Earlier this month, the 21-year-old DAT Minyan announced its affiliation with the National Council of Young Israel, a national movement whose modern Orthodox and religious Zionist orientation was described as a “perfect fit” for the East Denver congregation.
As part of the affiliation, the synagogue’s press release noted, the membership in NCYI included the renaming of DAT Minyan to Young Israel of Denver.
The congregation’s formal membership in the national Young Israel movement is the latest in a series of steps in its evolution since it formed in 2001 as a minyan based at the Denver Academy of Torah, the Lowry neighborhood day school that inspired the minyan’s former name. The acquisition last year of a physical home for the congregation, located at 440 S. Monaco Parkway, was another significant milestone in that evolution.
Young Israel of Denver’s board president, Dr. Jonathan Fishman, in an online interview with the Intermountain Jewish News last week, elaborated on the congregation’s decision to affiliate with NCYI, outlined its historical development and expressed hope for its long-term future.
He also explained some of the financial implications of its recent affiliation with the national movement, as well as clearing up a few misconceptions of what that affiliation will mean in financial terms.
IJN: In a general sense, what were the most significant reasons that the former DAT Minyan decided to affiliate with Young Israel?
Fishman: We were already carefully considering a name change for some time to better reflect our nature as a well-established shul. We had long since grown from a small minyan; we have our own building, a wonderful rabbi and three sifrei torah (Torah scrolls), and it was time for a new name to better reflect that reality.
There was also some confusion between the Denver Academy of Torah and DAT Minyan. We had rented space at the school early in the minyan’s formation and share many of the same values and goals as two strong Zionist, modern Orthodox institutions, but we were always two distinct organizations, and a new name would help reduce confusion.
Once we were already considering a name change, we ultimately decided to also affiliate with a national organization with readily recognizable values of religious Zionism and centrist modern Orthodoxy that fit perfectly into our core principles and values. We were excited to join an organization with over 175 synagogues and 25,000 families across the US, Canada and Israel.
Our shul recognizes that when a modern Orthodox family considers a visit or a move to Denver, it will often search for a Young Israel synagogue to find a familiar community in which to land.
We are eager to be that shul community.
Were financial considerations among those reasons?
Our synagogue has always been financially stable due to our growth and generosity of its membership. Finances were not a factor in seeking a name change or in joining NCYI in any way. There are no direct significant financial benefits or consequences to joining the NCYI and becoming Young Israel of Denver.
There is, of course, a modest membership fee to join a national organization which provides us with benefits, however the fee was nominal relative to our budget, so much so that membership fees were not affected.
In what ways is the affiliation with NCYI advantageous to the congregation?
Denver has a modest but growing Orthodox community. Our synagogue has always had core values of religious Zionism. We proudly recite the prayer for the State of Israel each week, recite the Hallel prayer on Israel Independence Day in recognition of the spiritual and divine significance of Jewish autonomy over the land of Israel, and many of our members have made aliyah over the years. Similarly, we have always had a strong commitment to modern Orthodox values such as women’s learning and engagement in the world around us.
These values are more readily communicated in adopting the Young Israel name to those both in and out of Denver. There is much diversity even within Young Israel synagogues around the country.
After NCYI leadership interviewed our lay and professional leadership to understand our values and culture, our unique brand was welcomed by NCYI and fits easily within their community of synagogues.
We were voted in as a provisional member of the NCYI on Jan. 5, 2023, and no change to our values, culture or mission was needed. (Full membership for a synagogue transpires after one year of membership in good standing.) Rabbi David Warshaw, President of NCYI, expressed his excitement for our shul to be the first Colorado synagogue to join the Young Israel family.
Does the new arrangement in any way give Young Israel partial or total control of the congregation’s assets?
No. This question reflects an old issue and frequent misconception.
Prior to 2013 the NCYI had a clause in their constitution which allowed for NCYI to take control of assets of a member synagogue in the event that it dissolved or was expelled. The clause was wholly repealed in May, 2013.
The constitution currently does allow for NCYI to take assets in the event that a member synagogue dissolves without a plan to distribute its assets elsewhere, but which it is completely empowered to do. This provision is intended to protect sacred objects such as sifrei Torah from being transferred to those who would not use them respectfully in a dying Jewish community with a non-viable Young Israel synagogue.
Our synagogue and Denver’s Orthodox community as a whole is on a trajectory of growth. We do not envision the need to transfer our assets to another organization or NCYI due to closure, though it is 100% within our control to always determine the destiny of our valuable sacred and other assets. NCYI never requested an inventory of our assets and has no claim on them. We were careful to review this issue with NCYI leadership and our own legal counsel prior to joining the organization.
YI National leadership has confirmed that this is no longer the case and is not a concern. Our assets are exclusively our own and under our control.
What do Young Israel of Denver’s assets include, both in financial and physical (infrastructure) terms?
The shul owns a library of sefarim (religious books) and multiple sifrei Torah, among other assets. The Young Israel National Council never requested an inventory of our assets and have no claim on any of our assets under any circumstances.
Are there direct financial benefits resulting from affiliation with Young Israel, such as loans in case they’re needed, insurance or funds for such needs as security and educational programs?
We see the benefits as means to grow our base and membership and we were not looking for any loans or financial help from them nationally other than growing our membership.
Please share a brief history of the congregation:
A group of 13 individuals first met in December, 2001 to form what was initially dubbed “Denver East Minyan,” though six months later, it was already starting to be referred to as “DAT Minyan.” They initially held monthly, then biweekly and then weekly Shabbat services in a rotation of people’s homes. A year later, the group joined EDOS as a satellite minyan, spinning back off into an independent entity in 2005. It formally incorporated as DAT Minyan in 2006.
How was it — or was it? — an outgrowth of the Denver Academy of Torah day school?
At least half (but notably not all) of the 13 founders had children attending the Denver Academy of Torah day school, which itself had formed about a decade earlier and had moved into its current location just a few years prior.
The early leadership and many of the growing members were strong supporters of the school, which has continued to this day. The two institutions share common values and goals, and there was a symbiotic relationship between them, though from the beginning there was a recognition that the two institutions should remain distinct, as there would always be DAT students who belonged to different shuls, and there would likewise be DAT Minyan members who would send their children to other schools.
Yet, it was clearly understood that building a strong day school and shul with like values and goals was important for growing a vibrant religious Zionist modern Orthodox Jewish community in Denver.
Was it originally formed for the Jewish community of Lowry, and is that still a primary focus of the congregation?
Less than half of the founding members lived in Lowry at the time — five to be exact, though there was a sense that Lowry would see strong growth in the coming years, with no existing modern Orthodox shul within walking distance, and that became evident in subsequent years.
Still, though that was certainly an important consideration, it wasn’t the primary focus, since there have always been members living in Winston Downs and Crestmoor and other neighborhoods. The focus was more on forming a shul that would be family and kid friendly with meaningful and quiet tefilah (prayer) and dynamic rabbinic leadership. These aspects, combined with an emphasis on religious Zionism and Torah observance, formed our early mission statement, which continues through today.
Please describe the congregation’s acquisition of its current building.
The current building is owned by an LLC that was formed by a group of supportive investors who purchased the building from Cantor Isaac Koll, who was preparing to make aliyah. We completed a major renovation of the lower level last summer and converted it into a sanctuary, and upstairs we have a kitchen, social area, rabbi’s and administrative office and childcare room. The space accommodates at least 100 people. The shul rents the space from the LLC.
Are you optimistic that Young Israel Denver’s affiliation with the national movement will contribute to the congregation’s long-term growth and viability?
Yes, exactly. It is our hope and expectation that a nationally recognized and respected brand will attract and appeal both to new families moving to Denver and to our existing religious Zionist modern Orthodox community.
Chris Leppek may be reached at IJNEWS@aol.com.
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