The Jews Of
Wayne County
She'll Liebman Dorfman
Staff Writer
W
ith 8,332 Jews living in Wayne County, according
to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit,
and countless more working there, synagogues
of various denominations have been able to sustain members
and even thrive, some in unique ways, with innovative pro-
grams. For information on High Holiday services, contact the
synagogue:
Beth Isaac Synagogue
Larry Stein and his daughter Evelyn, 11, of Livonia enter Congregation Beit Kodesh.
there with his grandfather 35
years ago. He later joined with his
wife and children.
"Beit Kodesh means 'holy
home' and for some Jewish mem-
bers of the community, this is
their holy home,' Rabbi Miller
said. "I'm optimistic that others
in the community will step for-
ward to ensure this shul doesn't
fade away."
Congregants are confident that
won't happen, and they under-
stand rejuvenation could be a
slow process.
"It took many, many years for
the membership to dwindle; and
we know rebuilding will take
some time Kirsch said. "But
we're starting to fill the sanctuary
again."
And they're not looking to be
massive.
"We've always been a small
synagogue': Kirsch said. "If we
wanted to be large, we would have
moved. But we chose to stay in
Livonia to provide the families
here and in the surrounding
locations with services and edu-
cation. We chose to remain here
and be a family-type — heimishe
— synagogue?'
Dorothy Diskin agrees. "We
are such a friendly congregation,
where everybody knows each
other and you don't get lost in
the crowd. We share happy occa-
sions and support one another in
sickness and bad times — like a
family."
The warmth isn't what brought
Fern and Randy Soper's family to
Beit Kodesh, but it is part of what
keeps them coming back.
They had never noticed the
synagogue just a few miles from
their home until last year when
Fern Soper saw a sign in front
of the building — part of the
congregation's new visibility cam-
paign.
"It said, `Free Sunday School,"
Soper recalled.
It was a one-year promotion
offered to new kindergarten stu-
dents."We didn't belong to a shul
and we were looking for a reli-
gious school for our son, Jeremy
[now 6 1/2];' Soper said.
The Sopers are thrilled with
Jeremy's education, and they
became hooked on Friday night
services through the school's
monthly children's Shabbat pro-
gram. Now they attend regularly,
along with their daughter, Jillian,
2 1/2.
"Even when I can't go, my
husband, who is not Jewish, goes
with the kids': she said. "And he
feels very welcome there. We took
his mom to the shul's Mother's
Day program, too. Everyone there
is always looking out for everyone
else. It's such a warm place to
belong."
Adding Momentum
Revitalization means progress on
many levels. This past spring, the
congregation was involved in its
first co-sponsorship of a commu-
nity event in quite some time, the
Melanoma Research Foundation's
fundraiser in Novi.
A Torah class is held each week
and the congregation volunteers
at food banks and homeless
shelters. Socially, they gather for
bowling, road rallies, ice cream
and dance socials; and they hold
a weekly table tennis tournament.
The sisterhood, which
remained active throughout the
history of the congregation, is
now up to 38 members who are
involved in social, cultural, edu-
cational and charitable programs,
run a fundraising gift shop and
maintain the synagogue kitchen.
The Shalom newsletter keeps
members in the loop, and there's
talk of re-starting the men's club.
While the hope is to hire
a rabbi, for now lay staff and
members fill the void. Members
lead services, and Kirsch and
Martin Diskin teach haftorah for
those planning to become b'nai
mitzvah. Members Aron Zoldan
of Livonia, Marcel Halberstadt of
West Bloomfield and Jerry Cohn
of Novi alternate reading Torah
during services.
And the children always have
been, and continue to be, a big
part of what's vital at Beit Kodesh.
A search for a new director
of education has begun. Kirsch
is acting director, meeting on
Sunday mornings with grades
one through four. "The Sunday
school is still small," he said,
"but our new families are bring-
ing more students. And once a
month the children participate
in Shabbat services, with the
plan for them to be able to learn
to lead part of the service them-
selves?"
Kirsch also oversees the Teens
on the Go program, involving
post-b'nai mitzvah youth who
visit Jewish communal sites and
volunteer for tzedakah projects.
A New Beginning on page 86
Location: 2730 Edsel Drive, Trenton
Denomination: Reform
Services: Friday evenings.
Service leadership: Services are led by the congregation.
Reconstructionist Congregation of Detroit
Location: 976 E. Jefferson, Detroit
Denomination: Reconstructionist
MemberShip: 34 member units
Services: Shabbat services: first Saturday morning of each month.
School: A one-room-schoolhouse Sunday school; b'nai mitzvah
preparation.
Programs and accomplishments: At least one event or activity,
holiday program, adult book group or Torah study is held each month.
The congregation published Early Jewish Days in Michigan ($4.99),
an activity book for Jewish schools, written by C. C. Weisfeld, illus-
trated by A.G. Smith — with proceeds going to the synagogue.
Service leadership: Lay-led congregation.
History: Once a part of Congregation T'chiyah, now in Oak Park,
the Reconstructionist congregation uses historic artifacts, includ-
ing stained glass window, pews and an ark from previous synagogue
buildings. The first new synagogue founded in the city of Detroit in
the last 25 years, it opened in May 2000.
Communal involvement: MAZON partner; co-sponsor of an environ-
mental day at Shalom Street in West Bloomfield and events with
other Reconstructionist and non-Reconstructionist congregations.
Future: Remaining together; remaining in Detroit. They now meet in
rented space, but would like to move to a long-term rental or owned
building.
Carol Weisfeld of Detroit cleans the
Reconstructionist synagogue's historic ark.
The Jews Of Wayne County on page 87
September 21 • 2006
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