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Crown Of Torah

Detroit jewry's only Sephardic shul has a new name.

SUSAN TAWIL
Special to the Jewish News

T

Ashkenazim (Jews descended from
Eastern Europe) share basic Judaic
tenets, but differ on Hebrew pro-
nunciation, holiday foods and some
rituals.

he Sephardic Community
of Greater Detroit,
nomads of sorts for 84
years, is now known as
Busy Schedule
Keter Torah Synagogue.
Originally, the Sephardic
Keter Torah, chosen by congre-
Community of Greater Detroit's
gants from among 20 submissions, is
purpose was more social than reli-
Hebrew for Crown of Torah, signify-
gious, providing an opportunity for
ing the wisdom and spiritual leader-
members of the community to come
ship of Torah.
together for holiday celebrations.
The small, but closely knit
Today, congregants enjoy a weekly
Sephardic Community of Greater
schedule of Torah classes, monthly
Detroit has persevered in temporary
Shabbatons, and full cholent (stew)
places of worship, without a rabbi of
lunches each Shabbat following serv-
its own.
ices.
Construction is anticipated to
Congregants previously held serv-
begin this year on a permanent syna-
ices in various locations in
gogue in West Bloomfield, northwest Southfield and Oak Park.
of Walnut Lake and Orchard Lake
Although ground was officially
roads, said Eli Shalom, president.
broken for the new building two
The new building will stand in
years ago, the congregation has been
tribute to the Sephardic Community
waiting for various construction per-
of Greater Detroit's pioneers, Judith
mits. Declining to name a firm date,
and Jacob Chicorel, who came from
Shalom says con s truction will start
Turkey in 1917. It will be the first
"very, very soon — as soon as the
official synagogue for Detroit's only
building permit is in hand, we'll
Sephardic congregation, founded in
start."
1920.
Keter Torah does not yet have a
Meanwhile, the 65-family congre-
rabbi. Yeshivat Akiva's Rabbi Yigal
gation will continue holding services
Tsaidi and Yeshiva Beth Yehudah's
and social events at its current loca-
Rabbi Avraham Cohen teach the
tion at 5544 Drake Road, south of
Torah classes. Congregants lead serv-
Walnut Lake Road, in West
ices.
Bloomfield.
Shalom says a rabbi will be hired,
Sephardic Jews have roots in
but "right now, all of our effort is on
Middle Eastern and North African
getting our synagogue built."
countries, Spain,
Italy and parts
of southern
Russia. Services
follow Halachah
(Jewish law); a
mec.hitzah
(divider) sepa-
rates males and
females during
prayer, which is
chanted and
sung according
to the Sephardic
tradition.
Sephardim
(Jews of Spanish
and
Mediterranean
An artist's rendering of the planned Sephardic shul
descent) and
in West Bloomfield.

❑

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