W
ith the last Jewish
temple in Livonia
closed in 2011, the
Wayne County community went
more than 10 years without
a central gathering point for
Jewish residents.
When Beit Kodesh closed its
doors after more than 50 years
in operation, Livonia faced a
void. “There was no real com-
munity center in Livonia,
” says
Rabbi Tzemach Shemtov, 27.
Shemtov, who grew up in
Toledo and attended school in
Oak Park, began searching for
a home one year after marrying
his wife, Devora, 25. The couple
specifically looked for a location
where they could be of help to
the Jewish community. One city
they considered was Livonia.
“
A lot of people who live with-
in a few blocks of one another
don’t even know there are other
Jews around,
” he says of the city.
Therefore, the Shemtovs
decided to launch Chabad
Jewish Center of Livonia to help
Livonia and Wayne County Jews
connect and build a community.
Moving to Livonia six months
ago, the Shemtovs opened the
center at the same time and
currently run programming out
of their home. Over the past six
months, they’ve met more than
70 Jewish families in Livonia and
continue their outreach efforts to
identify more Jewish residents.
Prior to opening the center,
Shemtov said many Livonia
residents traveled to West
Bloomfield or Farmington Hills
for Jewish community needs or
programming. Now, interest in
Chabad Jewish Center of Livonia
is peaking, and Shemtov says
they may need to find a bigger
space.
“For each holiday, we’ve had
[programming],
” he explains.
Recent events have included a
Lag b’Omer barbecue, a wom-
en’s circle and a challah bake.
Depending on the program,
Shemtov says the center sees
anywhere from five to 15 or
more people attend.
“It’s getting a little squished,
”
he laughs. However, there
are more area Jews to reach.
Shemtov says he continues to
seek out Livonia residents with
Jewish-sounding last names or
to connect with people on social
media to generate awareness
about the new center and its
offerings.
Over the upcoming High
Holidays, Shemtov says the cen-
ter plans to hold Rosh Hashanah
programming. On the first day
of Rosh Hashanah, Sept. 26,
Chabad Jewish Center of Livonia
is hosting a shofar blowing at
4:30 p.m. followed by a commu-
nity dinner. On Tuesday morn-
ing, Sept. 27, they will also host
services at 10 a.m. with a kids’
program and traditional lunch.
As parents of two children,
Mussia, 2, and Chana, 5 months,
the Shemtovs understand
the need for parent- or fami-
ly-friendly programming. Plans
for the center’s future include
a Mommy and Me club, a
Jewish kids club, teen programs,
Hebrew school and more.
Chabad Jewish Center of
Livonia is also starting a weekly
parshah, or Torah portion, class.
Shemtov says lifecycle events,
like bar and bat mitzvahs or
weddings, are opportunities
that the center can help with as
well.
“Our goal is to create a warm
and welcoming environment
for the Jewish community of
Livonia and surrounding
cities throughout Wayne
County,
” Shemtov says, “where
every Jew, regardless of their
background or affiliation, can
feel welcome.
”
A New Jewish
Center in
Wayne County
OUR COMMUNITY
Chabad Jewish Center of Livonia fills
a gap in the Jewish community.
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
18 | SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022
Rabbi Tzemach Shemtov, Devora
Shemtov and children Mussia
and Chana
The Lag b’Omer
BBQ at the
Chabad Jewish
Center of Livonia
A recent
Women’s
Circle event