FEBRUARY 23 • 2023 | 51

The principle aligns with the Rebbe’s 
focus on engaging Jews in mitzvot 
and empowering them to act on them 
immediately and incorporate the mitzvot 
into daily life. A common practice to 
this day is encouraging Jewish men to 
put on tefillin and Jewish women to 
light Shabbat candles. This focus on 
immediate action ties in with the Jewish 
teaching, “If a mitzvah falls into your 
hand, seize upon it.”

A highlight of the event was also the 
opportunity to learn about the success 
and growth of Chabad Jewish Center of 
Troy in connecting and strengthening 
the Michigan Jewish community east of 
Woodward. 
Rabbi Menachem Caytak shared the 

start of his journey with Chabad Jewish 
Center of Troy and the current large and 
growing community. 
Caytak said he started just as other 
shlichus do when establishing a new 
Chabad house, he looked for Jews, 
knocking on one door at a time.
Caytak shared, “I knocked on a door, 
the door opened, and I asked, ‘Are you 
Jewish?’ To which the person answered, 
‘Are you lost?’”
Today Chabad Jewish Center of Troy 
is a one-stop shop for everything Jewish 
serving more than 800 families. Caytak 
shares, “Our main target area is the 
Jewish families living East of Woodward. 
We are in touch with families in Troy 
and east all the way until Grosse Point as 

well as north until Romeo.” 
Oakland University was the perfect 
setting for the event. Oakland University 
President Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz 
spoke with pride about partnering 
with her longtime friend Cis Maisel to 
establish the Cis Maisel Center for Judaic 
Studies and Community Engagement. 
Maisel was also in attendance and 
present to feel the joy of the community 
she built through her vision and 
generosity.
Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov of Chabad 
Lubavitch Center of Michigan, 
summarized a key life lesson that he 
learned from the Rebbe, “Be there for 
each other — and bring goodness and 
kindness to the world.” 

 JAMIE FELDMAN

Dr. Ora 
Hirsch 
Pescovitz

Rabbi 
Menachem 
Caytak

PHOTOS BY YEVGENIYA GAZMAN

Rabbi 
Kasriel 
Shemtov

Hundreds turned 
out to hear the 
lecture.

