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