for people young and old to congregate. And we especially need a place for young adults to meet and be able to have a feeling of being Jewish. It's the key to our future." Their Living Legacy endowment is further evidence of their commitment to that future.

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