us tration by Bryan Du rren

Multiple Moves

Adat Shalom and Beth Achim boards approve a merger,
opening the door for Akiva to move into new digs.

ALAN HITSKY
Associate Editor

I

n a move that has considerable
ramifications in the Conserva-
tive and Orthodox communi-
ties;-Congregation Beth Achim
and Adat Shalom Synagogue are seek-
ing their congregants' approval for a
merger.
The Jewish community's real estate
and endowment arm, United Jewish
Foundation, plans to purchase the
Seth Achim building on Twelve Mile
Road in Southfield for $2.5 million
and make Akiva Hebrew Day School
its tenant.

4/17
1998

8

If all the agencies and memberships
involved sign off on the deal, Beth
Achim's 350 members will be praying
with Adat Shalom's 1,150 members
next Rosh Hashanah, and Akiva could
be in a renovated Beth Achim build-
ing by fall 1999.
The multi-faceted proposal must
pass a number of contingencies,
beginning with Jewish Federation
board approval on April 21. Adat
Shalom members vote on the merger
plan May 20. Beth Achim members
vote June 14, after the 60-day due-
diligence legal requirements are met
for the purchase.
The Adat Shalom and Beth Achim

boards both voted unanimously last
week to approve the merger.
Under the arrangement, Rabbi
Herbert Yoskowitz of Beth Achim
would join Rabbis Efry Spectre and
Daniel Nevins at Adat Shalom in
Farmington Hills. Spectre's contract,
negotiated several years ago, allows
Spectre to go on sabbatical in Octo-
ber 1999 and be named rabbi emeri-
tus in June 2000.
Cantor Max Shimansky of Beth
Achim will go on sabbatical when the
merger is completed "and then prob-
ably retire," the 61-year-old cantor
said. Rev. Joseph Beras, ritual director
at Beth Achim for 40 years, will

retire. Both were offered positions at
Adat Shalom, spokesmen for the two
congregations said.
David Schostak, a member of Ada
Shalom's executive committee, said
Rabbis Nevins and Yoskowitz would
be co-leaders of Adat Shalom when
Spectre retires, but Nevins will be
mara d'atra, teacher of the place, as
far as ritual decisions are concerned.
Ritual at Adat Shalom will not
change as a result of the merger,
Schostak said.
Adat Shalom allows women full
aliyot, but does not count women in
the minyan. Beth Achim does not
allow full aliyot, but during

