Looking Back
From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History
accessible at www.djnfoundation.org
78 | MAY 26 • 2022
S
o, you need a book in Hebrew,
a menorah for Chanukah or a
shofar? Perhaps you just need some
advice about building your sukkah? Then,
Borenstein’s Hebrew Books and Music Store
is the place for you.
Over my years of working
with the William Davidson
Digital Archive of Jewish
Detroit History, I have seen
hundreds of ads and references
to Borenstein’s. In the best
sense of the word, Borenstein’s
is a Detroit institution. In
business for more than 75
years, it is the “largest and oldest Hebrew
supply house in the Detroit Metro Area.”
Borenstein’s began nearly eight decades
of operation when Joseph Borenstein
purchased Chesluk’s bookstore in 1946.
Polish-born Talmudic scholar and
businessman Solomon Chesluk immigrated
to Detroit with his family in 1921. He saw
a need for a good bookstore and, in 1929,
opened Chesluk’s on 12th Street.
Chesluk modestly cited himself as an “old
Mocher Seforim (book dealer),” but he was a
bit more than just a seller of books (Aug. 19,
1941, Jewish Chronicle). Chesluk was also a
recognized authority on the Talmud, Jewish
literature and Judaica.
The first advertisement in the JN with the
store’s new name, Borenstein’s, appeared
in June 1947. An ad two months later
cited wares such as “presents, greeting
cards, winecups, a big selection of religious
articles,” and “electric shavers that can be
used in Palestine.” It also added that the
store was working “together with the well-
known Mr. Chesluk” (Aug. 19, 1947, JN).
Borenstein’s thrived and followed Detroit’s
Jewish community as it moved northwest. It
moved into a new store on Dexter Avenue
in 1953, and soon opened a second store on
Seven Mile Road. Joseph worked the new
Seven Mile branch and his wife, Rachel,
handled the Dexter Avenue store. The Seven
Mile store moved to a new location on the
same road near Schaefer in 1957.
By 1960, only the Borenstein’s on Seven
Mile remained … but not for long. In 1967,
the current Borenstein’s on Greenfield in
Oak Park opened. The Seven Mile store
closed in 1973.
Avrom, the eldest son of Joseph and
Rachel, began working at the main store in
1960. He managed the new location until
around 1998. Avrom’s brother, Cheskel
“Charles,” began working at the Oak Park
store in 1975 and is the Borenstein in charge
today.
As the store expanded, so did its list of
goods and services. One could buy tickets
for events at local theaters or the Music
Hall, your weekly Detroit Jewish News, or
in the March 11, 1949, JN, “unbreakable
children’s records for Purim” (Hmm —
“children” with “unbreakable?”). In the
1950s, Borenstein’s reminded readers “don’t
forget, we send scrip and certificates to
Israel.” The store’s latest hot seller is the
game of Monopoly featuring Jerusalem. Play
well and you’ll have a chance to buy the
Western Wall or the Mount of Olives with
Monopoly dollars!
Borenstein’s is still a place of Jewish
knowledge. In one JN article, for example,
Cheskel provided advice about shofars
(Sept. 6, 2009, JN). In another story, Avrom
gave insight into selecting the perfect etrog,
along with a good Jewish joke (Oct. 13,
2000).
Cheskel Borenstein now continues the
tradition of knowledge and service to
the community. He is a good guy, and I
appreciated his kindness as I wrote this
story.
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation
archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.
1950s, Borenstein’s reminded readers “don’t
game of Monopoly featuring Jerusalem. Play
archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.
Borenstein’s — A
Detroit Institution
Mike Smith
Alene and
Graham Landau
Archivist Chair
From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History