The construction is done.
Now, let's start working on you.
r Somayach. That doesn't happen
with Aish.
"Rabbi [Eric] Krohner has decided
to take a different tack," Tolwin says.
"He spends a lot of time on the
phone," and once a month hosts
hugely attended programs. "We
haven'tbeen that interested in raising
our profile. We do a lot of grass-roots
networking."
(---= In Washington, Aish is the only
outreach organization, says Ruth
Baars. But now, shuls are starting to
offer outreach classes.
In Los Angeles' 600,000-strong
Jewish community, Baars says Or
Somayach and Aish are both "very
successful, but they serve different
groups — people who had no interest
wouldn't usually go to Or Somayach,
but someone who might have no
interest might step into an Aish class
because it's a singles event or some-
body else is going and says it's not
very religious. Aish is trying to reach
people who are interested but also and
especially people who are completely
unaffiliated."
Some Aish rabbis say it is possible
for more than one Jewish outreach
organization to succeed on the same
turf.
Great new facilities...Same low rates!
Expanded cardio facilities
Tolwin started
Aish in 1986.
$50
per month
Q
New York's Rabbi Greenman
agrees. "Absolutely [two can succeed]
— the Jewish community has a lot of
money."
Rabbi Shore of Toronto says several
other outreach organizations in that
city "are doing wonderful work.
"We have put a tremendous
amount of effort into research and
d velopment, how to package Judaism
in a way that's appealing to people.
We've culled the Jewish sources for
wisdom about living so that no matter
where people are coming from, they
will find something of relevance that
will help them in their daily lives to
feel more fulfilled," says Shore.
Greenman agrees. He says Aish
works because it offers dynamic, cut-
rang-edge programs, "speaking to peo-
ple where they are.
"Many Jews have misconceptions
about what Judaism really is. They're
pleasantly surprised to find out that
what Judaism really is, is what they
really want." O
for individuals
$85
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for couples
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a‘‘
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6343 Farmington Rd.
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11/28
1997
29