metro >> on the cover

Meet At The Well

New community outreach program
aims to enhance Jewish living.

Barbara Lewis I Contributing Writer

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

religion.
Moishe House network, wrote to Temple
After the Pew report, Temple Israel
Israel offering to start a free-standing Jewish
convened a future-planning committee to
educational program that would appeal to
address the issue of millennials' detachment
unaffiliated young adults. There was no way
from Jewish life.
to fund it and the idea died.
"We envisioned a `network weaver' who
Horwitz, 31, returned to the Detroit area
would tie together groups that already exist-
to serve as associate rabbi of Congregation
ed and reach beyond institutional walls," said
Shir Tikvah in Troy and senior
Temple Israel's Rabbi Paul Yedwab. "It
was a lot like the program Dan had
Jewish educator of the Michigan
State University Hillel.
proposed:'
Meanwhile, the 2013 Pew
Yedwab also started talking with
philanthropist Lori Talsky Zekelman,
Research Center report started
who is not a member of Temple Israel.
setting off alarms throughout the
Jewish community The report
She also was concerned the Jewish
showed that while American
community was not meeting people's
Jews are proud of their heritage,
needs and liked the idea of a non-
Rabbi Pa ul
more than one-fifth say they have Yedwab
congregational outreach program.
no religion:' Among millennials
Zekelman, said Yedwab, is "unbe-
— those born between the early 1980s and
lievably creative:'
about 2000 — 32 percent say they feel Jewish
"She knows how to push and pull and
by ancestry, ethnicity or culture but have no
ask the right questions. She was absolutely

"

Rebecca and Eliezer by Bartolome Esteban Murillo, 17th century

focused on creating something that will
make the world a better place:'
Working with a small committee, Yedwab
and Zekelman created a framework for the
new program, and Zekelman agreed to fund
a four-year trial. The committee started an
extensive national search for a director.
Because the program would not be affili-
ated with any congregation or denomina-
tion, the position was listed with Reform,
Conservative and Reconstructionist organiza-
tions for rabbis and cantors and with groups
of Jewish social workers and educators.
The job posting asked for a spiritual entre-
preneur with a dynamic and charismatic
personality, an inspiring worship leader,

a knowledgeable and effective teacher, a
willing fundraiser and grant writer, and a
self-starting team player competent in social
media, Yedwab said.
As it turns out, we found that person right
here in Metropolitan Detroit:' he said.

Homegrown Leadership
Horwitz grew up at Conservative
Congregation B'nai Israel and graduated
from Hillel Day School and West Bloomfield
High. He now lives in Huntington Woods
with his wife, Miriam, and their son, Jonah,
born last December. He is the son of Gina
and Arthur Horwitz, publisher/executive edi-

Meet At The Well on page 16

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May 28 • 2015