Reaching Out

Keter Torah continues to share its culture and tradition with the non-Sephardic community.

ed," Benchetrit said.
"They may get that
Staff Writer
praying and singing, or
they may get it from
hen Keter Torah Synagogue
hearing a great speaker.
first opened its doors in
We have the perfect
August 2002, the community
combination, with our
joined in as a parade of colorful Sifrei
service and with Rabbi
Torah were marched into a new build-
[Michael] Cohen, who is
ing, modeled after a French synagogue,
very engaging."
complete with inlaid-wood ark doors,
Pronunciation of the
mahogany pillars and golden, glowing
Hebrew service is the
chandeliers.
same as in area
Now that the congregation is firmly
Conservative and
settled in their West Bloomfield home,
Reform congregations,
their focus is to add religious, educa-
with
most using the
tional,- cultural and social opportunities
Sephardic pronuncia-
and to offer a deeper glimpse into their
tions that are also used
synagogue and their Sephardic culture
in Israel.
and history.
"I really enjoy the
"We just want everybody to know
music and group partici-
how warm and inviting we are," Keter
pation of the service,"
Torah board member Sam Shamie of
said Donald Scharg,
Bloomfield Hills said of the new initia-
who comes from an
tives, including hiring Cantor Ben Zion Rabbi Michael Cohen talks to the crowd during a 2002 marching of the synagogue's Sifrei Torah
Ashkenazic background.
Ben Shimon.
into the new Keter Torah building.
"Last Yom Kippur's serv-
While many Keter Torah members
ice was the best I've ever
hold Sephardic roots that include
Conservative and secular backgrounds."
been to. The place was just charged with energy.
Egyptian, French, Persian or Dutch ancestry, the syn-
But the service itself is Orthodox, so the prayer
Even on a regular Shabbat, the service begins with
agogue has come to welcome and include others
book
and
seating
layout
are
based
on
Orthodox
everyone taking different parts — right from their
from Ashkenazic backgrounds, originating in Russia,
observance. Men and women sit separately during
seats."
Poland and other Eastern European countries.
religious services, with the women sitting in a bal-
And after the service is over, Harris enjoys what he
For some, Keter Torah's appeal
cony area.
calls "an interesting cultural experience. We often
is the size of this diverse congrega-
Even though Lamm came to
speak with members when the service is over, having
tion — numbering 75 families.
Keter
Torah from a Conservative
met couples from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Morocco,
"There is a real family feel," said
synagogue, where men and
Greece, Turkey," he said. "If you're a linguist, this is
Sherry Lofman of West
women sit together, she likes the
definitely the place to come."
Bloomfield.
way
the
genders
are
separated
at
With a core group attending
the Sephardic congregation. "The
Shabbat services weekly, board
The Draw
purpose of going to synagogue is
member Ron Harris of West
Lofman's initial attraction to the synagogue was its
to pray and to learn, so why
Bloomfield said, "We are small
classes, which led to her attendance at Shabbat servic-
should
it
matter
who
you
sit
enough that we can spot a new
Benchetrit
Harris
es
and eventually a position on the synagogue's
with?" Lofman asked. "I'm very
face, and we go up to that person
board.
comfortable with the separate seat-
and try to reach out."
Keter Torah offers ongoing National Jewish
ing."
Outreach
Program Read Hebrew America classes at
Two different prayer books are used at Keter
Unique Service
no
charge.
Torah: a traditional, all-Hebrew, Sephardic prayer
Rabbi Cohen also holds regular Talmud and week-
While the synagogue may be Orthodox, some of the
book and another that is written in both Hebrew and
ly Torah portion classes, and Rabbi Dovid Shapero
membership isn't. "Under Sephardic tradition, there
English and includes Hebrew transliteration. The
from Ohr Somayach Detroit in Southfield teaches a
is no such thing as streams of Judaism," said syna-
Chumash (the Five Books of Moses) is one that is
second
class on the Torah portion in the Keter Torah
gogue president Michael Benchetrit of Farmington
seen in both Ashkenazic and Sephardic synagogues.
Hills. "Our members come from Reform,
"People come to synagogue to be spiritually uplift-
REACHING OUT on page 58

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN

W

3/24
2005

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