OUR COMMUNITY

T

he guideline wording
was simple. Submit an
entry of “any initiative,
program or project which will
re-engage community mem-
bers in synagogue life.”
Three-hundred submis-
sion-reviews later, 35 congre-
gations were sharing $100,000
in funding to implement their
innovative ideas. Among them
is one Michigan synagogue:
Young Israel of Oak Park
(YIOP).
With the recent easing
of COVID-19 restrictions,
congregations worldwide are
beginning to open their doors
for in-person prayer, program-
ming and activities.
With that anticipation at the
forefront, the Orthodox Union
(OU), the umbrella organiza-
tion for the North American
Orthodox community, estab-
lished the Back to Shul grant
to spur these efforts for its
members.
Out-of-the-box entries
encouraging long-term return
to the synagogue included
hosting a communal Kiddush
celebration as a “make-up”
for missed milestones, a back-
to-shul fair and a communal
parlor meeting project to
gain an understanding of the
changed needs of congregants.

Categories included Education,
Chesed, Dating and Marriage,
Women, Seniors, Youth — and
Events, Shabbatons, Tefillah
and Music, which is where
YIOP secured its grant.
“We are planning four
themed Shabbatot,” said
Sharon Cohen, the congrega-

tion’s fundraising secretary,
who submitted the proposal to
the OU along with synagogue
president Gil Stebbins.
“Each Shabbat would
include a dvar Torah delivered
by Rabbi Shaya Katz to go with
the theme. After davening,
Kiddush — incorporating
the theme — would allow for
everyone to socially engage
with one another. The planned
themes are prayer, health and
happiness, and will culminate
with the theme of community.
A small theme-based gift for
each participant might also
be included in some weeks,”

Cohen said.
The hope is for the
grant-winning programming
to take place in August and
September as a lead-in to
Simchat Torah.
“The committee was most
impressed with the multifac-
eted nature of the submission

from Young Israel of Oak
Park,” said OU Synagogue
Initiatives director Rabbi Adir
Posy. “Their approach was to
recognize the different ways
that members interact with the
shul and to tailor program-
ming that addressed different
aspects of return to shul expe-
rience.”

STRONGER THAN EVER
In advance of the implementa-
tion of YIOP’s grant program-
ming, the congregation hosted
a June 24 outdoor “welcome
back” pizza and ice cream cel-
ebration, their first in-person,

social event since before the
start of the pandemic. The syn-
agogue has also begun indoor
services, with clearly marked
sections designated for those
who wish to mask and social
distance.
“Young Israel of Oak Park is
a full-service family shul with

a young and dynamic rabbi,
which makes us very appealing
to young families,” Stebbins
said. “Over the past two years
the average new member has
been between 25 and 35 years
old, newly married with young
children. With this trend, it
is important not only to have
events welcoming back the
community but also include
the younger couples who will
be the future of Young Israel of
Oak Park.
“The kickoff event was a
perfect example, with future
programs also being planned
with young families in mind,”

Young Israel of Oak Park receives a grant to bring members together.

Come
On Back

“SHUL LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE
DISCOVERING NEW WAYS TO BRING BACK OUR

COMMUNITIES STRONGER THAN EVER.”

— OU PRESIDENT MOISHE BANE

continued on page 14

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

12 | JULY 29 • 2021

Members enjoy
the day together
outside the
YIOP synagogue
building.