26 | JULY 15 • 2021 

OUR COMMUNITY

R

abbi Michael Gilboa, 
the new full-time 
rabbi of B’nai 
Israel Synagogue in West 
Bloomfield, is officially 
settled in Metro Detroit. 
He joined the B’nai Israel 
community virtually on May 
1, but officially moved to 
Metro Detroit in mid-June 
along with his wife, Emily, 
and three children. 
Gilboa received his 
rabbinic M.A. and his 
ordination from the 
Ziegler School of Rabbinic 
Studies, American Jewish 
University of Los Angeles. 
He has served as the 
rabbi of Ahavath Achim 
Hebrew Congregation 
in Wichita, Kan., and 
Congregation Beth Jacob 
in Fresno, Calif. He is the 
founding rabbi of “The 
Footpath,” a community 
conversion program started 
in partnership with Anshe 
Emet Synagogue in Chicago, 
which now continues 
online.
Gilboa is a convert 
himself. He had encountered 

Judaism in one way or 
another throughout his 
formative years, but it 
accelerated when he was in 
college and ended up being 
active in the Hillel. 
“One thing led to another, 
and I was Jewish,” Gilboa 
said. 
Even with the new job, 
Gilboa is still teaching 
classes at The Footpath. 

A PERFECT FIT
While speaking with B’nai 
Israel about where his career 
was and where he wanted it 
to be, Gilboa said that while 
he loves his work with The 
Footpath, it only consists 
of 24-week courses at a 
time. Gilboa wanted more 
than a temporary Jewish 
community. 
“I was feeling like looking 
for something more stable 
and to build relationships 
that last longer than 24 
weeks,” Gilboa said. “I’m 
very excited to keep doing 
The Footpath, and I’m 
also very excited to be at 
B’nai Israel and to begin 

developing those friendships 
and relationships.” 
Gilboa believes B’nai 
Israel has an interesting 
energy, with the best of the 
old and the new.
“They fit me to a tee,” 
Gilboa said. “I am a 
traditional rabbi. I love 
the Jewish tradition and 
engaging with our timeless 
spiritual practices. 
“At the same time, I love 
that entrepreneurial, startup 
energy and seeing how we 
can apply the old, time-
tested wisdom in new and 
innovative ways.”
Hopefully moving into 
the final phases of the 
pandemic, Gilboa believes 
in lessons learned from this 
time, such as how we could 
get by with less and how 
some things that seemed 
really important actually 
weren’t. 
“The thing that turned 
out to be most important 
was other human 
beings, relationships and 
connections, and I think 
that’s at the heart of the 
synagogue I would like to be 
a part of,” Gilboa said.
Going forward, Gilboa 
believes successful 
synagogues are going to 
have a focus that puts 
greater attention on 
reaching people online and 
is excited for what that 
could look like. 
“I have congregants at 
B’nai Israel who live in other 
states, but they continue to 
come to services, which we 
couldn’t do 10 years ago, it’s 
really fantastic,” Gilboa said. 
“I hope that keeps going 
and we find ways to use 
this technology to continue 
connecting and sharing the 
beauty and wisdom that 
comes with being Jewish.” 

COURTESY OF RABBI GILBOA

Michael Gilboa assumes the pulpit 
at B’nai Israel Synagogue.
Welcome, Rabbi!

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Rabbi Michael 
Gilboa and 
family

NCJW|MI 
Installs
Of
 cers
and Board

National Council of 
Jewish Women, Michigan 
(NCJW|MI) held its 
annual installation event 
via Zoom, where officers 
and board members were 
installed, and three awards 
were presented. 
The new vice president 
is Lauren Koenigsberg. 
Continuing in their terms 
are president: Amy Cutler; 
vice presidents: Evva 
Hepner, Carrie Kushner, 
Sallyjo Levine AND Susan 
Rollinger; treasurer, Nancy 
Rothfeder; recording secre-
tary: Margo Stocker; assis-
tant recording secretary: 
Amy Zeskind; correspond-
ing secretary: Sandy Weitz. 
Newly elected board 
members are Janice 
Cherkasky, Dani Gillman, 
Deane Safir and Cindy 
Weintraub. Newly appoint-
ed board members are 
Cindy Babcock, and 
Shayna Silverman.
Susan Marwil was pre-
sented with Hannah G. 
Solomon Award. 
Paula Wolfe was present-
ed with the Marsha Zucker 
Exemplary Board Member 
Award. 
Evva Hepner was pre-
sented with the Emerging 
Leader Award. 
Four staff members 
received Staff Recognition 
Award: Lori Eisenberg and 
Liana Spiegel — 5 years, 
Lori Passerman — 10 
years, and Kathy Lamb 
— 30 years of service to 
NCJW|MI. 

