1980s, has one child in the 11th grade,
another in eighth grade, and a third who
graduated. He appreciates the commit-
ment the synagogue made to the school
by building its own classrooms, which
also houses Gan Shalom — the syna-
gogue's preschool.
"The people at Beth Shalom are very
genuine people, very friendly and not
pretentious," says Barth, who voices an
opinion expressed by many. "It's a warm
,
heimish [down-to-earth] place.'
One of the most recent innovations,
one that Rabbi Nelson calls "an insight
into the obvious," is having congregants
make a week's worth of dinners for par-
ents of newborns. "Friendships are creat-
ed and they share their religious lives. I think it is a
beautiful caring act to do, and I've been hearing nice
things about it."
Looking To The Future
Rabbi Nelson is confident that Beth Shalom is prepar-
ing well for its future.
"We have almost reconfigured and regenerated
while trying to keep so many different layers and gen-
erations served," he says. "We are looking towards the
21st century. We had to ask: Is this just an old neigh-
borhood, or is it an exciting neighborhood?
"We've drawn from a new groups of leaders, young
leaders new to Beth Shalom. Your grandparents didn't
have to be a member here for you to be active and a
process to discover its strengths and where
improvements need to be made.
Zieva Konvisser, vice president of strategic planning
and a member of the rabbi search committee, oversaw
a review of the congregation's strategic plan4he and
her husband, Marc, members for 30 years, are close
friends with the Nelsons. They travel from their home
in Orchard Lake to be part of Beth Shalom.
"The csimchah moment' is so Beth Shalom," she
'says. "So is the minyan [which attracts 60-70 people
on Sundays and 20-25 on weekdays] and the breakfast
after it, the children on the bimah, and being together
with our friends."
About 150 congregants participated in 15 focus
groups, and 25 percent of the membership responded
to a survey with similar inquiries.
"It was all very positive. We were very inclusive,"
explains Konvisser. "People came and they were lis-
tened to. Using information from focus groups and
surveys, we sat down and came up with our mission,
and people are really relating to it. We found that
most members seem to feel the same way: The same
things are important, and the same qualities are val-
ued."
The new mission statement says: "The mission of
Congregation Beth Shalom is to celebrate Jewish life
as an inclusive and intimate community through
learning, prayer, shared experiences and social action
within the framework of Conservative Judaism."
The synagogue's new Etz Hayim Endowment
Fund is a $4 million campaign to secure the future
the congregation is so passionate about.
"This is a very busy _place," says Steve Weiss, the
congregation's executive director for the past 3'/2years.
"While the congregation has no debt, change is
David Appelman, new family program coordinator,
and Danny Kochavi, new education and youth director,
with religious school students.
leader. We want to strengthen Jewish lives . and Jewish
commitment, and we've come together to strategize
for the future."
. is
As part of the search for a new rabbi — the plan
to bring one on board in July 2005 to work with
Rabbi Nelson until his retirement in August 2006 —
the congregation undertook a strategic planning
dynamic and.can,be expensive: The endowment will
ensure that the financial future of the congregation is
well - served."
Weiss credits congregation president Nancy Glen
with providing key leadership for the effort. "It's been
her priority and it will be her legacy as president,"
says Weiss.
Other key supporters have been David Kirsch and
Bert Shifinan, who co-chaired the capital campaign
that refurbished and expanded the synagogue in the
late 1990s. So far, the campaign has raised $1.25 mil-
lion in its first six months.
"We find that people will participate significantly
when you go to them. It is very exciting to see the
response we are getting. Our financial challenge is not
for the long run, but the gap between
today and three years from now."
According to Weiss, the synagogue
currently has 540 families, which is high-
er than the historic average of 450-500
families. Demographically, more than 50
percent of the membership is older than
age 60 and most of the membership is
older than 35. But there has been an
influx of young families and the kinder-
garten class is twice as big as last year, a
good sign for the future.
The congregation has very active
youth groups (Kadima, USY, Chalutzim,
Yadid). It also has a special sisterhood —
Z'havah — for younger women.
Rabbi E.B. "Bunny" Freedman, direc-
tor of the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network
and an Orthodox neighbor of the synagogue, said,
"Under David Nelson's leadership, Beth Shalom has
gone out of its way to make sure it is a great neighbor
to the entire community, Orthodox, non-Orthodox,
secular, Jewish, non-Jewish. Beth Shalom has a real
good understanding of the unique role they play as a
Conservative congregation in an intensely Orthodox
neighborhood."
Ida and Albert Rosenblum
Steven Weiss
"We have a very vibrant and dynamic community
in Southfield, Huntington Woods and Oak Park,"
says Weiss. "And more Jews are moving into Clawson,
Troy, Royal Oak and Berkley. We are an anchor insti-
tution and have provided a real community service by
remaining here. We have a much higher percentage of
non-members in our religious school than other con-
gregations. There are many who would have zero con-
nection with Judaism if not for Beth Shalom. I see it
every day."
Additionally, the congregation's Circle of Friends
program provides important social, educational, reli-
gious and acculturation opportunities for Jews from
the former Soviet Union, many of whom are concen-
trated in Oak Park:
"We are a community that cares about the future,"
Konvisser said. [II
A gala dinner-dance and silent auction will
be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10 at the
synagogue. The event honors Rabbi David and
Alicia Nelson for "welcoming people into the
shul, into their home and into their hearts."
Tickets to the black-tie-optional event are $150.
To make reservations, call the office at
(248) 547-7970.
tTS
10/1
2004
67