36 April 25 • 2019
jn

F

or a long time, my perception 
of Jewish Detroit has been 
of a suburban-concentrat-
ed community that is completely 
disconnected from the city in 
which its roots were sown. Now 
that I am a second-year student at 
Wayne State University in Midtown 
Detroit, my perception has unques-
tionably changed.
After arriving on campus, I 
had no anticipation of being able 
to participate in Jewish activities 
on campus. I was unaware of any 
Jewish groups on campus and, 
being a commuter student, I did 
not think I had enough time on 
campus to commit myself to these 
events. Eventually, I learned of Hillel 
of Metro Detroit (HMD) at WSU, 
along with Chabad in the D. In 
these organizations, I found some-
thing I certainly did not expect: a 
revival of Jewish life, specifically 
Jewish student life, in Detroit. This 
was centralized by the everlasting 
symbol of a Jewish gathering, the 
Shabbat dinner. 
On any given Friday, you can 
find Jewish individuals, students 
and young professionals alike, 
gathered for a Shabbat nosh in 
Detroit. Shabbat dinners at HMD 

and ChabaD are characterized by 
individuals schmoozing with one 
another, delving into deep con-
versations and, of course, eating. 
Shabbat is a time for self-reflection 
and self-discovery, something that 
both HMD and Chabad encourage 
visitors to explore. 
Attending these dinners, I find 
myself reflecting on Detroit’
s rich 
history of Jewish life and how unfor-
tunate it was that this dissipated over 
time. I immediately felt a sense of 
responsibility to uphold this incredi-
ble legacy. To be sure, Jewish Detroit 
is seeing its revival. From Shabbat 
dinners at HMD and ChabaD to the 
re-establishment of the WSU chapter 
of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, of 
which I am a proud member, orga-
nizations that recognize the need for 
Jewish activity in Detroit are finding 
their footing. 
My hope is that my future chil-
dren will not grow up with the same 
notions of a foreign Detroit that I 
grew up with, and maybe even call 
the city home one day. @

Nisim Nesimov of West Bloomfield is a sopho-
more at Wayne State University. For informa-
tion about Shabbat dinners at Hillel of Metro 
Detroit, visit hillel-detroit.com or email 
hillelpd@wayne.edu.

for college students by college students

Shabbat Shalom 

HMD student refl
 ects on wealth of Jewish life in the D.

Nisim Nesimov } jewish@edu writer

HMD students pose for a group photo before a Hillel of Metro Detroit Shabbat dinner. 

MEL DRYMAN
Raised in Detroit, Experienced in Arizona
Your Professional 
& Dedicated 
ARIZONA REALTOR
Mobile: (480) 239-8686

mel.dryman@azmoves.com

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