SEPTEMBER 16 • 2021 | 23

B

’nai Moshe is thrilled to 
have one of, if not the 
only, “living” genizah 
on the grounds of a synagogue 
in Metro Detroit — perhaps 
the country even. 

A genizah is a place to bury 
ritual items such as damaged 
prayer books, tallitot and other 
ritual objects that should not 
be thrown away. Over time, 
the contents of the genizah will 

become one with the Earth.
This summer, Zachary 
Friedman led a group in 
designing, building and install-
ing a genizah on the syna-
gogue property as his require-
ment to become an Eagle 
Scout. Only 4% of scouts have 
earned this designation in the 
last 100 years. This is the first 
Eagle Scout project of its kind 
in the state.
What is a living genizah? 
It’s a phrase coined by B’nai 
Moshe Executive Director 
Steven Fine to depict that the 
genizah, while covered, is not 
full; and religious books and 
ritual articles can be added to 
the genizah at any time. The 
West Bloomfield synagogue 
doesn’t anticipate the genizah 
to be completely filled for 
years.
“Zachary came to me asking 
if there was a project at B’nai 
Moshe that we needed done. 
Rabbi Shalom Kantor and I 
had just recently discussed the 

idea of a living genizah, so the 
timing was perfect,” Fine said.
Zachary worked with an 
architect to design the genizah 
and raised all the money to 
cover the materials needed to 
build and install it. 
Rabbi Kantor dedicated 
the genizah and indicated the 
importance of books, past and 
present, particularly to the 
Jewish people. Even though 
the life or usefulness of a book 
is limited, the knowledge con-
tained therein continues in the 
minds of those who have read 
or studied that book. 
The first book that was care-
fully placed in the genizah by 
Zachary was a bible from the 
1800s.
Many of Zachary’s fellow 
scouts and their parents 
helped in installing the geni-
zah along with B’nai Moshe 
members. B’nai Moshe is 
extremely proud and grateful 
for Zachary’s wonderful Eagle 
Scout project. 

OUR COMMUNITY

COURTESY OF B’NAI MOSHE

Eagle Scout project creates a fi
 rst on
the grounds of B’nai Moshe.
A Living Genizah

JN STAFF

The installation of 
the genizah took 
place this summer.

Zachary Friedman 
lowers books into 
the genizah.

SERVING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS!

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