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in one monthly bill.'
Serving owntoWri
Chabad House of Greater Downtown Detroit at 278 Mack Ave.
Chabad will open new house in
Midtown Detroit in January.
Keri Guten Cohen
• 4.
Story Development Editor
Mcwil
R
—Elaine Frazis, Fox Run resident,
pictured with daughters Debi and Karen
4
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18
December 12 • 2013
abbi Berel Shemtov of Chabad
Lubavitch of Michigan
announced the establish-
ment of the Chabad House of Greater
Downtown Detroit at the Menorah
Lighting in the D on Dec. 4.
Two years ago, also at the menorah
lighting, Shemtov announced plans for a
house in Detroit. In April, Rabbi Yisrael
Pinson was named to the emissary posi-
tion for the house at 278 Mack Ave. in
Midtown Detroit. Pinson had been work-
ing for Friendship Circle for 12 years.
"I was helping to
find someone because I
already was involved in
things going on around
town:' Pinson said. "In
April, I decided I'd like
to have the position
full time. I was then
given the mandate to
Rabbi Yisrael
see how to get it going.' Pinson
On Dec. 3, Chabad
Lubavitch of Michigan closed on a
house at 278 Mack Ave., across from
the Wayne State University Marcia and
Eugene Applebaum School of Pharmacy
and close to the Whole Foods store in
Midtown and to the new DMC Heart
Hospital that will be opening in a few
months. Detroit's light rail system will
have a stop very close to the house,
making it accessible from across the
Downtown area.
The three-story, 4,300-square-foot
home, plus basement, was built in 1908,
and has been used continuously since
then, most recently as offices for doctors
and lawyers. Complete with the original
wood floors, paneling and fireplaces, it is
located at the north end of Brush Park.
Renovations and updates will need
to be made, but Pinson says a class on
Jewish spirituality will move to the house
in January, and be expanded to include
a happy hour beforehand and a dinner
with discussion afterward.
Eventually, Pinson, his wife, Devorah,
and their five children will move into the
building.
Pinson was key in making the house
a reality, working with leaders at the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit, Isaac Agree Downtown
Synagogue, Hillel of Metro Detroit,
Repair the World, the Birthright
Foundation and others to secure Jewish
community ties and partnerships; and
with private donors to raise funds.
So far, $500,000 has been raised under
the leadership of Shari and Alon Kaufman
of Commerce Township, Pinson said.
Fundraising will continue to support
updates to the house and programming.
"Rabbi Pinson is a member of the
NEXTGen board and has worked closely
with us and Federation to make sure that
this is positive for the community and
that he's not stepping on any toes:' said
Miryam Rosenzweig, NEXTGen director.
"He really understands the community,
and approaches this not just from what
he is trying to achieve, but also from how
this will be an asset to the community.
He consulted all the players so that it was
done right. It was very impressive.
"We are looking forward to partnering
with him and supporting what he's doing
— helping to connect people to Jewish
Detroit," she said. "Our goal at NEXTGen
is to always grow our community, and
we understand there are micro-commu-
nities. Anyone doing anything awesome
is adding to the community, and he is
doing something awesome. I think he'll
be a great presence there:'
Pinson says he expects to target people
who work, live, play, study and give in
Detroit. The majority of those are young
adults and professionals. He's also hoping
to replace a gap that opened when the two
Detroit Moishe Houses closed, he said.
"We do not plan on opening a syna-
gogue, at least not until there is need for
Orthodox services; that is not the goal;
he said. "We will cooperate with and try
to complement others, like Hillel of Metro
Detroit and the Downtown Synagogue:'
Pinson explained that it's unusual for
a Chabad House to open right away.
Often emissaries come and establish
themselves first, then open a house. But
he is known in the community, the per-
fect house was found, and it made sense
to do it in one shot, he said.
Now he's busy preparing upcoming
programs, which will include Shabbat din-
ners, classes and events based around the
holidays, as well as programs in partner-
ship with other Jewish organizations. ❑