JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 11

up, disassembled, repainted and rebuilt in the 
shul’s backyard.
” 
Until that point, Bais Chabad of Farmington 
Hills didn’t have a very exciting playground 
although there was a little woodsy area to explore. 
Bergstein hired Tim Render of Playground 
Professionals, who delivers and installs custom-
ized playgrounds, to help oversee the vision he 
had. 
“Tim’s an artist; he sees things that maybe the 
rest of us don’t necessarily see, opportunities and 
meaning where maybe we don’t see anything at 
all,
” Bergstein said. For example, there was an 
old tire Tim repurposed to look like an ador-
able caterpillar kids can climb through. An old 
climbing structure was re-created into a lookout 
post complete with binoculars.
“Best of all, Tim saw the possibility of using 
the woods,
” the rabbi said. He created a path, 
made a fire pit out of the natural rocks in the 
yard and put a little bridge over a stream so 
small that people had barely noticed it before. 
He put in bird feeders to encourage visits from 
birds and natural wildlife. 
“Now it’s this incredible site, possibly the most 
unique playground area in the country, with a 
functional and appealing playground that’s as 
beautiful as it was the day it was installed … and 

a whole whimsical trail in the woods! It’s 
like a different world,
” Bergstein said. 
Render has been in the playground 
business for 39 years and said most equip-
ment doesn’t fit as beautifully into its loca-
tion as this one. 
“There was this natural flow right off 
the bat … It’s this comfortable niche in 
the middle of suburbia, with this amazing 
cozy cocoon-like feeling, so many places 
to explore and dappled shade poking 
through the trees. These things mean a 
lot to kids,
” Render said. “
And the rabbi 
himself is a pleasure to work with. He’s 
not young, but he’s sharp as a tack! He had 
such a clear vision of what he wanted to 
do, which I appreciated. 
“The rabbi’s really personable, he’s got 
such a spark, and is so interesting to listen 
to,
” he continued. “We come from com-
pletely different backgrounds — I’m not Jewish! 
— but I could listen to him all day. This project 
has been so much fun.
”
Bergstein is also working together with 
Render to put in a solar-paneled chicken coop. 
“Watching hens lay eggs can help us all 
appreciate HaShem’s world up close,
” the rabbi 
said. “Every facet of a school or shul should be 
contributing to the student’s education … Even 
a playground shouldn’t just be a playground. It’s 
an opportunity to fascinate kids, excite them 
about the world and ignite their imagination 
and creativity.
”
The Bergsteins are thrilled to share their slice 
of imaginative paradise, and visitors have been 
popping by to enjoy the beautiful playground 
and nature trail. Former Ganeinu students, 
now adults, especially adore the nostalgia this 
beloved playground evokes. 
“We originally did it because we didn’t want 
the donor’s contribution to be destroyed, but 
who could have imagined how their gift would 
expand to the delightful experience it is now?” 
the rabbi said. 

If you’d like to explore the playground and woods, 

please contact Rabbi Bergstein at (248) 613-1809.

LEFT: An old tire has been turned into 
a fun caterpillar to climb through.

RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM: 
 

A whimsical path through the woods. Rabbi 
Bergstein and Tim Render outside the chicken 
coop. A bridge leads into the woods.