 OCTOBER 17 • 2019 | 15

S

ome have lived there for decades, others 
for just a few months. Some grew up in 
Detroit, others moved from elsewhere. 
They range in age from 29 to 70; some are 
first-time parents and others have grand-
children. They are Orthodox, Conservative, 
Reform/Renewal, Humanist and non-denom-
inational. One raises backyard chickens. Some 
lead congregations, others hold administrative 
positions at congregations or in the commu-
nity.
In short, there’
s not much these 12 men and 
women have in common except they are rabbis 
— and they live in Huntington Woods.
That’
s not completely surprising, given that 
the tiny southeast Oakland County city — it’
s 
less than 1.5 square miles in area — hosts one 
of the fastest-growing Jewish populations in 
Michigan. The 2018 Detroit Jewish Population 
Study conducted by the Jewish Federation of 
Metropolitan Detroit showed 1,575 Jewish 
households in “the Woods,
” more than double 
the 720-household total shown in the 2005 
population study. Today, two out of three 
households in Huntington Woods are Jewish 
homes.
If the 12 have anything in common, it’
s that 
they like the city’
s small size, the sidewalks and 
relatively small lots that make it walkable. They 
like the neighborhood elementary school and 
other communal resources, the big trees and 
the houses that aren’
t cookie-cutter copies of 
each other.
Some were friends before they became 
neighbors. Rabbi Ari Witkin’
s in-laws, Steve 
and Janice Traison, were close friends with 
Rabbi Dan Horwitz’
s parents, Gina and JN 
Publisher Arthur Horwitz, so the two West 
Bloomfield families saw each other often and 
the two rabbis became friends. 
Others have developed close working 
relationships. Rabbi Asher Lopatin’
s con-
gregation, Kehillat Etz Chayim, is located in 
Congregation Beth Shalom’
s Oak Park build-
ing. Lopatin and Beth Shalom’
s rabbi, Robert 
Gamer, along with Temple Emanu-El’
s Rabbi 
Matthew Zerwekh, who lives in Ferndale, have 
held several joint programs, including study 
sessions on Shavuot and Tashlich services at a 
home in Oak Park on Rosh Hashanah.
Here’
s a brief look at the rabbis of 
Huntington Woods, in alphabetical order.

continued on page 16

Rabbis Dorit Edut, Robert 
Gamer, Miriam Jerris, Dan 
Horiwitz, Ari Witkin and 
Asher Z. Lopatin gathered in 
Horwitz’
s back yard. 

PHOTOS BY JERRY ZOLYNSKY

