OUR COMMUNITY

I

n 1971, a group of friends formed a 
weekly minyan, taking turns meeting 
at each other’s houses. Eventually, that 
minyan took up residence at Leonard 
Elementary School and then at Stevenson 
Elementary School and became Young 
Israel of Southfield. 
After six years, a house standing on the 
current shul property became the next 
davening site. Rabbi Samuel Prero and 
President Abe Selesny were the congrega-
tion’s first leaders.

The shul received its official Young 
Israel charter in June 1973. When it 
became apparent that the house would 
not suffice, the 17 member 
families raised money to 
begin design and construc-
tion of a new building, which 
was dedicated in 1977.
In 1983, the shul hired its 
first permanent, full-time 
rabbi, Elimelech Goldberg, 
who founded and now leads 

the nonprofit Kids Kicking Cancer. He is 
now Rabbi Emeritus.
The synagogue, at 27705 Lahser Road, 
is about a mile from Congregation 
Shaarey Zedek. Rabbi Yechiel Morris 
became head rabbi of YIS in 2002. 
By the end of the 1980s, frequent dis-
cussions of enlarging the shul reached the 
action stage. The congregation added a 
multipurpose room to the north end of 
the building, which would be dedicated to 
the memory of Stephen Levitz.

Rabbi 
Yechiel 
Morris

SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT

Over the past 10 years, Young Israel of Southfi
 eld has attracted
50 young families to move into its congregational neighborhood. 

A Close-Knit Neighborhood 
Orthodox Institution 

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Watch “Ask 
the Rabbi” 
with 
Rabbi Morris

COURTESY OF YIOS

The newly remodeled Gonik Family Sanctuary,
A partial view of the 
filled room in the 
Beit Midrash during 
Veshinantam Levanecha. 

22 | AUGUST 18 • 2022