What does it take for a synagogue to last 131 years—and still feel like a place people want to walk into?

At Bais Abraham Congregation, it’s not about flashy programming or slick branding. It’s something simpler: staying rooted in tradition while being open enough to change.

“I don’t believe we are evolving to stay relevant,” said Rabbi Eliezer Finkelstein. “We are evolving because life calls on us to evolve.”

This month, Bais Abe—St. Louis’ longtime Modern Orthodox shul in the Delmar Loop—is officially installing Finkelstein as its new spiritual leader. The event, which also kicks off the synagogue’s annual “Spring Into Action” fundraiser, marks another turning point for a community that’s always known how to adjust.

“In the 10 years I have worked at Bais Abe, the synagogue has hosted speakers and discussions on a myriad of topics that address social, scientific and cultural needs,” said Executive Director Ruth Schachter-Cohen. “Wherever people are on their Jewish journey, everyone is searching for meaning and looking to make sense of a complicated world.”

That world, as Finkelstein sees it, is changing fast. “We say in the morning prayers that God ‘renews the world every day,’” he said. “It is important to understand that the world we live in now is not the same world as yesterday and will not be the same world tomorrow. Even as God and the Torah are constant and eternal, we need to express the Torah and connect to God in ways that people today are able to do.”

That idea—meeting people where they are—is part of what brought him to Bais Abe.

“I was drawn to Bais Abe due to its welcoming nature and friendliness,” he said. “Throughout the process of being hired, I found a community that was not just friendly, but viewed its warmth as a key aspect to its identity… And in the almost year I have been here, I have been pleased to confirm that reputation over and over.”

For Schachter-Cohen, that warmth hasn’t changed, even as what it means to be a member keeps shifting.

“People are not necessarily inclined to immediately join a synagogue just because their parents or grandparents did and they are more likely to pick and choose aspects that resonate from multiple places,” she said. “That being said, over the past number of years we have seen growth in those looking to explore Orthodox Judaism, as well as those who already identify as Modern Orthodox… People are looking for safe spaces in which to explore Jewish religion, meaning and belonging—and we are able to provide that space.”

Finkelstein doesn’t see inclusion as a departure from tradition, but as one of its truest expressions.

“I do not view being halachic and inclusive as mutually exclusive ideas,” he said. “The Torah teaches us over and over to welcome those who may be on the margins. We can make sure everyone who steps into our shul feels welcomed without compromising on the values we hold.”

And what comes next? For Finkelstein, it starts with Torah.

“I want to work on engaging our community in finding opportunities to study more Torah,” he said. “Studying Torah, connecting to God through the Torah, is one of the most important mitzvot we have. We should be finding new ways of studying every day.”

The installation is Tuesday, June 17, at a rooftop venue in Clayton. It’s free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required for security. Details at baisabe.com/2025springintoaction.

For a synagogue that’s been part of St. Louis Jewish life for more than a century, the future isn’t just something you wait for—it’s something you build. As Schachter-Cohen put it: “We do not compromise our Modern Orthodox values, but we also recognize, believe and embrace the idea that our Modern Orthodox Judaism can guide us in our interactions in the larger world.”