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metro >> on the cover
"We can live here for
about the same as
what we were paying
in our condo."
-Dan and
Nori Braude,
enjoying life at
Fox Run since
2003
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
"We [at Temple]
have a unique
perspective with
regard to change;
it enables us to be
large and nimble
at the same time."
A timeless shot of Wendy and Paul
Yedwab at his student pulpit in Great
- Rabbi Yedwab
Barrington, Mass., during the High
Holidays, 1985
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"It was the only congregation that
had a collegial relationship between its
clergy:' he said, referring to no hierar-
chy and no senior or junior rabbis. He
also liked the partnership that existed
between the clergy and lay leaders.
"I thought it was brilliant and that
it would fit my style he said. "It was
new and different and exciting; and I
just loved the people. Turns out I was
right."
Yedwab said he never thought he
would want to be part of such a large
congregation, which had about 1,600
member families at the time. But the
attitude of the leadership and its will-
ingness to be flexible quickly changed
his mind.
Today, the congregation has about
12,000 members, comprised of 3,400
families and individuals.
In addition to Yedwab, the temple
has four other staff rabbis — Harold
Loss, Joshua Bennett, Marla Hornsten
and Jennifer Tisdale Kaluzny — plus
new educational director Rabbi
Arianna Gordon. Cantor Michael
Smolash and Cantorial Soloist Neil
Michaels round out the spiritual lead-
ership.
"We're the largest small congrega-
tion in the country," Yedwab said.
"We have a unique perspective with
regard to change; it enables us to be
large and nimble at the same time."
He credits this philosophy for many
of the innovative programs that have
been introduced during the past 25
years since he joined Temple Israel.
Temple Israel was among the
pioneer congregations in offering a
Jewish bereavement group, outdoor
services and a PowerPoint presenta-
tion instead of a printed siddur dur-
ing services. It was the first Reform
synagogue to offer a mikveh (ritual
bath). The Yedwabs have co-led many
of the temple's adult missions to
Israel with Susan and Rabbi Loss.
Yedwab is quick to emphasize that
his successes are the result of a team
effort.
"We're very much a team here he
said. "No one really does anything on
his or her own; we're always review-
ing and revising. Everything I've
accomplished has been with a group;
that's what makes us special:'
Attracting Youth
Although Yedwab has many pas-
sions, one of the strongest is attract-
ing younger people to Temple Israel
and to Judaism, and keeping them
involved beyond the early teen years.
He believes the success of any congre-
gation lies in its youth, especially the
post-bar/bat mitzvah-age group.
"What really counts is how you
attract the kids in grades 8-12," he
said. "You need groundbreaking ideas.
We spend more time on that issue
than any other."
Toward this end, Yedwab is spear-
heading a program called "One
Hundred Ways In:' which includes at
least 100 opportunities to involve high
school-age teens. Yedwab's intention
is that the program, which has been
selected as a finalist for a New York-
based Covenant Foundation grant, will
serve as a model for other congrega-
tions throughout the country.
"Paul's amazingly creative and
energetic; he does great things with
the youth, and he's a wonderful team
player:' said David Tisdale, past presi-
dent and current executive director of
Temple Israel.
Yedwab is proud of the many
youth-oriented programs that have
been developed at Temple Israel since
his arrival. Some of these include
WJEW, the award-winning, student-
run radio station founded by Cantor
Smolash and a group of high school
students; a summer theater camp; the
Teen Tefillah Team; and Federation-
Perfect Fit on page 10
8 December 8 - 2011