Facing The Downturn

Stretched Thin

Synagogues are fighting through
the tough economy.

Alan Hitsky

I

Associate Editor

Second of an occasional series

fter 20 years as the rabbi at Temple Emanu-El, Economy's Effects
The synagogue community has made cuts on an
Lane Steinger left the Oak Park congregation
individual and collective basis. Tessa Goldberg at
in the mid-1990s to return to his native St.
Congregation Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield chairs the
Louis to become head of the Midwest Region for the
monthly meetings of area synagogue executive direc-
Union for Reform Judaism. This spring, he lost his job
tors. The group's speaker at last fall's annual retreat
when the office was closed in a national cost-cutting
was Robert Aronson, CEO of the Jewish Federation of
move.
Metropolitan Detroit.
On the Conservative side of the Jewish spectrum,
"He was phenomenal;' Goldberg said. "He told us we
congregations throughout the country have pres-
have to continue to raise money for our synagogues,
sured their umbrella group, the United Synagogue of
even with people cutting back.
Conservative Judaism, to lower the national dues paid
"Unfortunately," she added, "we are all struggling the
by member shuls. A group of 50 East Coast congrega-
same. We have to fundraise and give dues adjustments
tions has demanded that United Synagogue close all 15
— and we don't turn anyone away."
of its regional offices and slash the national budget by
Among many cost-saving measures at Beth Ahm,
$14 million.
both large and small: The congregation now serves
Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills, as
punch instead of soda pop following Shabbat services.
part of its own cost-cutting, requested and received a
Congregation B'nai Moshe in West Bloomfield
variance from the New York-based United Synagogue
appealed
both last year and this year to members who
amounting to a 50-percent reduction.
can
afford
it to voluntarily increase their dues by $300
Alan Yost, Adat Shalom's executive director since
or $1,000, or any amount possible.
1980, said it was just one of the actions his
At Congregation Shaarey Zedek of
synagogue has taken over the last few years
Oakland
County, an appeal to members this
because of the national economic downturn
spring
raised
$35,000 to help nursery school
and the stock market meltdown.
and
religious
school
families as well as
In addition to looking for savings in the
members
who
need
help
with dues.
building's electrical and mechanical systems,
"We are always monitoring what we are
Adat Shalom has cut "non-essential" part-time
doing with the budget:' said Rabbi Joseph
and contract employees. It considered delay-
Krakoff of Shaarey Zedek. "We may not offer
ing for a time its search for a new cantor, but
as many free things as in the past, but we
decided delaying was "short-sighted, both long
try to give our members the most for their
term and short term." Cantor Daniel Gross was Rabbi Si lberberg
membership."
hired recently.
He said all the rabbis in the community
"We have to answer the challenges and
are doing more counseling of both members
needs of our community,' said Yost. "We can't
and non-members who have been affected
just cut back:'
by the economy.
Agreeing with Yost is Rabbi Elimelech
He lauded the Jewish Federation and
Silberberg of the Sara & Morris Tugman Bais
its No Family Left Behind campaign for
Chabad Torah Center of West Bloomfield. His
including the synagogues and clergy in their
shul has reduced the number of guest speak-
efforts to publicize assistance programs
ers it is bringing to the congregation, but at
available to Jewish individuals.
Tessa Go Idberg
the same time it is trying to add to its out-
One effect of the economic crisis, Krakoff
reach activities.
said, was that "there are people who have
"There is no question that the economic
started coming to synagogue. It's not a huge
downturn is affecting our membership and
movement, but there are people coming
that people in the Jewish community are mov-
back to God and community. They feel a
ing away to find work:' Rabbi Silberberg said.
connection.
"I don't know the numbers, but certainly 5
"As bad as things are, it has made them
percent have lost jobs.
prioritize. They see family, friends and
"We don't want to cut basic program-
health" as more important than material
ming," he said. "We have to continue. Just like
things.
you have to eat, you have to study and teach
Rabbi Krakoff
Torah."

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A10

july 30 - 2009