28 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK

N

eil Zechman, 75, of Birmingham 
has been nominated as our 
Volunteer of the Week by 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek (CSZ) for his 
invaluable contribution to the synagogue. 
“I am honored to nominate Neil 
Zechman,” said Saul Rube, the ritual direc-
tor at CSZ. “Neil has always been involved 
with the shul to varying 
degrees. He currently serves 
as a member of the Board 
of Trustees and has stepped 
up during the pandemic 
as a member of the Ritual 
Committee. Neil has become 
an irreplaceable part of the rit-
ual workings of our synagogue.”
Zechman has been involved with CSZ 
since his Hebrew school days at the age 
of 4. Before retiring in 2014, Zechman 
worked for 40 years for the state of 
Michigan as an attorney in the position 
of administrative law examiner with the 
Unemployment Insurance Agency. Now 
Zechman fills his time by giving back to 
the community. 
“Since retiring, I needed to organize my 
time to give me a purpose to get up in the 
morning. Because I don’t have my own 
family, the community has become my 
family,” Zechman explains. 
Zechman serves as a gabbai/service 
organizer. He says it’s like a “stage man-

ager” on Shabbat mornings and presides 
over the nightly Zoom Minchah/Maariv 
(evening) services/minyanim at the con-
gregation.
“He makes our digital minyan a friendly 
and hospitable virtual place, and partic-
ipants — regulars or otherwise — feel 
valued and welcomed,” Rube added. “Neil 
also leads our services multiple evenings 
weekly, and happily covers for others who 
cannot be there to lead. It’s a challenge for 
any very large synagogue, especially post-
COVID, to feel ‘heimish’ — and thanks in 
large part to Neil Zechman, we all feel that 
CSZ has met that challenge head-on, one 
smile and warm feeling at a time.”
Zechman is the one primarily respon-
sible for assigning aliyahs for upcoming 
birthdays, anniversaries, yahrzeits or 
awards as well. 
Zechman says he enjoys being able to 
give back to the congregation he grew up 
at and cherishes the friendships he has 
made over the years. 
“He’s an incredible blessing to CSZ. Neil 
is willing to help whenever asked and fills 
countless roles,” said Susan Kozik Klein, 
the president of CSZ. 
CSZ Executive Director Robert Rich 
added, “Not only is Neil the nicest person 
that you’ll meet, but a true mensch in 
every sense of the word. He is a ‘super vol-
unteer’ at CSZ.” 

Prior to the pandemic he used to spend 
his time tutoring elementary students at 
Pasteur Elementary School. “I was tutoring 
reading and arithmetic for the pre-kinder-
garten, kindergarten and first-graders. The 
other thing I do that keeps me busy is vol-
unteering as a docent at the Detroit Zoo,” 
Zechman says.
Zechman enjoys getting to meet new 
people and especially enjoys teaching kids 
who visit the zoo about the animals. 
“I took classes necessary to become a 
docent, and now I get to lead tours and 
get to take some of the VIPs for golf cart 
tours,” Zechman adds. “Being a docent also 
gives me an outlet to teach. I enjoy impart-
ing ideas to people, and I love to see the 
kids’ eyes get real wide when they under-
stand what I’m talking about. Anytime I 
can see a light bulb come on for the kids I 
teach, it’s the most fulfilling experience.” 

If you would like to nominate someone to be the next 

volunteer of the week, send a nomination with a short 

paragraph telling us why to rsweet@thejewishnews.com.

Meet Neil Zechman, a dedicated volunteer to 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek and the community.

Finding 
Purpose Through 
Volunteering

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Zechman preparing 
for a golf cart tour at 
the Detroit Zoo. 

Neil 
Zechman

Zechman 
leading Zoom 
minyan for 
CSZ.

