Jackie Gothard, 1934-2018

Born Jacqueline Pressner in 1934, Jackie Gothard’s life was centered around the Congregation Beth Israel community she was raised in and would later lead as the congregation’s first female president. A third generation New Orleanian, Gothard’s family was rooted in the Jewish food industry. Her maternal grandparents owned Kansas Kosher Delicatessen on Dryades Street, and her paternal grandparents owned a kosher chicken business just around the corner, on Melpomene. She grew up above her parent’s shop, the Pressner Kosher Delicatessen, on Baronne Street.

Gothard was the first woman in her family to attend college. She graduated from high school at age 16 and went on to attend Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans, where she received a degree in psychology in 1955. In 1957, she received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Case Reserve University Graduate School of Social Work. Afterwards, she returned to New Orleans, working as a forensic social worker for New Orleans Protective Services at the New Orleans Department of Welfare, specializing in adoptions and foster care. Following her time as a social worker, Gothard had a second career as a tour guide, leading numerous trips to Israel.

Throughout her life, Gothard’s world revolved around Congregation Beth Israel, the Orthodox synagogue on Carondolet Street her family attended while she was growing up. She remained deeply involved in the congregation as an adult, even as the synagogue moved to the Lakeview area in 1970. Gothard served as the first female president of the congregation, and her term as president coincided with both the congregation’s 100^th anniversary and with Hurricane Katrina. Congregation Beth Israel was the only synagogue on the Gulf Coast that was completely destroyed by the hurricane–the congregation lost four Torahs and the synagogue building to hurricane floodwaters. Gothard spearheaded efforts to revive the temple in the aftermath of the hurricane, beginning with a Yom Kippur service held at a hotel in Kenner that brought the congregation back together and ongoing services at Congregation Gates of Prayer in Metairie. Under Gothard’s leadership, the spirit of Congregation Beth Israel continued, and the congregation dedicated its new building, next door to Congregation Gates of Prayer, in 2012.

Jackie and her younger sister, Frieda, in front of Pressner Kosher Delicatessen. Courtesy of Eddie Gothard.