ots@ohrtorahstone.org.il

Rabbi Ian and Rachel Pear: "Making a difference"

It all adds up to an incredible achievement for the synagogue's young American-born rabbi, Ian Pear, and his wife, Rachel, who, in a little over a year, have transformed Shir Hadash from a small congregation into a vibrant center of Jewish living, learning and identity for a very diverse population. "In our shul, you see streimels, shorts and everything in between," says James Oppenheim, president of Shir Hadash. "There is so much polarization in Jerusalem and so many dreams of uniting the different types of Jews. Ian came to our shul with the ability, devotion and energy to turn this vision into reality."

A graduate of Georgetown University, Ian wanted to pursue a rabbinical career. He enrolled at Ohr Torah Stone's Yeshivat Hamivtar Orot Lev because of the yeshiva's reputation for intense Jewish learning paralleled by an atmosphere of openness. "For me, Hamivtar transformed Judaism from something purely intellectual into something very real and special. The yeshiva gave me the tools to make Jewish learning and living appealing and accessible to all kinds of Jews, as well as the inspiration to live in Israel and try and make a difference."

Another source of inspiration is Rachel, a graduate of Midreshet Lindenbaum, who pushed Ian to return to Israel upon completion of his rabbinical studies in New York. Not long after the couple settled in Nachlaot, a melting pot of Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews, immigrants and Israelis with roots stretching back generations, rich and poor, haredim and secular Jews, Pear was asked to lead the congregation. "It was a very small group that had been praying at a Nachlaot yeshiva and needed to find a home and identity of its own," Pear recalls.

The Pears named the shul Shir Hadash ("A New Song") and began to involve the entire neighborhood in the congregation's new melody. Local musical talent Yehuda Razel agreed to become the regular shaliach tzibbur (cantor) -- "to let people know that they could look forward to consistently good davening" - and the Pears began teaching classes several times a week, giving divrei torah during services, and attracting local residents with Shabbat meals and kiddushim. Ian also called people during the week to encourage their involvement in teaching, providing home hospitality and organizing charity projects. As more people got involved, the synagogue thrived. It now encompasses guest accommodations, an open beit midrash and a clothing warehouse for the needy. "We've become a community shul where everybody knows your name, but where the entire Jewish community is always welcome," the rabbi smiles. "Once we defined our mission, everything else fell into place."

Return to Ohr Torah Stone