22 | MAY 6 • 2021 

I

n the midst of many positive changes 
and new initiatives underway, Temple 
Emanu-El aims to stay true to its over-
arching goal: to try and “repair the world 
through the Jewish lens.
”
“The temple has always seen itself as 
engaged with the world around 
it,
” explains Rabbi Matthew 
Zerwekh. “The times we’re in 
dictate action. Our congrega-
tion is welcoming the opportu-
nity to engage.
”
As the only Reform congre-
gation in their area, Oak Park-
based Temple Emanu-El is taking strides to 
connect and inspire the Jewish community. 
They’ve implemented racial justice training 
for members, completed new renovations 
in their sanctuary and are home to the 
Jewish Gay Network, which supports Metro 
Detroit’s LGBTQ+ community. 
Yet these initiatives are only the begin-
ning of a myriad of programs being devel-
oped and rolled out by the temple. 
“I’m a leader who is showing people ways 
how they can do that,
” Zerwekh says of 
repairing the world through the Jewish lens. 
“There’s so much going on right now that 
we feel like we can’t affect or have any real 
control over, except for our own personal 
action.
”
Temple Emanu-El is starting by joining 
important conversations on race. They’re 
partnering with Detroit Jews for Justice to 
help spark and inspire understanding of 
racial biases that divide the world, particu-
larly within the area. By working alongside 
leadership at Detroit’s Bethel Community 
Transformation Center, among others, the 

temple is part of a larger effort to build 
relationships between synagogues and Black 
churches.
“In a world right now that feels like we’re 
seeing a lot of hate speech, antisemitism and 
racism being brought to the forefront, it’s 
important that we understand what allyship 
can do in terms of strengthening our entire 
community,
” Zerwekh explains. “Not just 
the Jewish community, but the Jewish and 
the Black community. It can help us interact 
with that problematic speech and become 
more unified.
”

USING HIS VOICE
Zerwekh says that’s one approach of his 
work as a rabbi and congregation leader, to 
address what the community is “ready for 
and calling.
” The other, he says, is to use 
his voice in places where he finds himself 
“unable to use it.
” This takes form by par-
ticipating in a variety of local marches and 
peaceful protests, including to advocate for 
George Floyd and the NAACP
.
“To be able to use my voice in the way 
I could and to be able to pray in that way 
has been very meaningful to me,
” Zerwekh 

explains. “It’s meaningful to my rabbinate 
and to my community.
”
The temple’s action and engagement in 
addressing social, political and cultural 
issues reflects in its membership growth, 
which has seen a 20% increase in two years. 
Previously unaffiliated families are now 
joining, which Zerwekh believes also stems 
from having a strong religious school shared 
with Beth Shalom. “This again speaks to 
that string through allies,
” he says. “The 
congregations realized they were stronger 
together in educating the kids.
”
Zerwekh says that because the congre-
gation was the first of its kind developed 
outside of the city limits of Detroit, and the 
last remaining one in its vicinity, this has 
helped Temple Emanu-El establish itself 
as a key Reform presence in southeastern 
Oakland County. “It’s so powerful,
” he says 
of that presence. “We’re setting ourselves up 
to be a center for the community to support 
various ongoing Jewish efforts.
”
One of Temple Emanu-El’s biggest 
endeavors is serving as the home for the 
Jewish Gay Network. “The leaders of the 
network were looking for a new home,
” he 
says. When they approached the temple, 
Zerwekh said the decision was easy to make 
since JGN aligned well with the congrega-
tion’s overall mission of helping people con-
nect with their Judaism.
“We are an open, inclusive community,
” 
Zerwekh describes. “Being able to provide 
that place for JGN to land was something 
I feel very fortunate that we were able to do.
” 
JGN co-chair Faith Robinson Renner 
agrees with the sentiment. “Temple Emanu-
El has always opened itself for many types 

Rabbi Matt 
Zerwekh

OUR COMMUNITY

Temple Emanu-El looks to the future 
while holding on to traditions of the past.

A Community
Ally

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

New seating in 
the sanctuary

“THE TEMPLE HAS
ALWAYS SEEN ITSELF
AS ENGAGED
WITH THE WORLD 
AROUND IT.”

— RABBI MATT ZERWEKH

