‘Maftir Yona’ on a Budget

For over a decade, Rabbi Mendel Duchman and his Diamond Daveners of Kol Yakov Yehuda have been trendsetters with their unique and successful brand of shul- a shul for the kids by the kids.

But what do you do about cashing in where every shul cashes in – Maftir Yona? With all of his congregation being unemployed, there would hardly be a bidding war for the privilege of maftir yona.

So, five years ago, Rabbi Duchman came up with a plan that benefits the community and his children’s minyan.

Five years ago, Duchman created the Kol Yakov Yehuda Maftir Yona Appeal. Essentially it is a group maftir yonah buy-in where maftir yonah is read by one of the (over bar-mitzva) congregants in the zchus of all those who donate towards the appeal.

Members of the public have the opportunity of donating to the group maftir yonah in the zechus of people they wish, thereby enuring much needed funds for the shul and spreading the maftir yonah zchus to those who didn’t buy it as individuals.

“Innovation is key when it comes to running such a shul,” Rabbi Duchman said. “We like to be innovative with our programs, and when it comes to the selling of kibbudim in such a shul it is no different, you’ve got to be innovative there as well.”

To join the Maftir Yona, click here.