WhereDowe
Belong?
lip
icture this: No more free admis-
sion to High Holiday services un-
der your parents' membership.
Now, you actually have to join a
synagogue. The question is: which
one?
While some young adults already be-
long to a synagogue, many do not.
Whether for lack of interest, or lack of in-
fo' illation about what is available, few
young adults join a shul until it's time to
get married.
But there are reasons to join young.
For one, it's a great way to meet other,
single Jews who share your beliefs. For
another, involvement in religious ven-
tures can add meaning to workaday lives.
So you're earning a starting salary and
don't have a ton to spend on annual mem-
bership dues? You don't have to. All syn-
agogue personnel who agreed to be
interviewed for this article emphasized
that lack of funds in no way prevents a
person from belonging.
And, advises Rabbi Stephen Weiss, of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in South-
field, there's a lot you can do in a syna-
gogue without paying dues — adult
education classes, services, social action,
volunteer and social events.
Here's what Motor City synagogues
have to offer twenty- and thirtysome-
things:
ADAT SHALOM
(Conservative)
A lot of people say YASS to Adat
Shalom. Puns aside, the Farmington
Hills shul is a popular venue for young
adults at least once a month, for its Young
Adult Shabbat Service (YASS).
YASS, in its third year now, has a page
wvvvv.adatshalom.org
on the Web
— according to Rabbi Danny Nevins; the
rabbinic force behind the event, along
with lay leaders Ethan Gilan and Ellen
Krivchenia.
The threesome "wanted to create a
camp-like atmosphere, close to the in-
formality of Hillels on campus, [with] a
high level of lay involvement."
While Mat Shalom is the host and pro-
vides an oneg Shabbat after the service,
YASS is not restricted to Adat Shalom
members, Nevins says.
Other good things come with YASS af-
filiation. For one, Adat Shalom offers a
$100 membership to members of YASS,
under 30. And this year, the shul is of-
fering "free High Holiday tickets to any
young adult in the Community through
YAD-in-a-Box [Federation's outreach to
new young adults in Detroit]," Nevins
says.
"I would like to see people get onto the
—
48
Although many young adults are not synagogue
members, most shuls will go out of their way to
make joining affordable.
LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER
YASS mailing list and then from there,
get their High Holiday tickets," Nevins
suggests.
The shul also offers the Social Club for
couples in their 30s and 40s, as well as
classes.
"We are a forward-looking congrega-
tion," says Rabbi Efry Spectre, who en-
courages adult bat mitzvah and small
minyans. On Jan. 24, 1998, Adat Shalom
is hosting a program aimed especially at
young adults and young families, on es-
tablishing a Jewish home — "things
about a kosher kitchen, what a medicine
cabinet should contain, both secular and
Jewish, Spectre says.
Alan Yost, executive director, says if
you grew up at Adat Shalom and you're
married, (the ceremony doesn't have to
be at Adat Shalom), "we automatically
give a complimentary free year mem-
bership for the couple."
As for membership, "we work based on
a person's financial abilities to pay, [and]
accommodations are made to help peo-
ple affiliate. For information, call (248)
851-5100.
BAIS CHABAD
OF FARMINGTON BILLS (Orthodox)
Rabbi Chaim Bergstein says even if we
were completely filled, we would not
make money the issue for entry."
The Lubavitch synagogue offers learn-
ing programs and classes, and Rabbi
Bergstein studies one-on-one with inter-
ested individuals. "We're a small con-
gregation, so our focus is directed toward
the individual. We have small, intimate
gatherings," which "a number of young
adults" attend.
For information, call (248) 855-2910 or
(248) 626-3194.
BATS CHABAD
OF WEST BLOOMFEELD (Orthodox)
Most Chabad Lubavitch centers, in-
cluding the West Bloomfield shul, offer
an array of classes. Rabbi Elimelech Sil-
berberg says there's something for every-
one, "on all different levels of Judaism.
We also have restaurant nights every
Wednesday, lots of social gatherings" like
picnics and concerts.
Also, the center has for three years now
hosted singles weekends over Labor Day
and Presidents' Day.
Membership costs are on a sliding
scale, and High Holiday tickets and home
hospitality are available for anyone. For
information, call (248) 855-6170.
BEIT KODESH
(Conservative)
The Livonia shul claims few young
adult members, says Diane Allen, the
rabbi's wife. The synagogue does not of-
fer lower-priced dues for young adults,
she says, but there is a sliding scale ac-
cording to income.
"The issue of young adults recently
came up at a board meeting, and it was
basically voted down that we couldn't at
this point go out and do anything to bring
them in," she says. "We do not have any
single adults in 20s and 30s, some single
parents who are older. It's something I'm
very aware of because our son, who is
graduating from law school, is looking to
affiliate, and he and some friends made
the rounds and found out it was cheaper
to go elsewhere than to come here." For
information, call (810) 477-8974.
BETH ABRAHAM HILLEL MOSES
(Conservative)
Rabbi Aaron Bergman says BAHM has
lower priced memberships for individu-
als under 35. Newlyweds get a free first-
year membership.
"We have a number of chavurot; some
are for people in their 20s and 30s,"
Bergman says. "We're starting this fall a
program specifically for people in their
20s and 30s. We've found that if you just
targeted singles, it was hard to get sin-
gles in their 20s and 30s to come because
a lot of older singles would come, and a
lot of younger singles were intimidated."
For information, call (248) 851-6880
and ask for Rabbi Bergman.
BETH ACHIM
(Conservative)
The Southfield shul with a member-
ship that includes many of the original
founders of the two shuls that merged
into Beth Achim may be looking to go
younger.
Carol Tarica, administrator, says the
shul offers a lower membership rate for
anyone under 35, "although if people are
starting families and have problems we
consider adjustments at all ages. For chil-
dren of members up to age 30, we just
charge for a seat for High Holidays."
For non-members, High Holiday seats
cost $200 apiece. "For somebody just out
of college — we would work on an indi-
vidual basis," Tarica says.
There are "no formal programs in place
[for singles]." For information, call (248)
352-8670.
BETH EL
(Reform)
This year, like last year, Beth El is
inviting "any Jew who needs a place to
go for the High Holidays, whether or not
they are a member, and at no charge,"
says Rabbi Daniel Syme. Last fall, more
than 500 families came.
"At Temple Beth El, no individual is
denied membership because of financial
consideration," Syme says. "We ask peo-
ple to do the best they can."
Sue Ellen Simon heads up the Michi-
gan Jewish Singles Network, which has
regular programming and opportunities
to meet other Jewish singles. For infor-
mation, call (248) 851-1100.
BETH ISAAC
(Reform)
The Trenton synagogue offers a lower
dues structure for singles, says Neal
Freeling, vice president, but most mem-
bers are senior citizens. Of 27, two are
young singles, he says. For information,
call (313) 675-0355.
BETH SHALOM
(Conservative)
Mark Goldsmith, synagogue president,
is seeing "more and more young people
coming to the shul." Perhaps that's be-
cause Beth Shalom keeps the limited fi-
nances of young adults in mind.
To anyone who comes to Beth Shalom
on a Shabbat morning in September "we
are going to extend free membership for
the coming year, which will include High
Holiday tickets at no cost," Goldsmith
says.
Other opportunities include an active
chavurah program, small groups "who
meet together, often at people's homes,
to celebrate Jewish experiences — which
I think is a wonderful way for young peo-
ple, who may not want to be involved with
a large organization but nonetheless want
to have a meaningful Jewish experience,
to get to know a shul on a very intimate
level," Goldsmith says.
As well, Beth Shalom hosts a Shabbat
morning study group at 8:45 a.m. "We