OUR COMMUNITY

O

ver 100 Jews came together 
March 7 for the grand open-
ing of the Chabad Jewish 
Community Center located in Auburn 
Hills. The event featured a ribbon cut-
ting, building dedication, live music 
and a talk by Michigan Supreme Court 
Justice Richard Bernstein. 
More than two years after opening the 
Chabad Jewish Center of Troy, Rabbi 
Menachem and Chana Caytak took the 
next step in Fall 2021: signing a lease for 
the JCC after operating out of multiple 
locations for the two years prior.
The center is focusing on reaching 
out to Jews who live throughout north-
ern Oakland County, including Troy, 
Rochester, Rochester Hills and even out 
to Lake Orion, as well as east, going into 
Macomb County. 
Located in the heart of downtown 
Auburn Hills, the Chabad JCC will be a 
base for everything Jewish and for every 
type of Jew, regardless of affiliation or 
observance, with children, teen, Oakland 
University and community program-
ming. 

“The goal of the center is to provide 
a home for every Jew in the area”
, said 
Rabbi Menachem Caytak. “The Jewish 
Community Center is following the 
vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi 
Menachem Schneersohn, accepting 
every Jew, regardless of their background 
or upbringing.”
Many members of the community, 
who had never engaged in Jewish com-

munal events before Caytak knocked on 
their doors, spoke at the event.
Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, vice president of 
Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan, says it’s an 
exciting opportunity to start a JCC in this 
location with the warmth and spirit of cre-
ating and being there for the community. 
“Many people walking in here were not 
involved in any formal Jewish organiza-
tion, but now they’re here, and this is a 

More than 100 people 
attend program with 
Supreme Court Justice 
Richard Bernstein.
Chabad JCC 
Grand Opening
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

JAMIE FELDMAN

Rabbi Menachem and Chana Caytak cut the ribbon.

The new Chabad JCC 
was packed for the 
grand opening. 

28 | MARCH 17 • 2022 

