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.