From Pulpit To Piano
Rabbi Craig Allen leaves Congregation Beit Kodesh sure of his plans
but concerned about the synagogue's future.
BY LYNNE MEREDITH COHN
Special to The Jewish News
the U.S. Army School of Music, where
he composed military works.
Allen, who studied music with
Detroit Symphony Orchestra mem-
0 bers while still in high school, has per-
formed original music with various
groups, including the Israel
Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble and
the Scandinavian Symphony in
Detroit. His work has been recognized
by William Albright, a professor of
music and chair of the composition
department at the University of
Michigan School of Music.
Allen received his religious training
by studying simultaneously at the
Academy for Jewish Religions in New
York — where he was ordained in
1985 — and at the Jewish Theological
Seminary.
He has a three-part series of lectures
planned with the Agency for Jewish
Education — one on Kabbalah, one
teach lay leaders to run services so that
on the poets of Tin Pan Alley and one
he would become "obsolete," Mrs.
on sources of Jewish creativity, all
Allen said.
three utilizing original music that he
"There are two to three people now
wrote
— and is playing in a band with
who are able to do services that could-
his
son.
0
n't before. Except for sermons, all
other bases are now covered," she said.
Rabbi Allen, in the meantime, has
been "acquiring this alter ego ... I was
acquiring this connected Jewish talent,
so there was no massive terror when
the synagogue lost its funding for a
rabbi. It was a natural thing to say, 'I
don't have to seek out a position as a
pulpit rabbi.' In fact, I've been acquir-
ing and building this secondary per-
sonality whereby I'm using my musical
talent. The last eight years was only
preparatory to that."
Allen has held adjunct professor-
V .k.*.Ak, `4, •
ships teaching jazz history at the
Central Michigan University extension
in Birmingham, Madonna University,
Henry Ford Community College and
Marygrove.
A native of Port Huron, Allen grad-
uated from Michigan State University
with a bachelor's degree in psychology,
The 1998 JCC Maccabi Games
then earned a master's in music com-
hurdler on the cover of the Aug.
position at George Washington
14 issue is Detroit team member
University. He served in Vietnam from
Talia Selitsky. She's the daughter of
1968-69, then worked on the staff of
Dr. Mark and Orit Selitsky.
•
T
he expiration of'Rabbi
Craig Allen's contract at
Congregation Beit Kodesh
dovetails nicely with his
plans to move deeper into a musical
career.
But while he leaves with a happy
heart, he said the non-renewal of his
contract is unfortunately tied to finan-
cial woes at the 39-year-old syna-
gogue.
"The handwriting was on the wall
that this was just a matter of time.
The congregation and I have been
resigned to the fact that they would
not be renewing my contract. It was
allowed to die a peaceful death," Allen
said.
Beit Kodesh President David Gross
refused to comment on the syna-
gogue's finances, saying only, "We've
overcome a lot of obstacles over the
years." He noted that Cantor David
Gutman will lead High Holiday ser-
vices, Shabbat services are still ongo-
ing, a bar mitzvah is scheduled during
Labor Day weekend, and Sunday
school is set to begin sometime after-
ward.
Allen, whose contract expired in
mid-July, said he learned last
September that the Conservative syna-
gogue, Livonia's only Jewish congrega-
tion, "had lost the ability to sustain
even a part-time rabbi." Allen, 51, had
been the shul's pulpit rabbi for eight
years.
While it leans toward Conservative,
Beit Kodesh remains unaffiliated with
the United Synagogue of Conservative
Judaism.
The Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit owns the Beit
Kodesh synagogue building on Seven
Mile Road and does not charge rent,
although the members are responsible
for maintenance costs.
For years, Beit Kodesh survived
mainly from funds generated by leas-
ing the synagogue building to a dog
training school once a week and spon-
soring frequent Bingo nights, a prima-
8/21
1998
18 Detroit Jewish News
Rabbi Craig Allen at the piano.
ry source of funds. But when a refer-
endum passed that allows non-reli-
gious institutions to hold Bingo
games, the synagogue lost a prime
source of funding, Allen said.
As with other Conservative congre-
gations in metropolitan Detroit, Beit
Kodesh's membership base is aging. Of
its 60 member families, 25 are young
parents and their children. The
remainder are older singles and cou-
ples. Annual membership dues are
$400.
"When we came eight years ago,
they had been without a rabbi for two
years," said rebbetzin Diane Allen,
who served as the unpaid program
director and Sunday school director at
Beit Kodesh. "They called themselves
the Livonia Jewish Congregation, and
changed the name because at least half
the members are no longer in
Livonia."
She noted that space is also a prob-
lem: While the synagogue can accom-
modate 200 people, wedding recep-
tions and other social events are out of
the question.
Yet the Aliens, who live in Diane's
hometown of Oak Park, are looking at
the glass as half-full.
It was Rabbi Allen's intention to
Clarification