I

SUMMER SAVINGS

HARD SURFACE &
WOOL AREA RUG

SALE

"—mm—r—
rwm
7
a•—
•Nir--

Eric Zacks,
his wife,
Renee, and
children
Micah, 7,
Asher, 9
and Leah, 5

Taking The Reins

Beth Shalom welcomes its
youngest president.

veJ

HARDWOOD I PORCELAIN I VINYL I SUSTAINABLE FLOORING

Mc.LEOD CARPET ONE®

248.333.7086 • 42598 Woodward Ave. • Bloomfield Hills
www.mcleodcarpet.com

STORE HOURS: MON., TUES., WED., THUR. 9AM-7PM
FRI. 9AM-6PM • SAT. 10AM-5PM • CLOSED SUNDAY

rxr

woos

OF NEW ZEALAND

2023050

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Dr

Your Plastic Surgeon
Downtown Birmingham

Receive a complimentary consultation when you mention this ad!

CALL US TODAY 248-633-8897

NVEE

AESTHETIC SKIN CARE

Dr.Ellen

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeru

248-633-8897 • drellen.com

390 Park St., Suite 201 • Birmingham, MI 48009

Keep your company top of mind with our readers.

ADVERTISE WITH US! CALL 248.351.5107

Visit theJEWISHNEWS.com

30 August 27 • 2015

JN

Barbara Lewis
Contributing Writer

hen Eric Zacks took office
June 6, he became the
youngest president in the
62-year history of Congregation Beth
Shalom in Oak Park.
Zacks' tenure also marks another
departure for the congregation. The pre-
vious two presidents, Mandy Garver of
Bloomfield Township and Marie Slotnick
of Pleasant Ridge, were retired during
their tenure and were able to make their
synagogue duties a fulltime, though
unpaid, commitment.
Zacks, 38, works full time as an assis-
tant professor of law at Wayne State
University and also has three young chil-
dren, Asher, 9, Micah, 7, and Leah, 5, so
the hours he can devote to the synagogue
are limited.
Zacks grew up in West Bloomfield
where his parents, Mark and Alice, still
live. He graduated from West Bloomfield
High, earned a bachelor's degree in
political science from the University of
Michigan and went on to Harvard Law
School.
He met his wife, Renee, who grew up
in Pennsylvania, during a year abroad at
Tel Aviv University.
The Zackses went shul shopping when
they moved to Huntington Woods in
2007.
"Renee and I were looking for a
welcoming place and one that was par-
ticularly welcoming to children:' he said.
"Congregation Beth Shalom fit the bill.
Our children have grown up comfortable
on the bimah, learning with the clergy
and interacting with members of all

ages:'

He said past-president Garver talked
him into becoming executive vice presi-
dent — a stepping-stone to the presi-
dency — over many breakfast meetings.
Knowing that he would not be able to
give full-time attention to the synagogue,

she promised her support and that of
other volunteers.
"My wife said she knew I was going
to do this sooner or later; Zacks said.
"Since the bylaws preclude anyone from
serving as president for more than two
years, she kiddingly said I should just get
it over with now!"
Beth Shalom's rabbi, Robert Gamer,
said Zacks "has a strong commitment
to prayer, study and community that he
lives on a daily basis and is, therefore,
a wonderful role model to his family,
friends and community:'

Shul Challenges
Zacks said Beth Shalom's biggest chal-
lenge is finding the resources to create
meaningful programs. The congrega-
tion has applied for a Jewish Federation
grant to hire a teen activity coordina-
tor. Beth Shalom is also expanding its
role as a community meeting place in
the wake of the closing of the Jewish
Community Center in Oak Park.
Although financial pressures are an
ongoing challenge, Zacks is optimistic
about the future.
"If we continue Congregation Beth
Shalom's legacy of being a welcoming
place and a place where individuals and
families find meaning through different
Jewish programs, I think our future is
bright:' he said.
Slotnick says she has no qualms
about turning the reins over to Zacks.
"Eric is very much a 'big picture'
person:' she said. "He is committed
to moving Beth Shalom forward and
getting/keeping our financial house in
order."
Garver agreed. "Eric has that rare
combination of strategic and pragmatic
traits:' she said. As a young father
and committed Conservative Jew, he
has a vision that will carry us into the
future. He's exactly what we need at this
point in our history, and I couldn't be
happier he's our president7

❑