Congregation Anshei Sfard News

Faith in Action

Rabbi takes to synagogue
Leader aims to boost orthodox community

By CHRISTOPHER HALL
Special to The Courier-Journal

Naftali Michalowsky, an Orthodox Jew and a new member at the An-shei Sfard Congregation on Dutch-mans Lane in Jefferson County, moved to Louisville from Oak Park, Mich., a suburb of Detroit, a few months ago.
"I was looking for a small town — quiet, a good place to raise children — a place with the proper Jewish facilities, like a mikvah {& bath that Orthodox Jews immerse themselves in for ritual purification) or a kosher restaurant nearby," Michalowsky said. "It's very rare for a small town to have both."
(Although Anshei Sfard does have a mikvah, there isn't yet a full kosher restaurant in Louisville. There is a kosher cafe at the Jewish Community Center next door to the synagogue.)
As hard as it might be to believe, with a merged Louisville and Jefferson County set to become the 16th largest city in the United States, some in cities like Detroit still think of Louisville as a small town — which seems to help attract some people, counteracting the "brain drain" that city leaders complain about.
And that is all part of Rabbi Avro-hom Litvin's plan. The Anshei Sfard leader is trying to bring new life into Louisville's Orthodox Jewish community, attracting young families with a plan that he says the city can use to attract other young professionals.
Litvin is using the synagogue's 110th anniversary as a springboard. His intent is to add 10 families to the congregation within two years, and with 18 months to go, he already has drawn four families.
Michalowsky, who is now a teacher at Anshei Sfard's school, said he and his wife, Dalia, are pleased to be part of the rabbi's plan to "re-Jew-venate" — the synagogue."The people are great — small-town folk, very dedicated — dedicated to Judaism, dedicated to goodness," Michalowsky said. "Thank God."
Litvin said Jewish Hospital and Greater Louisville Inc. have been very helpful with attracting new members to Louisville. His efforts have largely been through word-of-mouth association with rabbis in other cities, but the synagogue also has printed leaflets that enumerate the congregation's selling points, which include the mikvah, preschool and elementary school.
"I see our synagogue in position to grow, to be strengthened by these young families and be stronger in the future than it is today," Litvin said. "And by extension I see the Louisville community, the secular community, the civic community as well, strengthened by young families, enhanced by young families and stronger in 10 years than it is even today."
Litvin said Anshei Sfard's longevity is a testament to the dedication of those who have gone before him. After World War II, Orthodoxy was on thewane in most smaller cities across the country, he said, and the congregation here was held together in large part by the commitment of Solomon Rood-man, who was its rabbi for 45 years.
Anshei Sfard is the only Orthodox synagogue in the state, according to Litvin, so it is important to those who hold to Orthodoxy.
Litvin explained Orthodox Judaism as a certain kind of dedication to the Torah, or the first five books of what Christians call the Old Testament.
"Orthodox Judaism maintains that the entire Torah is the word of God, has no expiration date, and should be
followed," Litvin explained. "Our goal is to adapt the modern world into the timeless teachings of the Torah and thereby receive God's blessings." •
Name: Anshei Sfard Congregation Address: 3700 Dutchmans Lane Services: Morning worship, 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday, and 8:30 a.m. Sunday; evening worship, 20 minutes before sunset every day.
Congregation: 110 Telephone: 451-3122