22 | SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022 

having affiliation or labels is that’s where 
the trend is going. If you look at the coasts, 
L.A. and New York, nobody cares. It’s the 
middle of America still hanging on to these 
boxes. So, there’s a strength in being ‘what’s 
coming.
’”
Tolwin says another strength in not being 
a synagogue is the difference between the 
current generation and prior generations of 
Jews. 
“For our parents’ generation, to be a 
good Jew meant you belonged to a syn-
agogue, paid membership and went. But 
today, young Jewish people are looking 
for meaning; they’re not looking to belong 
to someplace just because it’s the thing 
to do,
” Tolwin said. “They want to know 
what being Jewish means. What does being 
Jewish say about abortion? About same-sex 
marriage? They want it to matter. When 
you have an organization dedicated to 
Jewish learning, you’re tapping into what 
the young Jewish person wants today, 
which is meaning versus belonging.
”
Some of Aish HaTorah’s core programs 
have been Israel missions, including intro-
ducing the concept of Mission4Moms in 
Detroit.
Other programs Aish HaTorah run 
include Pop-Up Shul, giving individuals 
and families the ability to make their own 

High Holiday services in their backyards.
Aish also has a Sunday school, which 
Tolwin says is similarly priced as other 
synagogues, but no membership means it 
becomes about half the price.
Also offered is Aish Camp, a program 
supporting young families during any time 
of school break, and their challah bakes, 
including one coming up for the High 
Holidays.
“Other than that, we have a lot of weekly 
programs and classes,
” Tolwin said. “There’s 
about 50-100 people who learn weekly with 

us, depending on what’s going on. And 
about 700 families are involved with us on 
an annual basis.
”
Tolwin says anytime you walk into Aish, 
you will see as many completely secu-
lar-looking Jews as Orthodox Jews. 
“I don’t think there’s another building or 
synagogue you can walk into [like that],
” 
he said. “The way to get involved with Aish 
HaTorah Detroit is to walk through the 
doors. You’ll be greeted with a smile, a cup 
of coffee and you’ll find a program that’s 
relevant to your Jewish life.
” 

Estie and 
Rabbi 
Simcha 
Tolwin

Attendees 
of the AISH 
Gala enjoy 
each other’s 
company.

Rabbi Simcha 
Tolwin talks to 
campers from 
AISH Summer 
Camp last year.

OUR COMMUNITY
SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT

continued from page 20

