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Leadership Change?

Shaarey Zedek Rabbi Krakoff's job
may be in jeopardy.

Ken Guten Cohen

Story Development Editor

S

4

—Elaine Frazis, Fox Run resident,
pictured with daughters Debi and Karen

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24 July 10 • 2014

JN

ince early last week, rumors
have been swirling in the com-
munity about the fate of Rabbi
Joseph H. Krakoff, a religious leader since
1998 at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
Southfield, Detroit's largest and oldest
Conservative synagogue.
At press time, the IN was unable to
confirm rumors whether the synagogue's
executive officers told the rabbi last week
that his contract will
not be renewed; its
ending date is believed
to be 16-22 months
from now Shaarey
Zedek executive direc-
tor Shim Shapiro
declined to comment;
Rabbi Krakoff
and congregation
president Mary Knoll
issued two brief emailed statements to
congregants.
The last, on Monday afternoon, said:
"The Executive Board of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek, in consultation with
several past presidents and after hear-
ing from the Board of Trustees, are in
discussions with Rabbi Krakoff about
the future direction of the Congregation
and Rabbi Krakoff's continuing role. We
realize that these matters affect our entire
membership of passionate and dedicated
congregants. However, at this time we
must ask that everyone respect the role of
the Congregation's elected leaders and the
decency and privacy of the process and all
those involved.
"We also ask that people avoid specu-
lation and conjecture, and allow these
discussions to reach conclusion. We thank
everyone for their patience during this
time, and we will share details as soon as
appropriate:'
Speculation and conjecture already
were rampant. The IN received several
letters to the editor in support of Krakoff,
a respected rabbi who has emerged as
a local Conservative leader and bridge
builder among other local communities,
especially Catholics. The letters praise
Krakoff as a "devoted friend and mentor"
and someone who "puts congregants first:'
CSZ member Jeff Selik reached out this
week on Facebook to gather emails of
congregants interested in saving Krakoff's
job. And active CSZ congregants con-
tacted by the JN expressed shock that
their rabbi might have been asked to step
down; they were searching for answers
or confirmation. Many complained about

the process they felt might have excluded
general membership.
Yet, a source close to the board said
privacy is typical in contractual matters
where "sensitivity and legal ramifications"
must be taken into consideration, and
cautioned that the situation "is still liquid,
discussions are still ongoing and things
could change in a matter of days."
Yet the source alluded to "the evolu-
tion of the synagogue" and the need for
a "different kind of rabbi" Like most
Conservative synagogues in the coun-
try, Shaarey Zedek's membership has
declined. Current membership is estimat-
ed to be around 1,000 member units, but
CSZ would not confirm that number.
Krakoff has been a rabbi at the syna-
gogue for 16 years, coming straight to
Shaarey Zedek after his ordination from
the Jewish Theological Seminary in New
York. When it was time to choose one
rabbi to lead the congregation, Krakoff
earned the position over another young
rabbi on staff.
Krakoff's family has grown up with
the congregation. His wife, Susan, is
a Jewish educator and b'nai mitzvah
tutor at Shaarey Zedek. Daughter Atara
attends Frankel Jewish Academy in West
Bloomfield, while sons Micah and Elan go
to Hillel Day School in Farmington Hills.
The rabbi has served as past president
of both the Michigan Board of Rabbis
and the Rabbinical Assembly-Michigan
Region, and serves on the boards of many
local secular and Jewish organizations.
He deferred comment to his attorney,
Sue Ellen Eisenberg of Sue Ellen Eisenberg
and Associates PC, an employment law
firm in Bloomfield Hills. Although not
confirming nor denying that Krakoff's
contract will not be renewed, she emphat-
ically stated that any action has "nothing
to do with any allegation of misconduct"
"The rabbi has devoted the last 16
years of his life to the congregation of
Shaarey Zedek and has enormous love,
care and empathy for every member" she
said. "He's open to any discussion regard-
ing solutions that would best enhance
the interests of the synagogue, and he is
someone you can count on to work with
those to support the integrity of Shaarey
Zedek. He's very beloved there.
"We hear the same rumors — that
they want to change the direction of the
synagogue. If that is the decision, then
presumably there is a decision to change
leadership. That is what it is. There is a
division of labor between the business and
spiritual sides for a reason; it's something
a rabbi can't necessarily control"

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