Family Focus

Nine past presidents: front row, Phyllis Lewkowicz, sisterhood president, Sally Stein, president of Beth Kodesh, both of Livonia, Helen Bayles of West Bloomfield. Back row, Jeff

Kirsch of Farmington Hills, Morris Breuer of West Bloomfield, Larry Stein of Livonia, Marty Diskin of Farmington Hills, David Gross of Milford, Milton Goldman of West Bloomfield.

50 Years Of Family

Congregants of Livonia's Beit Kodesh keep strong through close ties.

C

ongregation Beit Kodesh,
formerly the Livonia Jewish
Congregation, western Wayne
County's only Conservative synagogue,
celebrated its 50th anniversary with a lun-
cheon on Oct. 25.
More than 100 members and friends
attended. Among the guests were Livonia
Mayor Jack Kirksey, U.S. Rep. Thaddeus
McCotter, R-Livonia, Livonia City Council
President Laura M. Toy and Livonia
Councilman James McCann. Both Kirksey
and McCotter presented plaques to current
Beit Kodesh President Sally Stein acknowl-
edging the congregation's anniversary and
its presence and importance in the fabric
of Livonia's history.
In 1958, Livonia was a budding com-
munity. Many Jewish families had
moved there from Detroit and a group
began holding Shabbat services at the
Clarenceville Central Elementary School.
As the group grew, services then were held
in individual homes. High Holiday ser-
vices that year were held at the Botsford
Inn, Farmington Hills. In 1959, the Livonia
Jewish Congregation was officially orga-
nized and a board of directors and officers
were elected.
After several locations, including more
schools, a farmhouse on Seven Mile Road,
and a former church, the congregation
moved into the May and Samuel Cohn
Building, originally built for the United
Hebrew Schools. They negotiated with the
then-Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit
for use of the building and still are there.
During the past 50 years, Beit Kodesh

had three religious leaders: Rabbis
Nathaniel Steinberg, Martin Gordon and
Craig Allen. Today, they have no paid staff
or rabbi. The lay people of the congrega-
tion conduct services and do whatever is
needed themselves on a voluntary basis
and with a very modest budget.
In 1990, the name was changed to
Congregation Beit Kodesh because hav-
ing Livonia in the name did not reflect
that membership comes from all over the
tri-county area. Beit Kodesh, which now
has 39 families, was the first Conservative
congregation in Metro Detroit to elect a
female president. Its sisterhood remains
very active.
Two years ago, when the number of
students started to decline, Beit Kodesh
joined with Canton's Bet Chaverim; both
have Sunday school and b'nai mitzvah
classes and activities at Beit Kodesh.
Despite many obstacles over the past
50 years — including financial woes, rob-
bery of silver Torah breastplates and anti-
Semitic graffiti — Beit Kodesh remains
a viable and very active synagogue with
congregants who are like family.
"This small synagogue located in the
heart of Livonia is not just any old syna-
gogue," Elizabeth Stein, 19, daughter of
president Sally Stein and a fourth-genera-
tion member of the synagogue, said dur-
ing the anniversary celebration.
"To me, it has more meaning then a
place to go worship. It is a home, a family,
a safe haven and an emotionally attached
part of my heart.
"For 50 years, this congregation has held

Three generations: David and Phyllis Scherman, their daughter Sally Stein with her

husband, Larry, and daughters Evelyn, 14, and Elizabeth, 19, all of West Bloomfield.

strong in a busy world of 'the bigger and
the better' by keeping its small-town charm
alive in a fairly large city. For 50 years, Beit
Kodesh has been successful with the help
of its loving and devoted members and by
staying active in the community
"The members come from all walks of
life and lifestyles:' she said. "But despite
that difference, we all have two things in
common: the love for our religion and for
our synagogue. These two things are what
make the biggest difference to me. Our
members are a loving, caring support sys-
tem and a giant second family to all of us:'
The luncheon also was attended by
many of the Congregation's past presidents
including Helen Bayles, Morris Breuer,
Jerry Cohn, Martin Diskin, Aaron Engel,
Milton Goldman, David Gross, Jeffery
Kirsch, Phyllis Lewkowicz, Larry Stein and
Nathan Weiser. Unable to attend was past-

Phyllis Lewkowicz, sisterhood president,

and Cookie Greenberg of Livonia

president Nathan Fine. Also in attendance
were Cantors David Gutman and Harry
Sturm as well as the oldest member of
Beit Kodesh, Samuel Raick, who will cel-
ebrate his 97th birthday in December.

❑

November 5 • 2009

53