Anshe Chesed’s new rabbi has plans to lead a wave of youth to Linden

by Elaine Durbach
NJJN Bureau Chief/Central

Starting in September, Anshe Chesed, the 90-year-old Orthodox congregation in Linden, will enter a new era, one in which shul leaders hope to attract a wave of young people.

Rabbi Aryeh Stechler, just 28 himself, was appointed in June and will take over as religious leader of the congregation in September. He will bring with him — along with his wife, Danya, and their three young children — a passion for building community. Already, he has a couple of initiatives planned, with more in the pipeline.

It’s that proactive approach that attracted the search committee as its members hunted for someone to replace Rabbi Cary Friedman, leaving after seven years with the congregation.

In an article on the synagogue’s Web site, the committee said Stechler, currently the assistant rabbi at Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, has a track record of creating initiatives that strengthened his community and attracted many people.

When he visited Anshe Chesed one Shabbat, the congregants picked up on his energy. David Helfgott, cochair, with congregation president Elliot Rudnitzky, of the search committee, said, “There was a really positive vibe permeating the shul that everyone felt, and it truly enhanced the Shabbos.”

Stechler, interviewed by phone from his current home in Englewood, expressed his appreciation for that attitude and the presence of Helfgott on the committee. “The fact that the cochair of the search committee was someone in his 20s showed just how open they are to change,” he said.

The search took seven months to fill a pulpit that has known its share of talented rabbis, including the late Steven Dworken, who served there for 23 years and was president of the Rabbinical Council of America.

Friedman made his mark in a unique way, not only attracting young families to shul, but also connecting with outside groups not usually within the purview of Orthodox rabbis. Friedman was a consultant to the Behavioral Science Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for example, and wrote a book on spirituality for law enforcement officers.

He was also known for his special take on popular culture. To the delight of adults as well as the kids, he would cite comics hero Spiderman in his talks as a champion of good versus evil. He also helped bring in Yeshivas Zichron Leyma, a Jewish learning program for boys 18-21, which now shares premises with the congregation.

Building up

Stechler will approach things from a different perspective, but one that aspires to be just as innovative. And despite his youth, he has a surprisingly long track record, reaching back to when he was 13 and led services for his teenage friends in the unfinished basement of his home.

“A few friends and I weren’t so happy with parts of the regular services,” he said. “We wanted to be more involved, so we started our own minyan. Some adults came too. The kids did everything. We said the prayers and did the Torah reading, and I gave a short speech. It was pretty good.”

Stechler speaks of his teen pulpit as if it were no big deal. The know-how to conduct such a service came from his upbringing and education, he said. His grandfather, “my mentor and teacher,” was a yeshiva student in Europe before escaping to Shanghai, where he studied with the great teachers of the transplanted Mirer Yeshiva.

Stechler grew up in Teaneck, with parents who were always very involved in the Jewish community and with Israel. “They were big on leadership,” he said.

He went to the Yeshiva of North Jersey, and Yeshiva University High School, before going on to study at Yeshiva University itself, from which he received his ordination. He was also a fellow at the Wexner Kollel Elyon, YU’s advanced rabbinical institute. During those years, he established the Torah Learning Network, a biennial weekend Torah study conference for young people now run by YU. “We started with 40 kids. Now they get 200. It’s something I’m very proud of,” he said. He also helped start a YU summer program for teachers in 30 centers around the United States and elsewhere in the world.

“I like building up projects,” he said.

Education has remained a passion and a field in which he foresees a continuing involvement. But first on his agenda at Anshe Chesed is a plan to issue a special invitation to friends of congregants to come at no cost to celebrate the High Holy Days at the shul.

Next on his list is the Community Leadership Initiative Fellowship, a program to attract young couples to experience life in Linden for themselves. “We will be providing a rent-free apartment for one or two couples for a year. Their only responsibility will be to invite other young people to spend Shabbat with them in Linden.”

Stechler said that in many other Orthodox communities, housing prices have risen so high that they are prohibitive for many young people just starting out. Linden offers more affordable homes. Already, the congregation has linked up with local realtors to promote that fact, and he feels it could be a major stimulus to growth.

Stechler said he is excited about the possibilities at Anshe Chesed. He found Ahavath Torah, with around 700 families, too well established to allow for much innovation. In Linden, he said, he sees all kinds of potential, and the leadership of Anshe Chesed had shown themselves to be truly forward-looking.

“It’s rare to find a congregation that is so open and inviting,” he said.