Counter Efforts

Beth Shalom leads an effort to keep
Jewish New Americans out of church.

JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER

R

abbi David Nelson was
enraged when he learned
Russian Jews from his
neighborhood were at-
tending a weekly Friday evening
program at an area church.
When a meeting with the
church minister didn't change
the situation, Rabbi Nelson de-
cided it was time the synagogue
did some outreach of its own.
Earlier this month, Congre-
gation Beth Shalom initiated a
weekly Saturday morning kid-
dush and conversation program
for immigrants from the former
Soviet Union. Beth Shalom is
the only Conservative shul in
the heart of the Russian com-
munity.
Rabbi Nelson's outreach fol-
lows efforts by the Michigan
Board of Rabbis and the Reset-
tlement Service at Jewish Fam-
ily Service to counter actions of
the Berkley Community Church
and expose the New Americans
to area synagogues and temples.

Despite these attempts, Fri-
day night church attendance, ac-
cording to the pastor, the Rev.
Peter Carlson, has increased
over the last few months.
Rabbi Nelson believes a need
to talk to people and perhaps the
fact that the church served food
are reasons why the more, than
100 Jewish participants went to
the church program.
"We can't afford to lose Jew-
ish souls over food," Rabbi Nel-
son said.
The rabbi, who also serves
food during his program, said,
"There is nothing wrong with
making people feel comfortable
and welcoming them into our
synagogue or home."
While New Americans are
also invited to attend Shabbat
services, most come specifical-
ly for the new program, which
follows services.
Rabbi Nelson and a handful
of his congregants spend about
45 minutes talking to the Russ-

ian Jews. About 30 participate
each week.
"Overall, the New Americans
are a group we haven't reached,"
Rabbi Nelson said. "When we
started to hear about this church
making inroads, we realized
there are people we are clearly
missing. We intend to do this
program every week and per-
haps expand so [the Russian
Jews] will feel a connection to
our synagogue."

"We can't afford to
lose Jewish souls."

— Rabbi David Nelson

In September, the board of
rabbis and JFS initiated a
monthly Sunday breakfast for
the New Americans. The first
two programs attracted 70
participants, according to Re-
settlement Service. The board
of rabbis is talking about ex-
panding the frequency of the
program and beginning next
month, a second bus will be
added to transport the New
Americans.
For 2 1/2 years, the Berkley
Community Church, located
near 12 Mile and Coolidge, has
been driving New Americans,

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living in various Oak Park
apartments, to the church for a
Friday evening program. The
weekly program, according to
the Rev. Carlson, provides the
New Americans with English
conversation, friendship and re-
freshments.
Pastor Carlson said he would
like to continue his dialogue with
leadership in the Jewish corn-
munity, but Rabbi Nelson does
not want to further their con-
versation.
"His reply to me [when they
met to discuss the issue] was
blunt enough that I could see
this is not a church I want to di-
alogue with — and I do a lot of
ecumenical work," Rabbi Nelson
said. "He [Rev. Carlson] is out to
steal Jewish souls."
Since their initial meeting in
September, the church's pro-
gram has not changed.
"We still have our Friday
night English assistance pro-
gram, and things are going well,"
the Rev. Carlson said.
"Maybe we should have done
this earlier," Rabbi Nelson said
about Jewish outreach efforts.
"I'm prepared to do what I can
to make my synagogue accessi-
ble to the New Americans just
as the board of rabbis is trying
to make all our synagogues and
temples,.user-friendly."

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