Ben Wecht named executive director of Adat Shalom

Rabbi Yaier Lehrer is excited about what Ben Wecht brings to his new position at Adat Shalom.

“He’s a real even-keeled, knowledgeable person who brings real talent to the synagogue,” Lehrer said.

Wecht began serving as the executive director of the Fox Chapel-area congregation July 1. It’s a new role for Wecht, who previously served as the founding program administrator of the Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law at Duquesne University.

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In addition to his time with the institute that bears his father’s name, Wecht’s byline has been seen in the Pittsburgh Quarterly, the Heinz Endowments’ h Magazine and other local publications through his work as a journalist and author.

The secular experience, however, doesn’t mean that Wecht has no history serving in Jewish communal life.

“I was on the board of the former Temple Sinai [now Beit Kulanu]. I co-chaired the Neshama Center for Jewish spirituality, created and co-edited a literary and arts journal called Kol HaNeshama — Voice of the Spirit — and I also co-created and ran in large part Folk Shabbat,” he recounted.

Wecht said his participation in congregational life informed his decision to take on the new role at Adat Shalom.

And yet, even with his volunteer experience, Wecht’s decision to become a Jewish communal professional was an evolution.

“I was looking for nonprofit and largely educational work, but I found myself circling back to the Jewish world,” he explained.

Wecht said that both the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and Hamas’ 2023 terrorist attack in Israel, as well as the worldwide surge in antisemitism, motivated him to merge his volunteer and professional life.

Eventually, a friend told him about Adat Shalom’s search to replace its executive director and encouraged him to apply for the position.

“Initially, I resisted because I have been very active at Temple Sinai and couldn’t wrap my head around the notion of belonging to two different synagogues,” Wecht said.

After speaking with several current and former executive directors, as well as advisers and clergy members, Wecht realized dual congregational membership wasn’t unusual and that taking the job would be an important step, both for him and his family.

Wecht said he has known Lehrer for many years through various family members’ life cycle events, which provided a level of comfort even before he decided to apply for the position.

The fact that two of his three siblings — Supreme Court Justice David Wecht and Dr. Ingrid Wecht — and a cadre of friends are members of Adat Shalom made the decision to accept the position easier, even with the familiar challenges of rivers, tunnels and bridges.

“Not only am I not afraid to cross that particular river, but I’ve been heading that way since my school days with my siblings and mother,” Wecht said. “Plus, the fact that shortly after I start this job they’ll be shutting down the Parkway right off the Commercial Street Bridge, it’s quite fortuitous.”

Wecht has already attended various meetings with board and staff members and said he’s been “amazed” at both the level of commitment from the people who serve the congregation as well as the facility itself.

“It’s on 18 acres. The basement gym, which has been used for other purposes by a tenant organization, is being refurbished as a basketball court and pickleball court for use by community clubs and organizations,” he said.

Adat Shalom, which is not affiliated with a denomination, also has what Wecht calls “a beautiful kosher kitchen” that is used by an outside organization, something which, he said, they’re hoping to expand.

Growing revenue-generating efforts is one of the immediate goals Wecht has in his new role, as well as expanding membership.

He also excited about various programming opportunities, including lectures, adult learning, musical events and “searching for innovative ways to make Adat Shalom a place where people want to be.”

Marshall Dayan, a past president of Adat Shalom, was involved with hiring Wecht. He said the congregation was looking for a permanent executive director after working with interim Caroline Boyce.

Wecht’s background, he said, presents opportunities with the position.

“Ben has a background in journalism; we can use the help for communications,” Dayan said. “And he’s being doing really interesting programming at the Institute of Forensic Science and Law.”

The board and search committee were impressed, not only with Wecht’s experience but his passion, as well.

“We ultimately decided he had the skill set and passion, and when you bring skills together with passion, you know you have someone who is going to do really well,” Dayan said.

Lehrer said the congregation is in a period of transition and that Wecht is the right person for this period at the synagogue.

“Every transition is an opportunity for growth and evolution,” Lehrer said.

The executive director position will draw on his experience and skill set, Wecht said, while continuing a lifelong family commitment to community service and Zionism.

“I think all of us inherited that from our dad and mom, who became very involved with Jewish and Israeli issues, and had a commitment to Israel and Zionism,” he said. “I’m thrilled Adat Shalom is a congregation that has a full-throated commitment to Zionism and it’s an important part of what we have to do as a congregation.”

His hope is that the synagogue will become a “third place” for the Jewish community of Fox Chapel, O’Hara Township and the surrounding area.

Adat Shalom, he said “is a space away from work and home,” that strives to become the place not only to “pray and educate our children, but to socialize, read, break bread, contemplate, make music, develop knowledge, build relationships, and much more.” PJC

David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.