CAMOS CONTINUES TO MAKE STRIDES IN ATTRACTING NEWCOMERS TO THE STAMFORD JEWISH COMMUNITY

In January 2013, CAMOS (Committee to Advance Modern Orthodoxy in Stamford) celebrated its fourth anniversary, with several plans in place to attract new residents to the Stamford Jewish community and to build on its past success.

“It seems that we are getting one or two new leads a month,” said Michael Feldstein, the founder of CAMOS. “They are mainly people who find our website online, and become interested in the community, or who are referred to us from friends who already live here. We try to encourage them to spend an entire Shabbat weekend here, as that’s the best way to get a feel for our community. We also offer them a free tour of the JCC and the Jewish schools in the area, if they wish, and provide them with the names of our real estate partners if they are ready to explore housing options.”

Last summer, CAMOS hosted its second annual Summer Sunday in Stamford, in which several families spent a relaxing day exploring the Stamford area and getting together for a family barbecue with other residents at the end of the day. One family who attended the event already has spent a Shabbat weekend here since, and another plans to visit for Shabbat in the spring.

On April 21, 2013, CAMOS plans to exhibit at the Orthodox Union’s Emerging Communities Fair in New York City for the third time. In the past, this fair has attracted hundreds of families exploring various places in which to reside. CAMOS has accumulated dozens of good leads from past exhibits, and one family moved to Stamford shortly after visiting the Stamford booth.

“I’m also pleased that several young families have begun to take leadership roles in CAMOS,” said Feldstein. “Tzivia Moreen, Abigail Kurtz, and Marti SIchel are now doing the lion’s share of the work for CAMOS, and Adam Batkin has agreed to serve as the webmaster, making sure to keep the CAMOS site (www.checkoutstamford.com) fresh and current. If CAMOS is going to continue to thrive, it is imperative that individuals from this younger demographic stay involved.”

CAMOS hopes to repeat the Summer Sunday in Stamford program this year. The organization also hopes to organize an informal get-together with residents who have recently moved to Stamford, finding out what they like about the community and how they feel CAMOS can attract more people like them to the Stamford Jewish community.

The growth and development of other institutions in Stamford has also helped CAMOS. “Certainly the recent opening of the new mikvah, and the presence of two new eateries—Kosh and Mike’s Café—are very positive developments in the Jewish community, all of which have made Stamford a more attractive place for an observant family to live,” said Feldstein.

If you happen to know of an observant family who might be interested in moving to Stamford or who might benefit from the services that CAMOS provides, please have them contact Michael Feldstein at [email protected].