Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/912649
24 December 7 • 2017 jn Six rabbis share thoughts about congregants, Jewish Detroit and new ideas. One Year Later W ith more than a year under their belts, Metro Detroit's six new congregational rabbis have adjusted to their synagogues or temples and the feeling is unanimous: They're thrilled to be here. For two of the new rabbis, the year brought family milestones as well as professional ones. Brent Gutmann of Temple Kol Ami in West Bloomfield and his wife, Jill, welcomed their third daughter, Lyla, on Jan. 3. Yonatan Dahlen of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield met and married Meredith Cohen, daughter of longtime members Linda and Ron Cohen. "I also picked up an amazing family as part of the package deal," said Dahlen, who grew up in Sioux City, Iowa. "The joke in the synagogue since the High Holidays has been, 'How can we wish Rabbi Dahlen a shanah tovah? How's he going to top last year?'" Rabbi Megan Brudney said she made the right choice coming to Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township. " When I interviewed here I knew it was the right fit, but I can't believe how many times it was confirmed over my first year," she said. Rabbi Aura Ahuvia of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy said mutual trust and admiration with the congrega- tion seemed to grow through- out the year. "I've found myself admiring their kindness, their thoughtfulness, their humor and BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER ABOVE: A montage of new rabbinic faces graced our cover last fall. One year later, we check in with, clockwise from top left, Rabbis Yonatan Dahlen, Ariana Silverman, Brent Gutmann, Aura Ahuvia, Shalom Kantor and Megan Brudney. jews d in the Rabbi Aura Ahuvia of Congregation Shir Tikvah teaches about Sukkot in the synagogue sukkah. Rabbi Megan Brudney of Temple Beth El, center, at a barbecue Shabbat continued on page 26