Beth Tikvah in Hoffman Estates welcomes new rabbi

Rabbi Taron Tachman, previously an associate rabbi of Temple Sholom of Chicago, has moved to the Northwest suburbs to assume the leadership of Beth Tikvah Congregation of Hoffman Estates.

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich., Rabbi Tachman attended Michigan State University as an undergraduate and the University of Michigan for graduate school, obtaining a master's degree in social work and a certificate in Jewish Communal Service from the Sol Drachler Jewish Communal Leadership Program.

Rabbi Tachman pursued his rabbinical studies at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City.

At Temple Sholom, he developed and initiated an innovative series of programs that served to attract hundreds of young Jews in their 20s and 30s to religious services. He also increased the participation of volunteers at the temple's weekly soup kitchen, enabling the program to expand.

This past July, Rabbi Tachman participated in young rabbis' social justice program in Ghana, Africa, sponsored by American Jewish World Service. In Ghana, he saw firsthand the difficult experiences that arise from extreme poverty. He and the 15 other rabbis selected for this trip worked on solutions to these problems and developed strategies to work with congregations back home to effect meaningful change around the world.

Rabbi Tachman's personal interests include painting, caring for his pet fish, playing ping-pong, blogging on Oy Chicago and reading. He also plays the guitar.

On Friday night, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m., Rabbi Taron Tachman will be officially installed as Beth Tikvah's rabbi during Shabbat services at the temple, on Hillcrest Boulevard in Hoffman Estates.

For details, call (847) 885-4545 or visit www.beth-tikvah.org.

Ÿ Send Your news to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com.