CAMOS (Committee to Advance Modern Orthodoxy in Stamford) will be hosting its first-ever Shabbaton October 31 - November 1 for those families who are considering a move to the Stamford community.
"We do receive leads of interested families regularly, mainly from people who find our website or who are recommended to us from individuals who already live here," said Michael Feldstein, who founded the CAMOS effort several years ago. "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. But they come one at a time. So we thought that having one weekend where many prospective residents could visit at the same time, and experience all of what our community has to offer, might be a good idea." In the past, CAMOS has hosted a Summer Sunday in Stamford event for families looking to get a feel for the community, but many of the younger couples involved in the CAMOS effort felt that a Shabbaton might be a better way to draw people to visit. "I’m very pleased that several young families have begun to take leadership roles in CAMOS," said Feldstein. "Kate Frommer Cik and Miriam Sperber have agreed to spearhead the Shabbaton, and will be soliciting the help of other young couples in the community to make sure that the Shabbaton is a success." Last year, CAMOS organized an exhibit at the Orthodox Union’s Emerging Communities Fair in New York City, and one family just moved to Stamford after visiting the Stamford booth. Feldstein also mentioned that the news about the Jewish High School of Connecticut possibly moving to Stamford and having a local Jewish high school in the community will help draw more new families to the Stamford community. "In the surveys that we have done, the availability and the quality of day school education always ranks as the #1 reason why people are attracted to a place to live and raise their children," said Feldstein. Feldstein also pointed to the new mikvah, and the presence of additional kosher eateries, as very positive developments in the Jewish community, which help make Stamford a more attractive place for an observant family to live. If you happen to know of an observant family who might be interested in moving to Stamford and attending the Shabbaton, or who might benefit from the services that CAMOS provides, please have them contact Michael Feldstein at michaelgfeldstein@gmail.com. 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 michaelgfeldstein@gmail.com. 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.” STAMFORD LAUNCHES TARGETED CAMPAIGN TO ATTRACT MORE YOUNG, ORTHODOX FAMILIES
The Committee for the Advancement of Modern Orthodoxy in Stamford (CAMOS) is planning a Shabbaton on the weekend of June 19-21, specifically designed for young couples who are thinking of moving to the Stamford community. The Shabbaton follows a targeted campaign by CAMOS in which it held parlor meetings in specific communities to educate and inform young Orthodox couples about the advantages of living in Stamford. “The parlor meetings we had were great, but in order to fully experience what Jewish Stamford is all about, we felt that we should invite families interested in moving to Stamford for an entire Shabbat,” said Michael Feldstein, who is chairing the CAMOS effort. “That way, they can meet many members of the community—and also speak to other families who are also considering moving here.” CAMOS hopes to attract about a dozen families to the Shabbaton. They will be housed at the homes of selected families to sleep and have their Shabbat meals. On Shabbat afternoon, there will be an opportunity for the group to get together at the park after lunch, and for a Shabbat afternoon tea. On Sunday, there will be an opportunity for attendees to visit some of the key Jewish sites (such as the JCC, BiCultural, Chabad, and others), as well as look at real estate for sale in the area. “We think that once these families come visit Stamford for a Shabbat, some of them will take the next step—and make a commitment to move here,” said Feldstein. In another development, CAMOS has announced that the Stamford community has been selected by the Orthodox Union to exhibit at the OU’s Emerging Communities Fair, an exhibition designed to attract Orthodox families searching for communities in which to move. It will be held on Sunday, June 14 in New York City, and the primary focus will be what jobs are located in the area that might convince a family to move to the community. “We think we are at a distinct advantage compared to other communities in that we are both commutable to New York City, but also have a lot of jobs and commerce within Stamford itself,” said Feldstein. CAMOS plans to contact the large employers in the area, and work with them in providing information about employment opportunities at their companies. That information will be distributed at the OU fair. If you know any young couples who might be interested in attending the OU program, or attending the Shabbaton in Stamford, please contact Michael Feldstein at 203 973 6279 or MichaelGFeldstein@gmail.com CAMOS PRODUCES NEW VIDEO AND DEVELOPS WEBSITE TO ATTRACT MORE NEWCOMERS TO STAMFORD
CAMOS (Committee to Advance Modern Orthodoxy in Stamford) has produced an original video that will be used as a recruitment tool to attract more young Modern Orthodox couples to Stamford. The video, which was written, edited, and produced by high school senior and Stamford resident Nili Ya’ari, made its debut at the Orthodox Union’s Emerging Communities Exhibition, an annual fair in which several cities and towns are allowed to create a display about the benefits of living in their community. Through the efforts of CAMOS, Stamford was invited to the exhibition for the very first time. “The video came out great,” said Michael Feldstein, who is spearheading the CAMOS effort. “The theme of the video is a takeoff on the slogan, ‘Stamford: The City That Works.’ The video visually shows how various organizations and individuals here work together in making this a great place to live. Several key people were interviewed for the video, and it also includes some great shots of some of the important Jewish institutions in town. We think that once people see this video, they’ll be more likely to consider Stamford as a viable Jewish community—and they will want to move here.” The video can be seen on the new CAMOS website, www.jewishstamfordct.com, which will serve as a portal for those Modern Orthodox families interested in finding out more information about the benefits of living in Stamford. The new site will also have links to important sites of other Jewish organizations in town, and will explain more about the mission and objectives of CAMOS. The CAMOS committee includes the following people: Christine Bloom, Rabbi Daniel Cohen, Steve Cohen, Michael Feldstein, Sharon Feldstein, Avi Greif, Rabbi David Israel, Yona Israel, Allon Ivri, Marti Sichel, Ronnie Sichel, and Simeon Wohlberg For more information about CAMOS and its objectives, please contact Michael Feldstein at 203 973 6279 or email him at michaelgfeldstein@gmail.com NEW EFFORT LAUNCHED TO ATTRACT MODERN ORTHODOX COUPLES TO STAMFORD
In an effort to strategically target more young and religiously observant couples to move to Stamford, CT, a new group—the Committee for the Advancement of Modern Orthodoxy in Stamford (CAMOS)—has been launched, with the goal of attracting 5-10 additional families to move to Stamford each year in the next five years. “We think that Stamford suffers from a bit of an invisibility crisis in the Orthodox world,” said Michael Feldstein, chair of the committee. “When young observant couples living in New York City consider moving to the suburbs, they’ll probably think of Teaneck, New Rochelle, the Five Towns. They usually don’t think of Stamford, even though we are a relatively short commute into Manhattan and possess the basic features—an eruv, mikveh, day school, shuls, kosher food—that are required for a family to live an observant life. We want these couples to put Stamford into the mix when moving to a new community.” CAMOS has targeted several neighborhoods for its effort—the Upper West Side, Washington Heights, Riverdale, Pelham Parkway (Einstein Medical School community), the Lower East Side, and the Upper East Side. Parlor meetings are being held at the homes of one of the residents in each area, where interested couples have been invited to hear more about Stamford from committee members and have been given a folder filled with information about the synagogues, schools, local attractions, and real estate options. “There are rentals available in Stamford that are less expensive than similar apartments in the city,” said Feldstein. “Plus, there are plenty of condominiums and houses for sale. This is a particularly good time for young couples who don’t have to sell a home to purchase property, as prices for homes have dropped significantly in the last year. Also, property taxes are significantly cheaper than Westchester, New Jersey, and Long Island, which often makes the total payment cheaper in Stamford than for a similarly priced property in other areas.” CAMOS also plans to host a Shabbaton in June, in which families will be able to spend an entire Shabbat in Stamford—meeting local residents as well as other prospective couples thinking of moving here…seeing the shuls…and checking out the schools and housing options on Sunday. In addition, CAMOS members have conducted market research with two separate groups—those considering a move to a NY metro suburb as well as those who work in Stamford but who do not live here—to find out more about what they are looking for in a community. “The availability of kosher food and kosher restaurants, and the quality of the local day school, are two items that consistently seem to rise to the top,” remarked Feldstein. “Many young couples have no idea that our local day school, Bi-Cultural Day School, was founded as part of the Torah u’Mesorah day school movement and boasts a 54-year track record of excellence in general and Judaic studies. They are surprised to hear that our graduates attend SAR, Ramaz, Westchester Hebrew High School, MTA, and other Orthodox schools,” said Rabbi David Israel, Director of Community Education and Advancement for Bi-Cultural and a CAMOS committee member. Stamford boasts two Orthodox synagogues, Congregation Agudath Sholom and the Young Israel of Stamford, plus the local Chabad conducts Shabbos services. Chabad of Stamford also runs a very successful pre-school program and day camp, which many of the frum families utilize. Yeshivas Bais Binyomin, a branch of the Lakewood Yeshiva, is also located in Stamford—and recently the yeshiva has successfully reached out to the larger community (both adults and children) to provide learning opportunities for those interested. Feldstein stressed that this effort is a process, and that the group will probably not see the fruits of its labor immediately. “Educating people about what we have to offer takes time,” said Feldstein, “and people generally don’t make decisions immediately about where they want to live. However, if we can get the ball rolling…get a few couples to move here…then word of mouth begins to kick in, and we can begin creating a buzz among young, observant couples that Stamford is a great place to live.” If you are considering a move to a suburban New York metropolitan area, and would like more information abput Stamford, please contact Michael Feldstein at 203-973-6279 or email him at MichaelGFeldstein@gmail.com. |
AuthorMichael Feldstein Archives
January 2020
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