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page 10
many of its members. A decline in
membership and an increase in
debts forced Beth El to make some
difficult decisions.
All that seemed to change,
though, when, last December, the
temple announced the hiring of
Daniel Syme as its new head rab-
bi. Rabbi Syme, the son of Tem-
ple Israel's Rabbi M. Robert Syme,
was to come home to Detroit after
23 years as a senior vice president
of the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations.
July 1 was the "official" first day
at the office for Rabbi Syme and
his new staff
In addition to Rabbi Syme and
Ms. Seglin, Beth El has welcomed
Rabbi David Castiglione from
Elmira, N.Y., and Cantor Stephen
Dubov, who is here from a con-
gregation in New Orleans and has
sung on Broadway. On Tuesday,
July 16, Cantor Dubov and pianist
David Syme, the rabbi's brother,
will perform a program of show
tunes, opera, and liturgical and
Yiddish melodies for the congre-
gation.
It's clear that Beth El is under
"new management." Beginning
Friday, July 12, at 6:45 p.m., Beth
El will hold Shabbat dinner fol-
lowing services. Rabbi Syme also
announced that High Holiday ser-
vices will be open and free to those
in the community who need a
place to worship.
Rabbi Syme led Shabbat ser-
vices last Friday. He described the
experience as an emotional one.
"I was ready to be here four
months-ago. I feel sensational. All
of a sudden, what I was telling
other congregations to do, I can:
do. This is a way to touch lives in
a way that's not long distance."
And that has rubbed off on con-
gregants. Jerry Levin said it's
clear that the involvement of the
congregation is important to Rab-
bi Syme.
"You can see that the focus is
on bringing Jews together," said
Mr. Levin. "Our Shabbat services
were very emotional. It was won-
derful."
It was also announced that
Rabbi Syme's installation Shab-
bat will take place Friday, Sept.
6. His father will officiate at the
service. Mary Travers, formerly
of Peter, Paul & Mary, will sing
at the occasion. ❑
Rabbi In Residence
Bradley Bleefeld is named interim rabbi at Temple
Emanu-El.
MARA REINSTEIN JEWISH NEWS INTERN
M fission accomplished. For
now. After a three-
month search, Temple
Emanu-El has appoint-
ed Rabbi Bradley N. Bleefeld to
lead the congregation during a
one-year interim period following/
the July 1 resignation of Rabbi
Lane Steinger, who took a posi-
tion with the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations.
"The synagogue has a great
tradition of education," says
Rabbi Bleefeld. "I hope to con-
tinue this tradition as well as
Temple Emanu-El's dynamic,
warm and welcoming environ-
ment."
Rabbi Bleefeld, ordained in
1975, comes to the Oak Park syn-
agogue from Temple Israel in
Columbus, Ohio, where he has
served as senior rabbi of the 850-
family congregation since 1987.
He is currently on sabbatical.
He also held rabbinic positions
in Erie, Pa., and Baltimore, Md.,
and served as rabbi in residence
at Chautaugua Institute in Aus-
tralia for six months.
Rabbi Bleefeld first visited
Temple Emanu-El several years
ago when he gave a speech dur-
ing an ethics seminar.
The speech had a positive and
long-lasting effect on Emanu-El
members, notes Sharon Jaffe, one
of 12 members on the rabbinic
search committee and past pres-
ident of the temple.
When the committee reviewed
resumes sent in by the CCAR
(Central Conference of American
Rabbis), they specifically re-
quested Rabbi Bleefeld's applica.-
ton, knowing he would be
available for the job.
"Rabbi Bleefeld brings strong
leadership to the position," says
Ms. Jaffe. "He knows the tradi-
tions of our synagogue, and mem-
bers feel very comfortable with
him."
President John Jacobs hopes
Rabbi Bleefeld will build on his 20
years of rabbinical experience to
help Temple Emanu-El move into
the future. "He'll provide us with
new ideas and give the highest
quality of service to our members,"
he says.
Rabbi Bleefeld is uncertain of
his future once the interim peri-
od ends on June 30, 1997. Al-
though Ms. Jaffe says he is a
candidate for the permanent po-
sition as head rabbi, the search
committee is keeping its options
open.
`This is a courting period," says
Ms. Jaffe. "You never want to
marry somebody without getting
to know him first."
A native of New York, Rabbi
Bleefeld and his wife, Merrie
Beth, are parents of three chil-
dren: Rachel, Herschel and Mar-
shall. The rabbi will begin his
service at Temple Emanu-El in
mid-August.
❑