spirit

Beloved Leader

Shomrey Emunah to honor
Rabbi Shaiall Zachariash.

Detroit rabbis: Aharon
Sorscher, Shaiall
Zachariash, Yisroel
Menachem Levin and
Michael Cohen.

LOUIS FINKELMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

R

It
on the
the
It may
may be
be beautiful on
outside
what's on
on the
the
outside but
but it's
its what’s
inside
counts
inside
that that
really
counts.

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March 2 • 2017

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abbi Shaiall Zachariash has
model home and invited customers to
served as rabbi of Congregation help make the minyan.”
Shomrey Emunah for more
The minyan grew. Eventually, the
than 50 years. The congregation now
congregation built its own synagogue,
is preparing to honor him at its annu-
with groundbreaking on Sept. 8, 1972.
al dinner Tuesday, March 7, but the
In 1986, recognizing the growth
rabbi will have to return here
of observant Jews in West
to attend.
Bloomfield, the rabbi estab-
“The rabbi’s wife needs
lished Congregation Ohel
medical care in New Jersey,
Moed of Congregation
so Rabbi Zechariash has
Shomrey Emunah in that sub-
moved away,” says Avi
urb. Rabbi Eli Meyer Jundef, a
Schwartz, Shomrey Emunah
member of the Kollel Institute
president. “Especially now,
and son-in-law of Rabbi
we need to show our appre-
Zachariash, became its rabbi.
Rabbi Shaiall
ciation.”
Schwartz says few people
Zachariash
Rabbi Zachariash, now
know what Rabbi Zachariash
in his mid-80s, earned his rabbinical
did to make Southfield a thriving
ordination in Baltimore. After serving
Jewish community.
in Hunter, N.Y., and Toledo, he and
“Without the rabbi, we would be
his wife moved their family to Detroit, nothing,” he says. “His efforts built,
where he began teaching at Yeshiva
not just this one synagogue, but the
Beth Yehuda. During this time, he
Jewish community of Southfield. He
earned a master’s degree in education. affected the whole neighborhood.
Along the way, he also gained skills as
People moved here just to be near
a mohel and a shochet (ritual slaugh-
him.”
terer).
Tzvi Burstyn, who has known Rabbi
In 1966, he became Shomrey
Zachariash since the early 1960s when
Emunah’s rabbi when the shul was
he and his wife came from Canada,
on Schaefer Highway in Northwest
specifically moved to Southfield to live
Detroit. As the community began
close to the rabbi.
to migrate to the northwestern sub-
“He is distinguished for his com-
urbs, he moved the congregation to
passion and caring,” she says. “People
Southfield as it was being developed.
come with the most intimate ques-
Avigail Teichman, daughter of the
tions or with delicate marital prob-
rabbi, remembers those early days.
lems, and he always looks for a way to
“At first, we still lived in Detroit and
help make their lives work better.”
my father made the 5-mile walk to
Shoshana Richelson, a recent bride
Southfield every Shabbos. We did not
who grew up attending Shomrey
see him until after Shabbos.”
Emunah, recalls, “It meant so much
Services were held in a congregant’s to me that Rabbi Zachariash came all
basement.
the way to my wedding in Lakewood,
“Then we bought a house in
N.J., and read the ketubah and joined
Southfield and held services there.
in my simchah. He has incredible
The house had no furniture; it was
ruach [spirit] and energy!” •
an adventure,” she says. “We lived in
The annual dinner begins with Minchah at 6:15
Detroit during the week and camped
p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at Congregation Dovid
out at the new house on Shabbos.”
ben Nachum, 14800 W. Lincoln, Oak Park. A
“Sometimes,” she recalls, “when
dinner reception follows. To RSVP or take out
we did not have a minyan, we went
an ad in the journal, call (248) 559-1533. Cost
across the street to the developer’s
is $200 per couple.

