42 | JULY 14 • 2022 

various adult education classes and 
programs such as “Women in Judaism,” 
and a monthly Torah Study as part of its 
monthly Conservative Shabbat worship. 
CSZ’s Tzedakah Committee makes 
donations from the Rabbi Morton & 
Aviva Hoffman Tzedakah Fund to local 
food banks and children and family 
services charities, as well as sponsoring 
CSZ’s annual High Holy Days Food & 
Toiletries Drive and Winter Clothing 
Drive. 
CSZ’s Sisterhood helps raise funds and 
promote the education of congregational 
youth. CSZ also partners with the 
other congregation in the community, 
Reconstructionist synagogue Kehillat 
Israel, for programs and services. 
CSZ has about 220 member units of all 
ages and backgrounds: some members 
who were born and raised in the area, 
many Detroit-transplants and some from 
all over the state and country with many 
associated with Michigan State University 
and the state government.
“It’s a small community, but I think 
partially because we’re smaller, we’re 
each other’s family,” Bigman said. “My 
immediate family doesn’t live in Michigan 
anymore, so the people here are the 
people I have seder with when I’m not 
doing a seder at the temple. I think if 
people want to, people can become each 
other’s family. We try to become each 
other’s family.” 

To learn more about East Lansing’s CSZ, visit 

shaareyzedek.com or call (517) 351-3570.

LEFT: CSZ’s annual Adult Purim program: Rabbi Bigman, Director of Congregational Lifelong Learning Margot B. Valles and 
Administrator Patty Warshaw. RIGHT: Rabbi Bigman at an interfaith event. BELOW: The Ark at CSZ.

continued from page 40

OUR COMMUNITY

SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT

