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.