Malden —   When the doors closed on the Metro North Regional Hebrew School in June, many lamented the sad state of Jewry in Malden — it was an old tale of demographics shifting away from what was once a bustling community to the greener suburbs. Ultimately, the independently run school housed inside Congregation Agudas Achim-Ezrath Israel had so few students officials could not justify hiring even one teacher to keep it operating.

A half mile away, the cavernous Temple Tifereth Israel was plagued with the same problems. The leadership, up until Rosh Hashanah last month, was preparing to sell its spiritual home that had served generations of Jews.

But then something happened. Perhaps it was an awakening that Malden’s Jewish presence was slipping away; or perhaps it was, for Temple Tifereth Israel, a confrontation with the reality that they would no longer have their beloved temple.
Whatever it was, Temple Tifereth Israel decided it would attempt to turn the temple around, utilize the energy of a core group, fundraise and build membership.

“The building is for sale, however, we have a strong group who is willing to do what it takes to keep us here,” said President Lauren Cherkas. “We have entertained two offers, but the congregation wants to stay here.”

What is helping the Reform temple’s decision to maintain its building is that they are partnering in meaningful ways with the Conservative Congregation Agudas Achim. Since last Chanukah, the two synagogues have scheduled joint events, concerts and lectures.

Each one, with 110 to 120 members, is energized by the programming, which is bringing in new faces and larger crowds.

But what has capped their new venture even more than joint events is Temple Tifereth Israel’s decision last week to hire Congregation Agudas Achim’s part time rabbi, David Kudan.

So the two are sharing a rabbi, and now there is a full time rabbinic presence for the two synagogues. Members from both express delight with the erudite, warm and welcoming rabbi. The son of a prominent Chicago Reform rabbi, Kudan thought the idea of serving both the Reform temple and the Conservative congregation would be a challenge that just might yield positive results.  

“I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to build community in Malden. My approach was this would only work if the congregations were willing to work together. I can’t be in two places at once,” Kudan said.

There were negotiations, including concern about the ritual and philosophical differences between the Reform and Conservative branches of Judaism, “but we worked through it carefully and sensitively. Most people realized the two would be stronger by working cooperatively and having a full time rabbinic presence in the community,” Kudan said.

“So far, it’s good. It’s an adventure,” he said, adding that Temple Tifereth Israel’s retired rabbi, Herman Blumberg, graciously agreed to conduct High Holiday services this year while Kudan was at Congregation Agudas Achim.

While Congregation Agudas Achim no longer has a religious school operating within its walls, Temple Tifereth Israel’s religious school has 29 students, a 10 percent increase over last year. Kudan believes this sign of vitality will continue.

Cherkas is committed to bolstering membership, fundraising around the temple’s upcoming 80th anniversary next year, and bringing younger families from the North and South Shores into their spiritual circle.

Both Congregation Agudas Achim and Temple Tifereth Israel have active clubs, such as Happy Times and Chai Society. Many members belong to both. Temple Tifereth Israel rents space to Head Start, and Congregation Agudas Achim receives revenue from its Bingo games.

Kudan and Cherkas are aware of the Jewish Community Task Force report, a study of the North Shore religious schools and Jewish agencies headed by Harvard Business School Professor Carl Sloane. Overall, the two synagogues are doing much of what the Task Force report recommended: they are joining forces for more vibrant events; they are finding ways to bring in additional income; and they say they are open minded to doing things in new ways.

For Kudan, the broader question of how the two synagogues can serve an aging Jewish community and maintain attractiveness to younger families is paramount. Located in the heart of new shopping center, a multi-ethnic population and where new housing is attracting families, the rabbi feels Malden “is a magnet” able to serve a wide spectrum of people.