Building a Community: Stories from the Ground Up

What does it take to build a community?

Ask Yakov Polatsek in Houston. Or Dr. Deena Davidovics in Memphis.
Or Shaun Tuch in Phoenix.

One night they’re sweeping the floor after a kollel fundraiser; the next they’re at the grill for the shul barbecue. One week they’re planning a shul carnival; the next they’re making sure the local day school makes payroll.

In the articles ahead, we meet some of these builders—men and women whose steady efforts have shaped the rhythm of Jewish life in their cities. Who are they? And how did they do it? Read on.

Transliterations in the magazine follow Sephardic pronunciation unless an author is known to use Ashkenazic pronunciation. In this section, we have especially aimed to preserve each individual’s speaking style; any inconsistencies in transliteration reflect the preferences of authors or interviewees.

In This Section

Building a Community: Stories from the Ground Up

Getting It Done, and Doing It Right, in Houston: Yakov Polatsek by S. Schreiber

Warmth Beyond Sunshine in Phoenix: Shaun and Gary Tuch by Sandy Eller

Living Together in Linden: Andy and Samantha Van Houter by Sandy Eller

Putting Springfield, New Jersey, on the Map: Ben Hoffer by Judy Gruen

How a Shul Rewrote Its Story: Yosef Kirschner by Judy Gruen

The Accidental Activist: Avi Apfel by Merri Ukraincik

Modeling Leadership in Memphis: Noam and Dr. Deena Davidovics by Rachel Schwartzberg

Where is Tennessee? By Rachel Schwartzberg

Lessons in Community Building—From Israel: How a Religious Community Took Root in Ariel by Carol Ungar

Snooker and Second Chances: How OU Israel’s Teen Center Is Changing Young Lives in Ariel by JA Staff

Inside Ariel’s Jewish Campus Scene by JA Staff

Building a Community: Pointers from the Pros

This article was featured in the Fall 2025 issue of Jewish Action.

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