18 | AUGUST 3 • 2023
W
est Bloomfield’s
Temple Shir
Shalom was
founded by Rabbi Dannel I.
Schwartz in 1988 with just 30
families in a converted office
building on Maple Road.
The synagogue, now with
more than 900 families, is
expanding its facilities with an
eye to the future.
Schwartz founded the
Reform congregation
after leaving a position at
Bloomfield Township’s Temple
Beth El at the end of 1987.
Shir Shalom’s 30 founding
families, who had been
Temple Beth El members,
followed Schwartz after his
departure in hopes he would
start a new synagogue.
Within three months of its
founding, Shir Shalom had
grown to almost 500 families.
They had already outgrown
the converted office building
they were renovating and
had to rent space in West
Bloomfield High School for
High Holiday services.
Architects Ken Neumann
and Joel Smith translated the
congregation’s mission and
the vision of Schwartz into
brick and mortar, beginning
construction of Shir Shalom’s
current home on Walnut Lake
Road in August 1994, moving
into the facility in August
1995, where they’ve been able
to accomplish the traditional
three-fold purpose of the
synagogue ever since: a house
of study, a house of prayer and
a house of meeting designed
to share Shir Shalom’s warmth
of heart and spirit. Every
architectural detail within the
public spaces of Shir Shalom
was inspired by the meaning
and design of the Torah.
Thirty-five years after its
founding, Shir Shalom, which
means “Song of Peace,” strives
to create a welcoming, warm
and inclusive community
that honors the traditions of
Judaism. Shir Shalom also
embraces the innovative
principles of the Reform
movement so that every
member can engage in Jewish
life in an environment that
prioritizes learning, spiritual
growth, acts of loving
kindness, social action and
meaningful opportunities for
personal connection to the
Jewish community and the
State of Israel.
Rabbi Michael Moskowitz
arrived at Shir Shalom in
1995 as the current building
New Energy
at Temple
Shir Shalom
From humble beginnings to exciting
expansion, Temple Shir Shalom
looks to the future.
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
OUR COMMUNITY
SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHIR SHALOM
Construction
workers get ready
to place a beam
signed by temple
members.