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.

