All shuls are struggling to transform their Torah education offerings to conform to the restrictions of the COVID-19 crisis. They are also working to keep their volunteer leaders engaged and worry about their members feeling disconnected.
Some are exploring ways to fundraise and/or introduce entirely new programs.
The leadership of Congregation Ahavas Achim (AA) in Highland Park, New Jersey, has managed to address all these concerns and roll out a brand new activity that suits seclusion. And it has begun to galvanize the community.
An Ahavas Achim Virtual Learn-A-Thon will be held via Zoom, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 3. The Learn-A-Thon will feature talks by all the shul’s rabbinic leaders—Rabbi Steven Miodownik, Rabbi Emeritus Rabbi Ronald Schwarzberg and rabbinic intern Rabbi Shmuel Lesher—as well as talks by regional, national and internationally recognized Torah and communal leaders such as Malcolm Hoenlein, Rabbi Dr. J.J. Schacter, Rabbanit Shani Taragin, Rabbi Menachem Penner, Professor Smadar Rosensweig, Esther Eisenman and more, in 19 distinct time segments (14 half-hour slots, and five one-hour slots) over the 12-hour period. There will also be an Intershul Adult Torah Bowl at 7 p.m., featuring teams from Ahavas Achim, Congregation Ohr Torah in Edison, Ateret Shlomo Congregation in Edison and the Young Israel East Brunswick.
The Learn-A-Thon is coupled with a match campaign, sponsored by a generous donor to the shul, Rachel Lefkovits, in memory of her husband Imre, zt”l, (both Holocaust survivors), to encourage shul members to support this innovative Torah activity. As shul president Josh Ostrin reported, shul and community members have risen to the challenge, with families committing to sponsorships for each hour of the program.
Lefkovits will match up to $45,000 in donations and the shul is on track to meet that goal. The shul leadership has also pledged to direct 10% of all the proceeds to a new Emergency Parnassa Initiative established by the Vaad, to support families in dire need due to the economic upheaval of the COVID-19 precautions.
“This wonderful initiative, suggested by our shul vice presidents, Dovid Becker and Rob Haarburger, will bring together the congregation and the community in a full day of learning and will support the shul in the process,” said Ostrin. “We’re so delighted to have the support of a group of well known leaders who’ve agreed to participate, to speak and raise the profile of this event.”
“This period of isolation and confinement in which our beloved institutions have been shuttered has compelled us to think on our feet and adapt very quickly to the new realities,” said Rabbi Miodownik. “I am proud that Ahavas Achim, with our incredibly devoted lay leadership and can-do spirit, has created an out-of-the-box program in place of our postponed shul dinner. Originally conceived as a live event in the building in June, we pivoted to make this Learn-a-Thon in May.”
“While I don’t expect everyone to drop everything and watch 12 hours of consecutive shiurim on Sunday, I am confident that there is an hour or two or three of the day that will be inspirational and even entertaining for people of all age groups. I would be thrilled to see hundreds of community members and people from outside the community tune in and learn Torah, and also support the shul with a donation while doing so.”
Shul members have responded enthusiastically to the plans for the Learn-A-Thon
“The AA Learn-A-Thon is an amazing program, allowing a full day of learning from a wide variety of awesome speakers—and it even has opportunities to participate,” said Hank Strub, a member of the shul. “Our family will be watching, and even participating, as much as we can.”
“Ahavas Achim has put together a stellar line-up of Torah scholars,” said Chaye Kohl, a shul member and well-regarded Jewish educator in her own right. “There are stars from our local community, the synagogues in town, Yeshiva University and even scholars of note from Israel! This Yom Iyun is in a class by itself!”
“We’re looking forward to the Learn-a-Thon because it allows us to learn Torah from outstanding and renowned teachers in the safety and comfort of our home,” said Seth Berman, another member of the shul. “This program is another example of the brilliantly innovative educational opportunities offered by Ahavas Achim.”
“I have benefited in the past from learning from almost every one of the scholars who will be making presentations,” said Michael Wasserman, a shul member.” It will give me a particularly warm feeling to hear Rabbi Effy Unterman because I learned so much Torah from his father, who was my friend in our teenage years.” Rabbi Unterman is the spiritual leader of the Young Israel of East Brunswick, New Jersey.
The program’s leaders feel passionate about the event as well, for a variety of reasons. “This lock-down/pandemic has been really tough on me and my family,” said Becker. “We are people who look forward to our weekly family outing to the shul and teach our children to love the shul and community. Without the rituals, life is difficult and we do not feel connected. Part of our doing this event was to get a small part of that back. Trying to feel connected to the congregation in any way we can.”
“I was really impressed from the start at how sincerely AA wants to provide to the services and needs of its younger members,” said Haarburger. “You rarely see a shul that is 130 years old continuing to service a membership population spanning multiple generations as genuinely as they do. When the opportunity arose to get more involved with the shul on a leadership level, I immediately jumped. It has been a privilege for me to help play a role in continuing to make AA a great place to call a second home. The Ahavas Achim Match Campaign and Learn-A-Thon was designed to showcase all the amazing things that make our shul so special and help support those efforts monetarily.”
Community members can see the schedule of presentations, and make a donation, at https://thechesedfund.com/ahavasachim.�To participate in the Learn-A-Thon on Sunday, May 3, go to the same website that day to log in and hear one, some or all of the speakers.
By Harry Glazer
