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Table of Contents
From Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove
Welcoming Our New Director of Congregational Education: Rabbi Neil Zuckerman
This past year our lay leadership
engaged in a full review of our
education at Park Avenue Synagogue.
While the study began with an
eye to our Congregational School, it quickly
expanded its scope to include all of our efforts
from the Toddler Program to Adult Learning and
everything in between. Working with outside
consultants, we surveyed congregants and
conducted focus groups, seeking to understand
our strengths and weaknesses and to begin
the process of charting a vision for the future.
We spoke to other congregations, learning “best practices,”
and keeping careful notes as to what we can apply to our own
community. I want to thank all the members of the Education
Committee, under the leadership of Susan Silverman – Yasher
Koah on a job well done!
As you can imagine, we discovered a lot – both successes and
challenges. It was not surprising to learn that all of our educators
– clergy and department heads alike – work hard day in and day
out. We discovered an “underserved” demographic – our families
with young children. All of our tot services, young family dinners
and weekday programming (beyond what Carol Hendin does
with our ECC) deserve their own full-time educator; we are now
actively looking to fill this new position.
We also discovered that while each area of congregational
life must be understood on its own terms, there is an immediate
need to coordinate our efforts as a congregation. Whether it is a
single program that draws on multiple demographics, like Purim,
High Holy Days, or Hanukkah, or the need to coordinate two
schools, like transitioning CS students into the High School, we
need someone who can harness all the good we have in place and
take the reins for the process of what must change. Such a person
would have to be totally at home in congregational life and larger
לולא-בא-זומת-ןויס
c o v e r : Photograph by Karen Smul.
trends in North American Jewish life. Such a
person would have to be at ease working with
our lay leadership and our staff. Such a person
would have to be able to present a vision for our
community that we can not yet imagine. Such
a person would have to be a trusted confidant
to me as Park Avenue Synagogue takes its next
steps forward.
We have found such a person in Rabbi
Neil Zuckerman. Neil is, first and foremost, a
mensch. He is kind, sophisticated and filled
with a passion for Jews and Judaism. You can
read of his many accomplishments and credentials on page 4.
Having known Neil since our days in rabbinical school and
working at Camp Ramah together, I can share that he is one of
the most capable, charismatic and creative Jewish educators
that I have ever encountered. He has a track record of success in
every community touched by his presence, and I know that his
arrival bodes well for us. I am thrilled at the thought of Rabbi
Zuckerman working closely with our staff and lay leadership.
As Director of Congregational Education, Neil will oversee the
efforts of all of our educators, both mentoring them towards
individual success and finding points of synergy between them.
I am personally excited at the prospect of working closely with
such a fine human being towards realizing our synagogue’s
potential.
While Rabbi Zuckerman doesn’t arrive until July 1, we
are already actively planning the year ahead. There are shortterm
and long-term changes that Rabbi Zuckerman and our lay
leadership will direct. I look forward to communicating our path
forward in the months ahead.
Please join me in welcoming Rabbi Neil Zuckerman and his
family. Brukhim ha-ba’im!
Volume 62 | N°. 10 | June–July–August 2010 | Sivan–Tammuz–Av–Elul 5770
While we know you’ll want to read every word in this bulletin, please remember to recycle when done!
2 Park Avenue Synagogue Bulletin
Coordinating Congregational Education
From Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove ..................... 2
From Rabbi Steven I. Rein .......................... 3
From Paul Corwin ....................................... 4
Profile of Rabbi Neil Zuckerman ............... 4
Schedule of Religious Services ................... 5
Synagogue Family ...................................... 6
June Classes & Events ................................. 8
Shabbat Events ............................................ 9
June & July Programs............................... 10
Summer Wednesday Nights at PAS ......... 12
Contributions ............................................. 14
UJA@PAS .................................................... 16
June, July & August Calendars ................ 17
A Look Ahead ................................. b a c k c o v e r