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Back In Michigan
Rabbi Jared Anstandig returns to join
the Ann Arbor Jewish community.
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104
May 24 • 2018
jn
fter 35 years under the
leadership of retiring Rabbi
Rod Glogower, the Ann
Arbor Orthodox Minyan (AAOM)
and University of Michigan Hillel are
preparing this summer to welcome
Rabbi Jared Anstandig to the new
leadership role of rabbi of the Ann
Arbor Orthodox community.
A native of West Bloomfield,
Anstandig was ordained at Yeshiva
University, where he also earned
degrees in Judaic and biblical
studies. He completed rabbinic
internships at the Lincoln Square
Synagogue in New York, Kesher
Israel in Washington, D.C., and
Congregation Shaare Tefilah in New
Jersey, and taught in the Upper
School at Ramaz, a co-educational
Modern Orthodox day school in
Manhattan.
“As someone who grew up in
Metro Detroit, coming back to
Michigan really feels like coming
home,” Anstandig said. “In high
school, I always thought of Ann
Arbor and the University of Michigan
as very special places, and it’s very
exciting to become part of this won-
derful community.”
In his new position, beginning in
July, Anstandig will work through
Michigan Hillel, leading the AAOM
and the student Orthodox com-
munity, which hold joint services all
year in the Hillel building.
“Ann Arbor has a small but really
unique and strong Orthodox com-
munity, and I’m looking forward to
being in a community where I can
have a real impact,” Anstandig said.
Monica Rosen of the AAOM, and
Tilly Shames of Michigan Hillel, co-
led the extensive search.
“Rabbi Anstandig possesses all
of the qualities we were looking for
in a rabbinic leader — he is kind,
extremely knowledgeable and very
personable,” Rosen said.
Shames, Michigan Hillel executive
director, said, “We are very excited
to have Rabbi Anstandig join our
staff team and be a resource for our
Orthodox student community. It is a
pleasure to watch him interact with
students, showing a deep interest
in their experiences on campus and
thoughtful understanding of their
needs as students.”
Anstandig also serves in the
Chaplain Corps in the U.S. Army
Reserve.
Rabbi Jared and Sarit Anstandig
“Working and training with soldiers
of all religious backgrounds has
been an inspirational experience,”
Anstandig said. “Just recently, a
casual question from a soldier about
whether Jews practice ‘tithing’ led
to a really rich and rewarding group
conversation about the purpose of
charity, how we all have a responsi-
bility to help the needy and how we
can best meet that obligation.
“As I listened to these soldiers
engaging with really important
ethical and pragmatic issues, I
thought, ‘This is Talmud — this is its
essence, right here,’” he said.
Anstandig’s wife, Sarit, is also an
accomplished Jewish educator. An
East Coast native, she is looking
forward to exploring what Orthodox
Jewish life is like in a smaller, more
intimate community, and hopes to
find a role in Jewish education and
community service locally.
One of the most gratify-
ing aspects of his new position,
Anstandig said, is the warm wel-
come from Rabbi Glogower, who
will retire this summer.
“This has been an important year
of evolution for the Minyan. We
have been led for more than 30
years by Rabbi Rod Glogower, who
has left an indelible impression on
scores of local families and gen-
erations of students,” said AAOM
President Marc Bernstein. “AAOM
and U-M Hillel are thrilled Rabbi
Anstandig and Sarit will be joining
our community.”
Anstandig’s position at Michigan
Hillel begins in mid-July; he ex-
pects to begin leading AAOM in
the week of July 23. @