40 | JULY 14 • 2022 

E

ast Lansing’s Congregation Shaarey 
Zedek (CSZ) strives to provide a 
center in the Greater Lansing area 
where people can learn, pray, celebrate 
simchahs and comfort each other in times 
of need while offering a varied program 
of education, cultural and social events.
CSZ was formed in 1918. In the 
1930s, a merger between the Reform 
Shaarey Zedek and a fledgling Reform 
congregation called Temple Beth El took 
place. CSZ’s present building, completed 
in 1969, sits on a 10-acre parcel of land in 
East Lansing.
At one point in CSZ’s history, they 
belonged to both the Reform and 
Conservative movements. For many years 
now, they’ve singularly belonged to the 
Reform movement. CSZ, though, still 
offers both a monthly Saturday morning 
Shabbat service and a second-day Rosh 
Hashanah service in the Conservative 
style. 
Rabbi Amy Bigman became the rabbi of 

Congregation Shaarey Zedek in July 2007.
Bigman, who founded the Interfaith 
Clergy Association of Greater Lansing, 
takes pride in doing a lot of interfaith 
work in the Greater Lansing community.
“I do a lot of that work and try to get 
my congregation to go out 
into the community and do 
programs as well,” Bigman 
said. 
Bigman speaks at many 
houses of worship in the 
community and welcomes 
visitors from houses of 
worship, colleges and schools 
to the temple. Bigman enjoys 
meeting and partnering with 
these various groups as they 
learn about Judaism and CSZ.
Cantor Pamela Schiffer served 
as cantor of CSZ for 18 years, retiring in 
June 2017. She happily remains part of 
the congregation as Cantor Emerita.
Rabbi Bigman and the congregation’s 

administrator, Patty Warshaw, are the two 
full-time staff members. CSZ’s Director of 
Congregational Lifelong Learning Margot 
B. Valles is on staff on a part-time basis.
CSZ’s Religious School serves about 
75 or so students from pre-kindergarten 
through 12th grade from the 
Greater Lansing area and 
beyond.
The congregation offers 
a wide array of programs 
and services to its diverse 
congregant base. 
During the pandemic, CSZ 
started a Racial Justice Task 
Force, which Bigman says has 
been bringing in interesting 
speakers and panels educating 
the congregation about issues 
in the community and country.
CSZ’s Adult Education offers a yearly 
Introduction to Judaism course, a 
periodic Adult Beginning Hebrew course, 
a Lunch ’n Learn Adult Education series, 

East Lansing’s Congregation Shaarey Zedek serves multiple denominations.

 ‘Capital’ 
 Congregation

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

A

A STITCH IN TIME PHOTOGRAPHY

OUR COMMUNITY

SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT

continued on page 42

Rabbi Amy Bigman

