14 | JULY 28 • 2022 

ON THE COVER

counterparts. Rabbi 
Yisrael Pinson, executive 
director of Chabad of 
Greater Downtown Detroit, 
recently brought a group 
across to Windsor for an 
event focused on food and 
wine from France. Pinson 
came with members of his 
Wednesday night Detroit book club.
“We’re literally across the street 
from Windsor, so there’s a lot of back 
and forth between the young Jewish 
community of Windsor and the young 
Jewish community of Detroit,” he says, 
adding that from the time he and his 
wife, Devorah, started the Chabad in 
Detroit nine years ago, there have been 
many people crossing the border from 
Canada to attend their events. 
In the early ’80s, there was a major 
grant given to Chabad of Michigan, 
and Chabad decided to open five new 
centers, including one in Windsor, 

says Pinson, adding that the volume of 
events connecting the cities has been 
growing, including this past summer, 
when a large event was held in Metro 
Detroit for young Jewish professionals 
from both regions. During the 
pandemic, when border crossing was 
tougher, the Chabad held Zoom events, 
and they sent each person a package in 
advance so they could participate. 
“It’s a natural way for young 
Canadian Jews to broaden their events 
and activities by taking part in events in 
the city,” Pinson explains. 

Michael Breshgold has long known 
about the deep connections between 
Michigan and Windsor’s Jewish 
communities. Having moved from 
Michigan to Windsor some 25 years 
ago, he commuted daily for work and 
to see family. He also knew families 
who drove their children in to attend 

Hillel Day School. Today, he’s a member 
of Adat Shalom in Farmington Hills 
and has five grandchildren who live in 
Metro Detroit.

His wife, Roz, is from Windsor. They 
met at a Rosh Hashanah singles event 
they both attended at Temple Beth El. 
There’s a lot of Jewish programming 
in Windsor, he says, with more on the 
way. “It’s a very active community — a 
lot of the young people are starting to 
move back,” he says. “Windsor is a nice 
community to live in.”
Breshgold adds he’s excited to see 
a recent uptick in events set to bring 
the Jewish communities together. He’s 
looking forward to seeing new faces 
at the Windsor Jewish Community 
Centre’s monthly gatherings, the 
community’s Jewish film festival, Israel 
events and more. “We’ve got a lot of 
activities — you can pick and choose 

Rabbi 
Yisrael 
Pinson

Michael and 
Rosalyn 
Breshgold

Jewish Windsorites enjoy 
fellowship at this senior 
barbecue event.

This outdoor Shabbat service 
at the Windsor Jewish 
Community Centre was led 
by Rabbi Mike Nasielski.

continued from page 13

