'ft
Merger Approved
Beth Achim members vote to join Adat Shalom.
HARRY KIRSBAUM
StalfWriter
T
he members of
Congregation Beth Achim
in Southfield voted over-
whelmingly this week to
become a part of Adat Shalom
Synagogue in Farmington Hills.
On June 14, in a secret ballot, the
congregation
voted 360 for, 50
_ z, 0
against, with 159 not voting.
The congregation will join the
1,150, members of Adat Shalom by
the High Holy days. Beth Achim's
memorial plaques
will also make the
move, and some will
be made over to
match the plaques in
Adat Shalom.
Adat Shalom's
board of trustees rati-
fied the merger April
20, and the member-
ship voted in favor of
the merger last
month, said Alan
Yost, executive direc-
tor of Adat Shalom.
The United Jewish
Foundation has
agreed to buy the
Beth Achim building
and resell it to Akiva
Hebrew Day School for an undis-
closed amount of money.
Bonnie Otis, a Beth Achim mem-
ber from Waterford, said she and her
family have been going to morning
minyan at Adat Shalom to say kaddish
for Evan, her 2 1/2-year-old son who
died in his sleep a month ago. "They
have been nothing but welcoming,"
she said.
Younger families and more children
are among the draws for her.
Recently, Otis was saying kaddish at
Adat Shalom when 1-year-old Kyle
started crying. She took him out.
Cantor Howard Glantz asked her
why she had her baby outside.
She said she didn't want her son to
be a disruption; crying babies were
frowned upon at Beth Achim.
He said, 'Bring him back in, he's
not making that much noise.' The
way they're mak i ng us feel there is so
H
/-)
welcome. I'm really looking forward
to it."
Most members agree with Otis.
"I feel we do this not only for our-
selves but for our children and our
grandchildren," said Barbara Hubert
of West Bloomfield.
"It has nothing to do with loca-
tion. It has to do with the viability
of a congregation, which is not a
building."
Sandy Shapiro of Farmington Hills
said, "I'm for the merger, because
we're at the point where we have to
do something. I've been very active at
Beth Achim, it's been a very impor-
tans part of my life. It's been very dif-
ficult to leave, but I think that Adat
Shalom has made us feel very wel-
come. I think that it will be a true
merger and a true blending of the
two congregations."
Others aren't so keen on the
change.
"I voted against the merger
because I don't ride to shul on
Shabbos, I walk," said Paul Sherizen
of Southfield. "It's not going to be
possible for me to go to Adat
Shalom, and I don't know where to
go from here. I asked the question
(about what to do) and they fluffed
me off. They're more worried about
the plaques in the building than
they are about the members that
they left behind."
Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz will join
the Adat Shalom clergy, sharing the
bimah with Rabbi Efry Spectre and
Rabbi Daniel Nevins.
Rabbi Yoskowitz said he looks for-
ward to performing his duties with the
new, merged congregation. Rabbi
Spectre added, "We hope to benefit
from the distinguished heritages of
both congregations," and called Adat
Shalom "enriched." 0
Top: Bonnie Otis holding her
1-year-old son, Kyle.
Above: Paul Sherizen has nowhere to go.
Right: Beth Achim voters stand in line
for merger ballots.
6/19
1998
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