Young Israel of Woodmere welcomes new associate rabbi

By Michael Orbach

As of Sunday, Rabbi Sholom Axelrod is officially the associate rabbi at the Young Israel of Woodmere.

“It’s definitely a challenge to get to know everyone,” Rabbi Axelrod admitted on joining the largest Young Israel in the United States, with more than 900 member families. His previous position as assistant rabbi of the Great Neck Synagogue, a shul with 600 families, was good preparation, he added.

“I saw you could have a very personal relationship with your congregation,” Rabbi Axelrod said. “It can be done especially when you’re working with a very good rabbinic team that can see to the needs of the shul members. That was one of the reasons why [Young Israel of Woodmere] interested me.”

Rabbi Axelrod also credited the rabbi of the Great Neck Synagogue, Rabbi Dale Polakoff, with whom he worked since 2001. “Rabbi Polakoff was a true mentor in my rabbinic career,” Rabbi Axelrod explained. “He’s like a rabbi’s rabbi.”

To prepare for his new post Rabbi Axelrod spent three weeks in Israel with his family for the bar mitzvah of his oldest son.

“It was very meaningful,” he explained. “There was a lot of time to recharge in anticipation for the new position.”

Rabbi Axelrod and his wife, Ruchi, bring a full house with them to Woodmere, kein ayin horah, including Kayla, 15; Eli, 13; Shani, 11; Shira, 9; Tamar, 5; and Nomi, 3.

Rabbi Axelrod was born and raised in Kew Gardens Hills. After attending MTA he learned at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh for a year, then went on to Yeshiva University where he received semicha and a Masters in Jewish education. He learned in the YU kollel for a year before joining the faculty of Rambam Mesivta in Lawrence in 1995. During that time, Rabbi Axelrod also worked as the youth director for the merged youth divisions of Young Israel of Queens Valley and the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. In 2001, he became assistant rabbi at the Great Neck Synagogue.

“I think the biggest thing I learned from my experience in Great Neck was that a rabbi can enjoy a very beautiful relationship with the congregation, that has an impact and is profound, both in terms of the influence the rabbi has in the lives of his congregants and all the things that a rav can learn from his tzibur,” Rabbi Axelrod explained.

He says he is looking forward to “making a positive contribution” in Woodmere by adding several learning programs and shiurim to the schedule. Additionally, he hopes to “build upon the sense of community that already exists.”

“We’d like to take it to other levels,” Rabbi Axelrod asserted. He succeeds Rabbi Kalman Topp who accepted a position in the Los Angeles-area last year.

Rabbi Hershel Billet said he is looking forward to having Rabbi Axelrod and his wife at the Young Israel of Woodmere.

“They bring fresh energy, new ideas, and great enthusiasm to our shul and entire community,” Rabbi Billet said.

Rabbi Axelrod views the move as a homecoming of sorts, he said. His mother and grandmother are both from Far Rockaway and two of his brothers live in the Five Towns.

“My children are enjoying being in close proximity to their family,” he said.

Rabbi Axelrod said he’s looking forward to working with the other rabbis in the community.

“They have built a model community for the American-Jewish scene,” he said.