metro

Starr Quality from page 8

A Look Ahead For CSZ

"We are in the process of determining how we will aggregate diverse voices
from across the congregation to chart our future, including taking a look at
how to expand our clergy team," said CSZ President Mary Knoll. "We want
to make sure we are as inclusive as possible and do this absolutely right.
So, it is taking some necessary time to assemble a representative group
and leadership to determine the next steps."
Knoll said it has not yet been determined how or if this will affect Rabbi
Aaron Starr's position at the synagogue. "But, for now, we appreciate how
he has embraced a larger role," she said.
"Rabbi Starr's title hasn't changed, but his role has been expanded. He
has conducted more services, delivered all sermons and been available
for every lifecycle event over the past few months, in addition to his other
responsibilities.
"Rabbi Starr continues to serve the congregation with intelligence,
respect and care. He has earned respect from a wider range of members;
from our youngest to our oldest. We are all very proud of how he serves
families every day."

with the RA, and, in 2010, began the
nearly yearlong application process to
become a Conservative rabbi. The require-
ments are quite involved. He was formally
accepted in the spring of 2011.

Individual Attention

"In 2011, the title 'rabbi' was added to
my job description [at CSZ]," Starr said.
"My role expanded to include the full
range of traditional rabbinic respon-
sibilities, including lifecycle events,
hospital visits and the breadth of pulpit
leadership, while continuing to oversee
all aspects of education and youth at the
synagogue.
"I believe that a rabbi's 'job' is not
only to teach and to learn, but to inspire
and touch lives," he said.
"I approach each lifecycle event I
perform with the recognition that every
family is special and unique in its own
way and that such events must honor
each family's uniqueness. My approach
is similar in the realm of Jewish educa-
tion: Each learner is unique and the
learning must be tailored to that indi-
vidual's needs."
CSZ board member Milton Feldberg
values that personalized attention.
"My wife, Lisa, and I both grew up as
Reform Jews," said Feldberg of
Birmingham. "Rabbi
Starr has continuously
but gently — and
sometimes without us
realizing it — nudged
us to increase our
involvement and
engagement. In fact, he
often speaks of being
Milton
Jewish as a journey;
Feldberg
one in which you grow
and do a little bit more each year, but at
a pace that is comfortable for you and
your family.
"We have found that his sermons
speak both to the head and the heart,"

10 November 27 • 2014

MI

said Feldberg.
"This was clearly on display during
[the High Holidays]. His sermons were
divided between ones that challenged
you and made you think, and ones that
evoked various emotions. Most of his
sermons are delivered without notes.
This allows him to use the entire bimah
and really engage the audience, some-
times by leaving the bimah and walking
up and down the aisles:'
Synagogue member Beth Margolin
of Orchard Lake said, "Each Shabbat,
I leave shul feeling
elevated and enriched
by his sermons. Rabbi
Starr is very spiri-
tual, scholarly and wise
111 beyond his years. As he
has had greater oppor-
tunity to offer sermons
and teach the congre-
Beth Margolin gation, the synagogue
membership is getting
to know this outstand-
ing rabbi. In a very short time, he is
moving the congregation forward"

Family Life

Originally from the U.P., Rebecca Starr
is a Jewish educator and social worker.
She teaches for the local Florence Melton
School of Adult Jewish Learning and also
a variety of adult education classes at
CSZ and throughout the community. She
is a consultant and trainer for teachers
through Federation's Alliance for Jewish
Education, and she directs the Ramah
Fellows program in Metro Detroit.
She feels a strong connection with the
CSZ congregation, saying she is honored
and grateful to be part of the community.
"It is a wonderful place to raise our
two sons — Caleb, 7, and Ayal, 4, —
and it means a lot to both Aaron and
me to raise them in a community that
honors and respects Jewish tradition so
completely. The congregants of Shaarey

Zedek act as our extended family"
In his sparse spare time, Starr authored
the book, Taste of Hebrew (URJ Press), an
introduction to Hebrew language study
book for adults, created as a learning tool
for parents whose children are beginning
to learn Hebrew.
Starr also plays tennis, basketball and
guitar and, in the past few years, has
become a runner, completing three half-
marathons, three mud runs, along with
5Ks and 10Ks and a triathlon.
The grandchild of Holocaust survivors,
he has spoken at the Holocaust Memorial
Center in Farmington Hills on several
occasions.

New Era In Education

"Almost immediately upon his arrival at
CSZ, Rabbi Starr transformed the religious
school" said Feldberg, whose children,
Ari, 13, and Emma, almost 11, have been
students there. At the opening day of
his first year, students and parents were
greeted with a red carpet, Jewish music,
food and a festive atmosphere. It was clear
it was a new era at CSZ.
"The religious school now had a sense
of joy, fun, spirit and energy to go along
with an increased depth of learning. Rabbi
Starr has an innate ability to engage both
students and parents. He quickly brought
contemporary teaching techniques, tech-
nology and experiential learning to the
religious school:'
Starr has formed a connection with
youth outside of the classroom as well.
Margolin was able to experience this
impact first hand when she served as
Federation's Teen Mission coordinator in
2010, when he was part of the trip's com-
munity rabbinic leadership team.
"I had the opportunity to watch his
interaction with the teens, staff and his
colleagues every day for two-and-a-half
weeks:' she said. "He had a special ability
to be silly, crazy and fun with the teens,
while maintaining the dignity of being a

rabbi and teaching the teens Jewish history
and the beauty and importance of Israel."

Being A Leader

"I believe Rabbi Starr deserves praise and
attention for his dedication to the CSZ
congregation and for stepping into a role
requiring significant leadership responsi-
bilities:' said Dr. Ira Zaltz of Huntington
Woods, a CSZ member along with his
wife, Barbara, and
12-year-old daughters
Isabel and Zoe.
Feldberg praised
Starr for "the grace and
leadership he exhibited
during the rabbinic
leadership transition"
at the shul. "This past
Ira Zaltz
summer was a difficult
time in the shul's histo-
ry:' he said. "There was
some strife and disagreement regarding
the decision we made to part ways with
Rabbi Krakoff."
Krakoff served the congregation for 16
years and will remain in Detroit, teaching
and consulting.
"Rabbi Starr has been a voice of calm,
reason and healing, while also being
straightforward about addressing the
concerns of some of the congregants,"
Feldberg said. "He handled the pressure
and increased responsibilities without
ever seeming to break a sweat:'
Margolin added, "He did not shy away
from the controversy, but used his wis-
dom, compassion and teachings from
Jewish texts to guide the congregation
through the difficult situation:'
Zaltz, a member of the CSZ board, said,
"His devotion to Judaism, his personal
style on the bimah, his approachable
manner, his intelligence, his warmth, his
empathy and his effective communication
skills enable him to personally connect
with individuals whether interacting one-
on-one, with small groups or with the
entire membership. He has a clear vision
for the future of the CSZ community and
is able to effectively articulate his con-
cepts.
"He has done an outstanding job dem-
onstrating that he is mature beyond his
years and a highly regarded member and
leader of the greater Detroit Jewish com-
munity. He has managed to keep many
balls in the air at the synagogue, fulfilling
multiple roles and helping to maintain
business-as-usual:'
Looking ahead, Starr said, "I believe
that the essence of Judaism is gratitude,
obligation and joy, and my vision for our
great shul is to ensure we have meaning-
ful, spiritual opportunities to express our
gratitude for life's blessings; significant,
impactful ways to fulfill our obliga-
tions toward God and toward our fellow
human; and that joy is a part of nearly
everything we do"

❑

