30 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 

K

ehillat Etz Chayim 
was formed in 
2018 as a Modern 
Orthodox congregation serv-
ing Huntington Woods, Oak 
Park and surrounding areas, 
guided by the rabbinic leader-
ship of Rabbi Asher Lopatin. 
Lopatin was transitioning 
from a job in New York run-
ning a Modern Orthodox rab-
binical seminary and looking 
at different possibilities when 
a group from Detroit were in 
search of a rabbi. 
“For whatever reason, 
they didn’t fit into any of 
the wonderful synagogues 
in Detroit. We have great 
synagogues, Orthodox, 
Modern Orthodox, centrist 
Orthodox, but this group 
just did not feel they fit in,” 
Lopatin said. “I met with 
them, and they said they 
wanted to start a new shul 
and they wanted me to be 

the rabbi. So I was excited to 
come to Detroit to start this 
new shul. 
“It was a group of people 
who wanted their kids to love 
synagogue, to love Judaism 
and to have a great connec-
tion with the rabbi. It was 
a group that wanted to find 
Judaism, Shabbat davening 
and synagogue life joyous and 
happy and fulfilling, and that’s 
what we work on at Kehillat 
Etz Chayim.”
Kehillat Etz Chayim is 
a full-service community, 
but as far as the synagogue 

itself, where the prayers are, 
it’s mainly on Shabbat and 
holidays with the occasional 
Sunday morning or Monday 
morning service. The ser-
vices are focused on Shabbat, 
but classes are scheduled 
throughout the week. 
Kehillat Etz Chayim recent-
ly had a Rosh Chodesh series 
for women and is now start-
ing another series surround-
ing great figures and rabbis 
in Jewish history. They also 
bring in scholars-in-residence 
and visiting scholars on a reg-
ular basis.

Lopatin, who also works 
as executive director of the 
Jewish Community Relations 
Council/AJC, says Kehillat 
Etz Chayim provides a joyous 
atmosphere more than any-
thing. 
“We offer a close commu-
nity of people who invite each 
other over for Shabbat. When 
new people come, they’re 
invited for Shabbat. When 
there’s a single, and when 
they’re at Kiddush, they get 
invited over for a Shabbat 
meal with a family. When 
there are new families, we 
bring them a gift and wel-
come them. It’s a welcoming 
synagogue. We’re nonjudg-
mental, and we certainly 
emphasize that and to come 
as you are.”
Kehillat Etz Chayim has 
met in members’ homes and 
used Congregation Beth 
Shalom’s small chapel for 

BARBARA LEWIS

OUR COMMUNITY
SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT

Kehillat 
 Etz Chayim: 
‘Come as 
 You Are’

The congregation 
recently held its first 
Shabbat service in its 
new home.

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Watch “Ask 
the Rabbi” 
with 
Rabbi Asher 
Lopatin

Front views of the building 
that is the new home to 
Kehillat Etz Chayim. 

