JANUARY 16 • 2020 | 23

Jews in the D

D

r. Martin Luther King 
Jr. Day in Detroit will 
feature a visit by Rabbi 
Capers Funnye, an interna-
tionally renowned African 
American rabbi from Chicago. 
Funnye is the chief rabbi of 
Beth B’
nai Zaken Ethiopian 
Hebrew Congregation, one 
of the largest and oldest black 
synagogues in America, and 
one he describes as “some-
where between Conservative 
and Modern Orthodox.” 
A cousin of Michelle Obama, 
Funnye is a dynamic speaker 
and the first African American 
member of the Chicago Board 
of Rabbis. He will have a full 
schedule of events in Detroit 
on Sunday, Jan. 19, where the 
public can meet him and hear 
him speak.

At 9 a.m., Funnye will be 
praying with Kehillat Etz 
Chayim and Or Chadash, 
inside Congregation Beth 
Shalom in Oak Park, followed 
by a breakfast, where he will 
speak, at the synagogue. 
The event is sponsored 
by the Jewish Community 
Relations Council/AJC 
(JCRC/AJC), Etz Chayim, 
Or Chadash, Congregation 
Beth Shalom, Temple Emanu-
El, Isaac Agree Downtown 
Synagogue and Congregation 
T’
chiyah. 
Next, at 11 a.m., Funnye 
will be interviewed by Rabbi 
Aaron Starr during a brunch at 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 
sponsored by JCRC/AJC and 
the synagogue. 
At 3 p.m., the rabbi will be 

the keynote speaker at the 
annual MLK program for 
the Coalition for Black and 
Jewish Unity at Russell Street 
Missionary Baptist Church 
in Detroit. The coalition, a 
partnership between JCRC/
AJC and the Council of 
Baptist Pastors of Detroit and 
Vicinity, is co-chaired by Rev. 
Deedee M. Coleman, the pas-
tor of Russell Street Church, 
and Rabbi Marla Hornsten 
of Temple Israel in West 
Bloomfield. 
Each year, the coalition’
s 
annual event features a stirring 
combination of speeches and 

music. This year’
s program, 
themed “Making the Dream a 
Reality,” includes remarks by 
Funnye and Chavis Jones, pres-
ident of the Duke University 
School of Law Graduates. 
Songs of praise will follow 
from choirs from Adat Shalom 
Synagogue, Greater New 
Mount Moriah Baptist Church, 
led by Rev. Kenneth J. Flowers, 
co-director of the coalition, 
and other local churches. 
The day is made possible 
by a grant from the Ravitz 
Foundation, as well as sup-
port from the American Israel 
Public Affairs Committee 
(AIPAC) and Philos Project. 
Events are free, and all meals 
will be kosher. A voluntary 
donation at the 3 p.m. event, 
which will go toward assisting 
children of incarcerated par-
ents, is appreciated.
Contact Russell Street 
Church at (313) 875-2458 for 
more information. 

Funnye

Celebrating MLK

JCRC

W

e often hear of the 
anti-Israel BDS 
movement, which 
encourages a boycott of Israeli-
made products, but what if the 
(rising) anti-Semitic movement 
encouraged a boycott on 
Judaism? 
What would the world look 
like without the input of Jewish 
values?
Rabbi Shneur 
Silberberg of Bais 
Chabad of West 
Bloomfield will 
lead a six-week 
seminar to discuss 
that question. 
The series will discuss how 

Judaism has — 
to a very large 
degree — shaped 
the way humanity 
views issues 
such as social 
responsibility, 
respect for life, and 
work/life balance.
Several guest 
speakers will share 
their perspectives, 
including professor 
and noted Jewish 
scholar Howard 
Lupovitch, Cantor 
Michael Smolash 
and Chef Hunny 
Khordorkovsky, 

who will each speak at one of 
the classes during the series.
Classes run twice weekly: 
Sundays, beginning Feb 2, 11 
a.m. at Bais Chabad of West 
Bloomfield (complimentary 
breakfast served), and Tuesdays, 
beginning Feb. 4, 7 p.m. at Hillel 
Day School in Farmington 
Hills. Cost of the series is $80, 
scholarships are available.
Find out more at BaisChabad.
com/values, email rabbish-
neur@baischabad.com or call 
(248) 855-6170.

JUDAISM’
S GIFTS 
TO THE WORLD
A similar six-week course, 
“Judaism Gifts to the World: 
How Major Jewish Ideas 
Evolved into Universal 
Values,” through Bloomfield 
Hills Chabad, will be offered 

at two locations: 11a.m.-noon 
on Thursdays, beginning 
Jan. 30, at Jewish Family 
Service in Bloomfield Hills 
and 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, 
beginning Jan. 29, at the 
Jewish Federation building 
in Bloomfield Township. The 
course fee is $80. 
“
At a moment in which 
we are witnessing a rise in 
anti-Semitism, it is important 
to explore the true impact 
of Jews and Judaism on 
civilization,” said Rabbi Levi 
Dubov, who will lead the 
course. “Understanding 
Judaism’
s historical 
contribution gives us a deeper 
appreciation for its continuing 
relevance.” 
 For more information, visit 
bloomfieldhillschabad.org or 
call (248) 949-6210. 

Silberberg

Lupovitch

Smolash

Khordorkovsky

Rabbi Capers Funnye to headline event 
for Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity.

New Jewish Courses 
What if someone boycotted Judaism?