"When I first
"Because rm
came, the corn-
half and half, I'm
munity was unit-
comfortable in
ed socially —
both Ashkenazi
people would say
and Sephardic ser-
`hi' when they
vices, but I much
met each other
prefer the
somewhere, but
Sephardic
that was about it,"
minyan," said Ben-
said Natan. "Peo-
Ezra. "I'm much
ple didn't see each
more comfortable
other a lot during
with the melodies,
the year. There
and I like the way
was a core of
they pray. It's
older people that
much more joyous,
socialized togeth-
a lot more singing,
er, but we had lost
and it feels warmer.
the youngsters a
One thing I've
long time ago —
noticed about
they would come
Sephardim is
for the High Hol-
they're a lot more
idays just to please
emotive when they
their parents. But
take the Torah out.
there was a small
"In other syna-
group of people
gogues, people just
that was thirsty to
touch the Torah,
learn more about
but in our syna-
Sephardic tradi-
gogue the people
tion."
will kiss it and you
Natan began
feel the love more.
leading services,
Dancing at Sasson Natan's going-away party. Rabbi Avraham Cohen is at the center. g.
Part of it is that it's
then encouraged the
a smaller group,
community to host
but also that's just part
not just a kiddush,
of the tradition."
but a full lunch after
Jacob David elabo-
Saturday morning
rates: "There's some-
services.
thing about being
Although he had
Sephardic that's in your
a full-time job work-
blood. You just don't
ing for Empire
give it up."
Doors and Win-
Aside from demo-
dows, Natan eventu-
graphic changes, the
ally became the
Sephardic Community
community's cantor,
of Greater Detroit has
receiving a modest
become more strictly
salary in recent
Young members Rebecka and Jessie
Orthodox in practice in
Isaac and Kadima Ben-Ezra:
years. In addition to
Sasson Natan
Medina:
The
community
is
trying
to
the past decade, causing
The
two
met
through
the
Sephardic
leading services and
and President Isaac Ben-Ezra
attract more families with children.
occasional tensions
Community of Greater Detroit.
teaching other mem-
at Natan's going-away party.
between the old guard
bers, he sang and
and newcomers. For
played
keyboards
and saxophone at
another 40-50 percent are moving in
Although community events
example, the congregation introduced
community
celebrations.
that direction. Most members drive to
adhere to Sephardic interpretations of
a mechitza so that men cannot see the
In Natan's absence, members Eli
synagogue
on Saturdays, but leaders
Orthodox
Jewish
law,
most
members
women's side, something Sephardic
Shalom,
Eli Rashty and Isaac Ben-Ezra
hope that when the new synagogue is
are not strictly observant themselves.
synagogues traditionally do not need
(the president and Kadima's husband)
per-
a
built
and
the
community
has
That is common throughout the
because they seat women in a balcony
have been leading services and the con-
manent home, many will move within
Sephardic world, which has no
in
the
bimah
section and place the
gregation continues to search for a
walking distance.
denominations like Reform or Con-
center of the sanctuary where all can
rabbi. Natan will return to lead High
Much of the organized communi-
servative. "Generally, all services and
easily see it. The mechitza has led to
Holiday services this fall, and he checks
ty's religious revival dates back to Yom
rituals are done in the traditional
some tensions: "Now, most men want
in frequently from his Chicago home to
Kippur in 1992 when Sasson Natan,
manner, yet there's tolerance for peo-
it and most women don't," said
review the services and make sure there
new in town, came to read from the
ple who are not as observant," said
David. "We're trying in the design of
will be enough people for a minyan.
Torah.
Born
in
Jerusalem
from
a
long
the American Sephardi Federation's
the new building to deal with some of
"I want to make sure it's not going
line of Sephardic cantors, Natan is flu-
Rosengarten.
the women's objections."
to
fall
apart," he said. "There are
ent in both Sephardic and Ashkenazi
David estimates that 10-20 percent
In addition, community functions
enough
people who really came a long
customs, and he quickly became the
of members are shomer Shabbat (they
— which once featured belly dancers
way
that
this has to continue."
community's de facto spiritual leader.
observe the laws of Shabbat), and that
— now do not have mixed dancing.

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