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Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El in Wynnewood
Courtesy of Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El
But David is in the last year
of his contract at Adath Emanu-
El, and though he thought he
might return, he was looking at
openings on a Reform job board.

Th at was when he saw that KI
had an opening.

“Th ere’s an expectation at KI
that we continue to be a leading
voice in the Reform movement
and in the Philadelphia Jewish
community,” David said. “To
me, that’s really alluring.”
Witkovsky sold himself to
Beth Hillel-Beth El leaders with
his people skills.

During his weekend visit
to the synagogue at the end of
the interview process, the rabbi
asked people questions, paid
attention and remembered
names, according to Barbara
Bookman, synagogue president.

He connected with kids in
the early childhood center by
sitting on the fl oor and talking to
them; he built rapport with older
religious school students by using
silly topics to spark conversations
about Jewish values. Witkovsky
told the sixth- and seventh-
graders, for example, that there
was a Jewish way to tie your shoes.

“He is very easy to get to
know,” Bookman said. “Really
natural.” David seemed to convince KI
higher-ups with his resume at
Adath Emanu-El.

KI’s website announcement
cited “meaningful relationships
with congregants” as the fi rst
highlight from his time in Mount
Laurel. But it also credited David
with promoting social justice
initiatives, expanding Israel
engagement and revitalizing the
post b’nai mitzvah program and
the adult bar/bat mitzvah and
confi rmation programs, among
other accomplishments.

Th e post said David “has
been an inspiring leader for the
past 10 years,” referring to his
time at Adath Emanu-El.

Witkovsky and David are
taking over spiritual leadership
at established congregations
with hundreds of families. Yet
they face a challenge unlike any
that rabbis have faced before.

Both men said adapting to
the post-pandemic future was
their most important task.

How do you use virtual spaces
without overusing them? And,
on a related note, how do you
still get people to actually come
to synagogue?
Neither man had a clear
answer, as no one really does. But
they at least knew where to start.

“People are looking for a
community that cares about
them,” Witkovsky said. “To be
here for them in good times
and bad.”
“Intentionally being a rabbi
that is present and caring and
helping to set the tone for the
broader community to be
present and caring for each
other,” David concluded. ●
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