28 May 30 • 2019
jn
Congregation Ahavas Israel
in Grand Rapids will hold
a celebration to honor
Rabbi David Krishef’
s 25th
anniversary as spiritual leader
of Ahavas Israel and to mark
the 125th anniversary of Ahavas
Israel as a kehillah kedoshah
(holy community) in Grand
Rapids.
Its history reaches back to
1892 when 15 families founded
Temple Beth Israel, the first
Orthodox Jewish congregation
in Grand Rapids. As Temple
Beth Israel, it moved several
times around the
west side.
As sometimes
happens within
religious
organizations,
dissension
occurred.
In 1911 the
congregation splintered,
and a new congregation was
formed: Ahavas Achim. Both
congregations grew at an equal
pace. Then in 1937, Ahavas
Achim and Temple Beth Israel
formed Ahavas Israel to stabilize
both congregations.
They sold their buildings and
purchased a new building in
1953 for $12,500 that became
fully functional later that year.
The congregation continued to
grow and purchased 11 acres
on Michigan Avenue NE. A
building was erected at 2727
Michigan NE that became
Ahavas Israel’
s current home in
1973.
Krishef was ordained by the
Jewish Theological Seminary in
1994 and received his first pulpit
at Ahavas Israel later that year.
He has become a leading voice
of Judaism in west Michigan,
speaking throughout the region,
and has been the moderator
of “Ethics and Religion Talk,”
a weekly Grand Rapids Press
column, since 2012.
A community-wide
celebration will be held at
Ahavas Israel the weekend of
May 31-June 2. For information,
contact Ed Miller at
25/125ahavasisraelgr@gmail.
com or (616) 293-6064.
jews d
in
the
Rabbi David
Krishef
New YouTube Channel
for Young Jews
Jerusalem U, a nonprofit media company
that aims to connect with young Jews
through educational films and videos, is
launching a new YouTube channel called
“Unpacked,” featuring bite-sized videos that
also tell complex, nuanced stories about
Israel and Judaism.
“Unpacked” aims to bring compelling
content about Israel and Judaism to social
media and digital channels that reach
younger Jews where they live and get
informed, starting on YouTube.
“YouTube has billions of hours of
educational videos being uploaded and
viewed every month and it’
s where kids are
choosing to do most of their learning outside
of traditional institutions,” said Jerusalem U’
s
newly named CEO Dina Rabhan.
“Unpacked” offers young Jews a familiar
place to discover their heritage. The
“Unpacked” videos aim to answer big
questions and untangle complex topics.
The first video series includes “The
History of Israel Explained,” with 55
episodes. More series are in the production
pipeline for 2019 and 2020.
Grand Rapids Congregation Holding Celebration
Cancer Thrivers Network for Jewish Women presents
Innovati
ons
i
n
Breast
Heal
th
wi
th
Dr. Jacqueline Jeruss
Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of the
University of Michigan Breast Care Center
The Doctor is in:
TUESDAY
JUNE 18, 2019
Where:
CONGREGATION
BETH AHM
5075
West
Mapl
e
Road,
West
Bl
oomfiel
d
When:
Regi
strati
on
Kosher
Lunch
Program
11:30AM
12:00PM
12:30PM
THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY
THANKS TO A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE SANDRA
AND ALFRED SHERMAN WOMEN’S HEALTH FUND.
RSVP to Sarah
Strasberger at 248.592.2267
or sstrasberger@jfsdetroi
t.org by June 7.