CAMOS

As a method to attract young couples considering a move to Stamford, CAMOS (Committee to Advance Modern Orthodoxy in Stamford) hosted its First Annual Summer Sunday in Stamford on August 14.  The program gave observant young couples an opportunity to see the sights and sounds of Stamford (both the Jewish organizations as well as the landmarks in town) in a relaxed and non-threatening manner, and meet other like minded individuals.

About a dozen couples assembled at Bi-Cultural Day School, where they had a chance to get to know each other and meet some other young couples who had recently moved to Stamford.  Attendees were then each paired with a buddy family, who was responsible for taking them to the various sites they wished to visit (such as the synagogues, schools, downtown area, JCC, neighborhoods, beach, etc.).  They also had an opportunity to meet with a real estate broker, if they wished.

Afterwards, everyone reassemble at Bi-Cultural Day School for a family barbecue, with other hand-picked Stamford folks invited to attend.

“We were very pleased with how the event turned out,” said Michael Feldstein, the chairperson of CAMOS and the person who spearheaded the program.  “We wanted to keep the afternoon very relaxed and low key, and choose the right local young couples to invite to serve as buddy families who would make the best impression on attendees.  It turned out great!  Follow up will be essential now that the event is over, in order that we are able to close the deal and convince a few of these families to move here.”

CAMOS is a community growth initiative that was started in January 2009, in order to attract more observant young couples to the Stamford community, which in turn would benefit the schools and other organizations that are part of the larger Jewish community’s infrastructure.

The Summer Sunday in Stamford subcommittee included Avi Greif, Cara Neumann, Naftali Rosenberg, Isaac Shalev, Naftali Wolfe, and Navah Wolfe.

Summer traditionally is a time for many folks to relocate to a new community.  This summer, the crop of observant couples who have moved to Stamford is particularly large, as CAMOS (Committee to Advance Modern Orthodoxy in Stamford) has identified 14 new couples who have settled here in the last couple of months.

“I can’t remember a year where more people moved here during the summer,” said Michael Feldstein, who chairs the community growth initiative called CAMOS.  “We have been in touch with all of these couples, helping to facilitate their move here and making them feel welcome. The truth is that several of these families would have moved to Stamford regardless of whether or not CAMOS existed.  However, for many of these couples, the CAMOS website (www.CheckOutStamford.com) was their first point of entry.  So we do feel we are making a difference in the growth of the observant community -- and the corresponding benefits to the larger infrastructure of the Stamford Jewish community that comes with more observant young couples living here.”

Most of the new couples are young, and are moving from New York City.  “That’s the demographic we are after,” said Feldstein.  “Several of the couples are moving to Stamford because there is a job or school connection -- for example, one spouse might be a graduate student at Yale or one spouse might have accepted a job in Stamford or Greenwich. So it’s logical that these folks have decided to move here.  However, other new residents carefully checked out several suburban New York communities in Westchester, New Jersey, Long Island, and Connecticut – and chose Stamford.”

Feldstein was most gratified about the reasons behind the decision of two of the couples to relocate here.  “There’s a couple who moved here earlier this year who felt so warmly welcomed that they recommended to their close friend that they consider relocating to Stamford.  Their friend is now moving to Stamford this summer! Similarly, someone who moved to Stamford last year with his family told his sister, whose husband’s job had relocated to New York City, to also consider moving to Stamford.  They are moving here this summer, too!  I am most gratified that new residents have themselves become ambassadors to the CAMOS cause. You just cannot buy that kind of publicity.”

Feldstein is very bullish on the future growth of the observant community.  “We have a new kosher deli opening, a brand new mikvah, and a critical mass of young observant couples who are now in town making a difference.  I am looking forward to continued growth for the observant community in the next few years, along with corresponding improvements in the other organizations that serve the larger Jewish community of Stamford.”

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS SING PRAISES FOR CAMOS

This month CAMOS (Committee to Advance Modern Orthodoxy in Stamford) celebrated its one-year anniversary, and so far the reaction from organizational and community leaders has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I’m extremely gratified by the response from community members about CAMOS,” said Michael Feldstein, who is chairing the CAMOS effort.  “Virtually everyone I’ve spoken to appreciates the efforts of the committee, and realizes that our specific goals will assist in building a stronger Jewish community for everyone.”

Patty Goldstick, who earlier this year had been working on doing outreach for the UJF of Greater Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien, applauded the efforts of CAMOS to attract more young couples to the Stamford Jewish community.  "I think it's great that a group of volunteers are working on a strategic effort to bring more Orthodox couples to our community," said Goldstick.  "Stamford has many of the amenities that Orthodox families are looking for.  And the more families who move to town, the better it will be for all Jewish institutions here."

Ed Rosenfeld, President of the Young Israel of Stamford, said, "CAMOS serves an important role for observant individuals who are seeking information regarding Jewish life in Stamford. The committee allows people interested in the community to get all the necessary information regarding synagogues, schools, kosher food and employment from one well organized source. I think the Young Israel, as well as the larger Jewish community, will benefit greatly from its efforts."

Avi Greif, who chairs the Stamford Kosher Activists Committee and also serves on CAMOS, was excited about the synergy between the two groups.  "As with any Jewish community that wants to maintain its vitality and promote growth, the one key element that is required is a base of observant families,” said Greif.  “The increase of Modern Orthodox families here in Stamford will provide a stronger foundation on which to approach store owners to consider the needs of local kosher customers—and that will benefit everyone in the Stamford Jewish community, regardless of one’s level of Jewish observance.”

Steve Steinmetz, the President of Congregation Agudath Sholom, said, "I'm enthused and excited by the initial success of CAMOS, and its efforts to convince more people to move to the Stamford community.  I hope we will see many more young couples moving here in the next few years, as this will help strengthen our Jewish infrastructure in town."

Saul Cohen, a longtime professional and lay leader in the community, said, “Between 2005-2007, the 14 major Jewish institutions and agencies in Stamford developed a strategic plan for the Stamford Jewish community, and a major initiative of the plan was to implement a comprehensive welcoming and outreach program to involve more people in Jewish life.  Now, two years later, I am particularly pleased to support the work of CAMOS, as they lead the Stamford Jewish community in this initiative and work towards strengthening Stamford’s Orthodox community.”

CAMOS AMBASSADORS HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE STAMFORD JEWISH COMMUNITY
September 2009
 
CAMOS (Committee to Advance Modern Orthodoxy in Stamford) has 12 community members serving in the group and working towards achieving its goals, but the committee has also had the good fortune of having some new Stamford arrivals help fulfill its mission.

“We’ve been extraordinarily lucky in that several new couples have volunteered to help promote Stamford as a great place to live,” said Michael Feldstein, who chairs the CAMOS effort.  “They recently moved to our community and have been welcomed by CAMOS members and the synagogues in town. They love the warmth and hospitality that has been displayed to them, and they want to recommend Stamford as a place to live to their friends.  This is a wonderful new development for us.”

One young couple, who moved here from Queens this summer after learning about Stamford from a CAMOS outreach effort, has about a dozen like-minded friends in their old community who will probably be making a move to a suburban community soon.  They offered to help CAMOS hold a meeting in Queens to provide their friends with information about Stamford.  That will be followed by an invitation to spend a Shabbat weekend here.

Doni and Leah Perl, who also moved here this summer from Teaneck, helped arrange a connection to a synagogue in Teaneck that serves an enclave of newly married couples who live in an apartment complex there.  CAMOS representatives plan to spend an entire Shabbat in Teaneck later this year, to promote the benefits of moving to Stamford.

Angelika and Jeff Schlanger, who moved to Stamford from New Haven this past summer, knew a person who would be doing a medical internship in Connecticut next year—and suggested that he and his wife spend a Shabbat here.  They visited Stamford in August, and will probably move here next year.

Rabbi Elly Krimsky, the new spiritual leader at the Young Israel of Stamford who just moved to town with his family, knows the rabbi at the synagogue that serves the Einstein Medical School community in the Bronx.  Since it’s a transient community (the MDs leave the area once they complete their schooling), Feldstein felt it was a perfect area to target—and Rabbi Krimsky has helped CAMOS make inroads there through his connections.

Eric Sigman moved to Stamford a couple of years ago with his family, and has greatly assisted CAMOS in its efforts.  He volunteered to help man the Stamford table at the Orthodox Union’s Emerging Communities Fair, and he also recommended a family to attend the CAMOS informational meeting in Riverdale—and the family may be planning a visit to Stamford for a Shabbat soon.

“I’ve always felt that the people who live in Stamford are the best spokespeople to promote living here,” said Feldstein. “So it’s particularly gratifying to see so many new arrivals willing to actively endorse our Jewish community.”