MARCH 17 • 2022 | 29

place that can unite them, and 
everyone can grow in their spirit 
and connection with community 
and God,” Shemtov said. “Every 
Jew has it within them, and all 
you need is to create a space and 
shine a light and everyone comes 
together. In a time like this when 
so much is happening around 
the world and everyone is con-
cerned, this is what we need. We 
need unity of mind and unity of 
spirit. When we can care and be 
there for each other, we can also 
be there for people around the 
world, too.” 
Also in attendance were Padma 
Kuppa, state representative for 
Michigan’s 41st House District, 
and Maqbool Tahir, president 
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim 
Community Michigan Chapter, 
representing the new JCC’s con-
nection to the general community. 
“We are just a couple miles 
from here, so this is our neighbor,” 
Tahir said. “We have been very 
good friends with the Jewish com-
munity, and we welcome them 
here and also want to invite them 
as well. They can visit our com-
munity center any time they like.”
Even while being pulled 
in many different directions, 
Caytak knows the significance 
the night held.
“I think this is the beginning 
of a major step for the Jewish 

community,” he said. “This is 
going to be the one-stop base 
for everything Jewish. The fact 
probably 130-140 Jews packed in 
here to celebrate a Jewish begin-
ning means it’s a vibrant and 
growing community. It’s literally 
one person at a time, looking 
at every person — not for what 
they do, not where they come 
from — but who they are. If 
they’re Jewish and have a Jewish 
soul, that’s enough.”
Caytak also announced they’re 
going to be holding services 
at the center and are starting a 
Sunday school this fall. 
“This is the beginning of 
something big,” Caytak said. 
“Stay tuned.” 

TOP: Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov and 
Rabbi Menachem Caytak. 
ABOVE: Michigan Supreme Court 
Richard Bernstein was the guest 
speaker at the grand opening.

A view from the street

