Metro

Ongoing Talks

Options are discussed before Shaarey Zedek votes on closing B'nai Israel.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Senior Writer

I

n the weeks since Congregation
Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County's
(CSZ) board proposed a vote to close
its B'nai Israel Center in West Bloomfield,
members have been meeting, talking and
e-mailing one another and members of
the synagogue's clergy, board and staff.
The June 15 board vote will determine
if the synagogue will consolidate opera-
tions and its congregation in Southfield as
a way to reduce the synagogue's operating
deficit, which is hundreds of thousands of
dollars, and eliminate the need for exten-
sive improvement and repair costs to B'nai
Israel.
Since the May 4
announcement of the
upcoming vote, syna-
gogue members and
leadership have been
actively seeking ways to
help keep B'nai Israel
open. The close-knit con-
Rabbi Krakoff
tingency of CSZ mem-
bers who regularly attend
services at B'nai Israel
— some of whom do not
drive on Shabbat and live
near the building — hold
more traditional services
in a smaller setting than
in Southfield and utilize
lay leaders with no can-
Brian
for or choir.
Hermelin
No conclusions have
been reached, but talks
are ongoing between members and clergy,
officers and staff of the synagogue. In
addition, a two-hour Town Hall meeting

Synagogue
Plaudits

In concluding another religious school
year, Congregation Shaarey Zedek of
Oakland County is proud to announce
the recipients of its annual awards.
The awards cover the 2009-2010
school year.
The 2009-2010 Jeffrey Weisberg
Memorial Creative Writing Awards were
given to Zachary Jennings and Emily

took place at B'nai Israel on May 17.
"The goal of that evening was for us to
listen to each other and share concerns:
said CSZ Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff. "It was
a congregational open house to openly
and honestly share the financial pieces
that led to the situation."
That discussion included information
on the cost of operating the B'nai Israel
Center and savings that would result from
consolidation.
CSZ President Brian Hermelin said
discussions of significant deficits and the
need to cut costs took place.
"We spoke of how running deficits in
excess of dues, annual donations and
endowment distributions is unsustainable
and that the board will take all steps on
the expense and on the revenue side to
address this situation: he said.

and family programming as part of Shaarey
Zedek's offerings to our membership.
"Conversations at the meeting led to
whether or not there is a way to continue
that diversity of progress as well as diver-
sity of geography. We are meeting with
members hoping to provide concrete pro-
posals."
CSZ's board will meet next week, in
advance of its scheduled June 15 vote.
But that vote date could be changed. "Our
plan is to bring the matter to vote in June
Hermelin said. "If we need more time and
are engaged in constructive discussions,
we'll take more time."
Said Krakoff, "In the meantime, we plan
to talk, meet and listen every step of the
way'

More Meetings
Krakoff said the Town Hall meeting was
attended by "a good amount of people who
go to B'nai Israel on a regular basis and
a good amount who go to Southfield on
a regular basis. I think, for the most part,
everyone was very respectful, thoughtful
and passionate."
The spirit of the meeting was that we
have something special at the congrega-
tion," Hermelin said. "We are the largest
Conservative synagogue in town and have
dynamic clergy and an excellent religious
school. We have the ability to provide
multiple services and have delivered that
diversity in multiple buildings, covering
east- and west-side options.
"As a large congregation, we must provide
diversity of programs," he said, "and we
have been working to ensure that we will
continue to have the traditional services

What Do We Want?
Separate from the Town Hall meeting,
issues raised include personal, emo-
tional concerns from those with simchahs
booked at B'nai Israel and logistic ones
from those who live near the facility, but
do not drive on Shabbat. Others have
turned to the "big picture" of the long-
term preservation of Shaarey Zedek that
could result from offsetting costs now.
Some individuals and small groups have
informally proposed buying or renting
space for services, either in conjunction
with CSZ membership or without it.
On a more organized scale, a group of
members who regularly attend services at
B'nai Israel have met to discuss a three-
part hope.
"We want to stay together; we want to
stay within Shaarey Zedek, if possible; and
preferably to have the B'nai Israel build-
ing open for us: said Frank J. Ellias of
Farmington Hills, a member of the newly

Uzansky, first place for
grades 3-5; and Melissa
Berlin, first place for
grades 6-8.
The recipi-
ent of the Andrea
Lynn Rubenstein
A
Outstanding
Jeremy
Leadership Award was Sherman
Jeremy Sherman. A
lifelong member of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Sherman
is a graduate of ATID: The Alliance for

Teens in Detroit. He
was recently elected
international president
of BBYO. He is the son
of Fanny and Jeffrey
Sherman, brother to
Jonathan and Stefanie
Sherman and grandson
Davida
of Esther and Edward
Robinson
Sherman, Sara Pancer
and the late Noel Pancer.
Davida Robinson is the 2010 recipient
of Shaarey Zedek's Bernard and Judith

formed B'nai Israel Strategic Planning
Committee.
"We are a group of about a dozen mem-
bers, many with families whose roots go
back many years at Shaarey Zedek. We
formed to address the problems that exist
and to work together with officers and
the board to find a solution that will keep
us together, ideally under the chuppah of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
"We are a vibrant, diverse community of
Conservative Jews; we developed our com-
munity with Shaarey Zedek nearly two
decades ago and would very much like to
stay together: Ellias said. "We believe there
is a place within Shaarey Zedek for different
types of religious services in different geo-
graphical locations. The B'nai Israel build-
ing's location is critical because we have
a number of shomer Shabbos (Shabbat
observant) families that walk to synagogue."
After reviewing budgets and working
closely with the board, Ellias, a former CSZ
board member, said it is too early in the
process to discuss specific plans, but said
the group is discussing ways to be able to
continue to use the B'nai Israel building.
"The first thrust of our energy is to do
this within Shaarey Zedek and keep it
owned by Shaarey Zedek," he said. "There
are a number of options we are consider-
ing that would have B'nai Israel remain
Shaarey Zedek property as well as other
options we are exploring!'
Said Krakoff, "We would all love to be
able to find a way to keep our synagogue
members together. That has always been
the goal and will continue to be the goal.
We will continue to hear the voices and
talk and brainstorm ways to approach the
problems and solve them and move for-
ward together." El

Cantor Distinguished Educator Award.
Robinson, a lifelong member of the
synagogue, has taught second-grade
religious school at Shaarey Zedek for 12
years. She inspires the children to con-
nect to God, Torah and Israel in a mean-
ingful, exciting way.
Registration is now open for the
2010-2011 Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Religious School. Contact Rabbi Aaron
Starr, director of education and youth,
for information or to register: (248) 357-
5544.

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