Spirituality
10 Years Downtown
Reconstructionist congregation works to replace its century-old Torah.
Carol Weisfeld
Special to the Jewish News
A
Jewish community has existed in
Detroit since 1851 and though the
Jewish population has grown and
moved primarily to the suburbs, two syna-
gogues remain in the city of Detroit: the Isaac
Agree Downtown Synagogue founded in 1921
and the Reconstructionist Congregation of
Detroit (RCD) founded in 2000.
This year, RCD marks its 10th year in the
city. Always operating from a rented space, its
new sanctuary is in the education building at
Christ Church Detroit, 976 E. Jefferson Ave.
The small community of 25 Jewish families
maintains a modest schedule of monthly and
holiday services, including the only services
for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur within
the city limits. The services are open to all as
part of the Jewish Federation's Shalom Detroit
program.
In honor of its 10th anniversary, RCD mem-
bers began a project to replace their 100-year-
old Torah (a gift from Reconstructionist
Congregation T'chiyah) that was no longer
kosher and beyond repair. Members resolved
to raise $10,000 to secure a gently used Torah.
Thanks to an initial donation from the Cohn
Family Philanthropic Fund, RCD is now three-
quarters of the way towards its goal. The
Torah will be dedicated in the name of federal
Judge Avern Cohn's parents.
Members hope to dedicate the Torah prior
to this year's High Holidays. Congregants have
already visited their new Torah at the Oak
Park workshop of Rabbi Levi Kagan, a sofer
(scribe) who is making it kosher letter by let-
ter.
At the installation of the new Torah,
RCD's first president Matthew Schenk of
Grosse Pointe Park will be honored. Schenk
still chants Torah for services because RCD
employs no rabbi or cantor. Schenk, chief
of staff for Wayne County Executive Robert
Ficano, grew up in the city and attended
Chrysler Elementary School and Cass
Technical High School before heading to Ann
Arbor for college and law school.
He and his wife, Jessie, bring their
three sons to RCD to "be part of Jewish
life in the city." They are comfortable in a
Reconstructionist environment, where their
boys learn egalitarian ideals and take part in
discussions about ethical decision-making
and environmental awareness.
RCD follows the teachings of Rabbi
Mordechai Kaplan, who, in the 1920s in New
York, urged Jews to be conservative with
regard to ritual but progressive with regard to
social issues such as equality for women.
Another hallmark of the RCD's congre-
gation is its commitment to preserving
Jewish life and culture in the city. Members
rescued a 1920s stained glass window from
Congregation Mogain Abraham before its
building was demolished. The window was
used to mark the entrance to the "Haven
to Home" exhibit at the Detroit Historical
Museum last summer. This commitment also
led RCD congregants to write and publish a
children's activity book called Early Jewish
Days in Michigan.
To contribute to the Torah fundraiser, visit
RCD's website at www.recondetroit.org or
send donations to RCD treasurer Anthony
Dillof, 1409 Joliet Place, Detroit 48207. .7
Matthew Schenk of Grosse Pointe Park, RCD's first president, checks out
the Torah scroll with Rabbi Levi Kagan of Oak Park.
ir4.4
Carol Weisfeld of Detroit is president of the
Jared, Daniel and Ethan Schenk write their names in Hebrew with a quill
Reconstructionist Congregation of Detroit.
as Rabbi Kagan watches.
Common Figure
Harvard scholar explores Abraham's role in three religions.
N
oted Jewish theologian Jon D.
Levenson will present a talk at
7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at the
Jewish Community Center, 6600 W. Maple
Road, West Bloomfield.
His lecture is titled "Abraham Our
Father: What Does He Father?"
"Jews, Christians and Muslims all
revere the figure of Abraham," Levenson
said. "In Judaism, Abraham is often seen
36
March 31 • 2011
as the father of the faith, the first mono-
theist and the man who saw through
idolatry. In Genesis, the biblical book in
which story of Abraham appears, none of
this, interestingly, is found. There, he is
not so much a founder as a father.
"What or whom Abraham fathers
became and remains a major source of
disagreement among the three traditions
conventionally called the Abrahamic
Religions."
Levenson is the Albert A. List Professor
of Jewish Studies at the Harvard Divinity
School, where he has been teaching since
1988. His work concentrates on the inter-
pretation of the Hebrew Bible. He is the
author of several books.
On Monday, April 11, Levenson will
present a talk to a combined group of high
school juniors and seniors from University
Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods
and the Frankel Jewish Academy in West
Bloomfield. The talk will be at FJA.
The events are sponsored by University
Liggett School and the Jewish Forum and
co-sponsored by the JCC. There is no cost.
For more information, contact the
Jewish Forum at (248) 354-6415 ext. 2 or
University Liggett School at (313) 884-
4444 during business hours.