Pikesville’s Beth El Congregation announced Mar. 11 that Ben Wachstein will become the Conservative synagogue’s next executive director.
Wachstein, who succeeds Joshua Bender in the position, will begin Apr. 1.
“There is a wonderful energy that flows in, out and around the Beth El community,” Wachstein said. “The clergy, staff and membership are wonderfully warm and open to experimentation. Beth El is a leader in the Conservative Jewish community, not just in Baltimore but across the country. I could not imagine a better opportunity to have an impact on synagogue life in America.”
A native of suburban Philadelphia, Wachstein has held several senior level positions at Jewish communal organizations over the past decade, including the past 2½ years as executive director at Temple Sinai in Dresher, Pennsylvania.
He and his wife, Amanda, and their 12-year-old daughter, Mila, currently live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
“At a time in our country when synagogue membership is declining, Beth El has expanded its footprint by always focusing on the needs of today’s Jewish community,” said Wachstein. “Whether demystifying the beautiful rituals of Jewish tradition through holiday campaigns, strengthening the bonds of Jewish families through cutting-edge programs like the Genesis Project or providing a soulful gateway to Judaism through The Soul Center, Beth El’s tireless commitment to a thriving Judaism represents the very best of Conservative Judaism today. I am confident that we will continue to serve as a benchmark and inspiration to the movement.”
Conducted over six months, the executive director search process was chaired by David Harrison, Beth’s first vice president. The search committee included Beth El President Dr. Ed Mishner, past presidents Alan Dorenfeld, Ray Kahn, Denise Franz and Steve Silverman, Secretary of the Board Rebecca Fruman, and board members Jennifer Millman and Josh Shein.
“Our goal was to bring on a leader who would continue the congregation’s remarkable momentum and propel our organization forward through the pandemic and beyond,” said Dr. Mishner. “Ben will steward a continually evolving organization that is a pillar of the Baltimore Jewish community, collaborate with our ‘rock star’ clergy, lead a passionate and talented professional staff, and surround himself with incredibly committed lay leaders who have shaped Beth El and made it what it is today.”
When first introduced to Wachstein, Beth El’s Rabbi Steve Schwartz said he was “immediately impressed with his depth of knowledge, commitment to building Jewish community, and his warm personality. Over the course of his career, Ben has developed the skills and knowhow that enable him to seize the opportunities and meet the challenges of synagogue life. …
“In a changing world, where the relationship Jews have with their synagogue is evolving, it is of the utmost importance for Beth El’s spiritual community to continually reflect on who we are and who we want to become,” the rabbi said. “Our authenticity comes from how we anchor ourselves in Judaism’s ancient wisdom. In his personal life, it’s clear that Ben prioritizes our congregation’s primary values of Torah, Chesed [lovingkindness] and Kedusha [holiness]. I’m confident that under Ben’s professional leadership, Beth El will continue to be a place where Jews of all backgrounds can discover and explore a Judaism that is central, indispensable, and meaningful to their modern lives.”
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