JULY 7 • 2022 | 21

PHOTOS COURTESY JAMES FELDMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

provides soup that is distrib-
uted weekly to area homeless 
shelters. The congregation is 
involved with Empty Bowls, 
providing adults and children 
the opportunity to help those 
who are less fortunate. The 
congregation also partners 
with South Oakland Shelter 
on a biannual basis, opening 
their doors and transforming 
their shul into a home for 
homeless adults and children. 
Shir Tikvah’s grief support 
group invites congregants 
who have suffered a loss the 
opportunity to share their 
grief with others while on 
their journey toward healing. 
 The congregation’s Social 
Justice Community works 
diligently to support local, 
national and global efforts 
where there’s a need. Shir 
Tikvah also has a partnership 
with Detroit Jews for Justice. 
The Adult Education 
Committee provides opportu-
nities for learning in various 
subjects of interest. Weekly 
Torah study and monthly 
Lunch and Learn groups are 
available to members who 
wish to further their study 
of Torah and Judaism. The 
Family Education program, 

in addition to educating its 
youth, provides educational 
programs for adults through-
out the year.
The congregation has 
a program coming up in 
August, Camp Tikvah, where 
a group trip is taken to Lake 
Huron at Camp Cavell and a 
weekend is spent there par-
taking in camping activities. 
Harris says 260 families 
belong to the congregation, 
including a considerable 
number of young families 
who joined in the past few 
years. 
Harris said what drew her 
to Shir Tikvah, and what she 
thinks makes it special, is the 
warmth and kindness of the 
community. 
“They’re down to earth. 
They’re committed to their 
Judaism and to being in an 
inclusive and open synagogue. 
We have a ton of interfaith 
families, LGBTQ+ families, 
and that’s part of our legacy, 
to be a place where everybody 
gets to be exactly who they 
are and show up in the most 
authentic way they can.
” 

To learn more about Congregation 

Shir Tikvah, email info@shirtikvah.org 

or visit ShirTikvah.org.

I

n time for the upcoming 
school year, Chabad Jewish 
Center of Troy is launching 
a brand-new Hebrew School of 
the Arts. The school will ser-
vice preschool and elementary 
level children to provide them 
Jewish education in a fun and 
meaningful way.
“
At the Hebrew School of the 
Arts we have developed exactly 
this,
” said Rabbi Menachem 
Caytak of Chabad Jewish 
Center of Troy. “The curric-
ulum, called ‘Super Jew,
’ is an 
immersive and transformative 
curriculum that will enable our 
children to form deep attach-
ments to Judaism on practical, 
emotional and spiritual levels.
”
Classes will run from 10 
a.m.-noon Sundays starting Fall 
of 2022-2023.
Each week, the teacher will 
broach an exciting “Super 
Powers” framework to intro-
duce a new dilemma, scenario 
or challenge to the students. 
These scenarios will be relat-
able to their day-to-day lives. 
Using clues, the students will 
be taken on an exploratory 
journey with facts, and how-to 
information from the Torah 
that will lead them to gain a full 
understanding of the subject 
matter. 

In addition, at the Hebrew 
School of the Arts, the students 
will learn how to read Hebrew 
with an award-winning pro-
gram called Aleph Champ.
“
At Hebrew School of the 
Arts we strive to stress the 
beauty and warmth of Judaism 
and its mitzvot, providing 
a learning experience in an 
atmosphere of joy and liveli-
ness,
” Caytak said. 
Chana Caytak, the school’s 
director. said, “Education is at 
the core of everything. What 
we teach children in their for-
mative years creates an indeli-
ble impact and foundation for 
their entire adult lives. And not 
only are the students them-
selves transformed, but the pos-
itive impact of their learning 
extends to their families and 
friends.
” 
The Hebrew School of the 
Arts is also proud to offer 
scholarships to families in need. 
Through the generosity of 
Jamie Blumenthal and the team 
at Long Lake Plaza in Troy, its 
policy is that no child is turned 
away due to lack of funds.
For more information and to 
register, visit jewishtroy.com/
HSA or contact Chana Caytak 
at chana@jewishtroy.com or 
(248) 877-5781. 

Nathan and Elina Kandinoc enjoy making Hamantashen at a Chabad 
Jewish Center of Troy event.

Hebrew School of the Arts launches 
east of Woodward.

Chabad Jewish 
Center of Troy to 
Open School this Fall

JN STAFF

