OUR COMMUNITY

W

est Bloomfield’s Keter Torah
Synagogue is Michigan’s only
Sephardic synagogue. “That,
in and of itself, lends itself to the unique-
ness of what we are,” said third-generation
president Rick Behar, whose grandparents
Jacob and Judith Chicorel founded Keter
Torah in 1917 after arriving in
Detroit from Turkey.
Behar’s grandfather, Jacob
Chicorel, was a president, the
chazzan and spiritual leader
for 46 years. Behar’s moth-
er, Shirley Chicorel Behar,
was an influential president
who developed an affiliation with Rabbi
Solomon Maimon (direct descendent of
Maimonides) from Seattle.
“Together, they inspired us to finally get
the land and prepare the thoughts of a syn-
agogue in the future,” Behar said.
In one fundraising evening at Behar’s
cousin Joel and Shelley Tauber’s home,
they raised enough money to build after
renting small sanctuaries, schools and
social halls for 85 years.
“With great energy and coordination by
the Ben Ezra brothers, Albert, David and
Isaac, along with many others, our syna-
gogue was built,” Behar said. “We finally
opened our first kehila as The Jacob and

Judith Chicorel Building in 2002.” Behar
has been president since 2009.
Behar says Keter Torah’s diversity goes
hand-in-hand with its uniqueness as well,
currently having members from about 20
countries among their 100 or so families.
“We are as ethnically and culturally diverse
as possible yet unified in our beliefs and
halachah,” Behar said.
Keter Torah has seen a recent influx of
Azerbaijani families, which Behar says has
been a great benefit and addition to the
community and congregation.
Keter Torah has programming later this
year in association with the government of
Azerbaijan with the ambassador and con-
sul general coming to Detroit for a cultural
event after the High Holidays.
Keter Torah’s Rabbi Sasson
Natan, along with Barbara
Moretsky from “Stand With
Us,” envisioned the “Different
Cultures Different Foods”
series of events, allowing the
synagogue to showcase the
diversity of their community.
Rabbi Sasson expanded it to
include Keter Torah members displaced
from various countries throughout the
Middle East and Europe.
“They were able to share their stories

from their countries of origin while a meal
indigenous to that country was served
and live music from that country was also
performed,” Behar said. “To date, we have
covered about 12-15 countries.”
The last event before the pandemic was
held at Congregation Beth Shalom and
around 400–500 people attended.
Keter Torah’s services are in Hebrew and
their prayer books are in Hebrew, English,
Russian and Azerbaijani with translit-
erations. Services are held every day.
Members speak many languages including
French, Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, Greek,
Russian and Azerbaijani.
“We’re known for the tremendous eth-
nic flavor and uniqueness of our daily
minyan and Shabbat services,” Behar said.
“If people are interested in the Sephardic
melodies and a different sound, if they’re
Sephardic and looking for a synagogue
that’s going to give them the feeling of
what their childhood services were like or
what it was like when they were in Israel,
they should come and check us out.”

Keter Torah currently has members from about 20
countries among their 100 or so families.
Diversity is Strength

Rick Behar

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

26 | APRIL 28 • 2022

SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT

Rabbi
Sasson
Natan

The sanctuary
The exterior

Andree Nordan
prepares a
sweet carrot,
prune and
almond dessert
from Morocco.