When Temple Israel's longtime shammes Sam Singer passed away, the Duluth congregation faced a pivotal choice: maintain traditional male-only synagogue leadership or reimagine the role for modern times. The congregation's initial attempt to distribute shammes duties among lay committees revealed significant personal and institutional strains, prompting a systematic evaluation of essential functions and qualifications for the position. This assessment led to a groundbreaking appointment: 26-year-old Wendy Isenberg, a vocational evaluator and ba'alat teshuvah, became the congregation's first female shammes. Isenberg successfully fulfilled all seven core shammes responsibilities: organizing ritual objects, fostering congregational participation, teaching skills, substituting for the rabbi, obtaining witnesses, assisting with Jewish procedures, and working independently while maintaining appropriate rabbinic consultation. The research identifies "Anatevkaism"—the tendency to confuse nostalgic character with functional requirements—as a key obstacle to innovation in Conservative Jewish practice. The successful transition demonstrates how gender-inclusive leadership appointments can preserve institutional effectiveness while enhancing congregational flexibility and problem-solving creativity, challenging long-held assumptions about religious leadership roles in American Conservative Judaism.