14 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 

NEW RESOURCES 
AVAILABLE
Five years ago, Sander 
says, the couple began 
transitioning to a more 
religious lifestyle, keeping 
kosher and observing 
Shabbat. They even thought 
of moving to a place with 
a more observant Jewish 
community. But then he saw 
a Facebook post announcing 
the Traverse City Chabad 
Center. 
“I was 
brought to tears, 
honestly. There 
is a significant 
Jewish 
population 
in Northern 
Michigan in 
Traverse City, 
but there’s not a 
lot of observant 
infrastructure. 
We don’t have 
a mikvah, 
for example. 
Kosher meat is 
not present. To 
have someone 
to learn with, to 
have someone involved with 
helping us acquire kosher 
foods, it’s life-changing,” 
Sander says.
Southfield native Stacey 
Beyer, who lived in Grand 
Rapids for 20 years before 
relocating to Traverse City 
in 2017, was equally excited. 
The Beyers were involved 
with Chabad in Grand 
Rapids, including sending 
their now 20-year-old twins 
to its preschool and religious 
school. 
In the short time there’s 
been a Traverse City Chabad 
presence, Beyer says she and 
her family have participated 
in a Lag b’Omer BBQ, a 

women’s event and Shabbat 
dinner. 
“It makes being up here 
even better,” Beyer says.

HOME IN MICHIGAN
Inspired by the Lubavitch 
Rebbe Menachem Mendel 
Schneerson, the Shemtovs 
always dreamed of 
establishing a Chabad center. 
They started thinking about 
different locations, and 
Rabbi Shemtov, 24, liked the 
idea of being in Michigan, 
close to family, including 
his parents, Rabbi Levi and 
Bassie Shemtov, founders of 
Friendship Circle. 
The couple, who welcomed 
their first child in April, 
took notice of the growing 
population in the Traverse 
City area and inferred a 
growing Jewish community as 
well. They moved to the area 
not knowing anyone. 
“When we decided to come 
up here, we obviously knew 
there were Jews but did not 
have any names. So coming 
up here with no names and 
having a barbecue with over 
30 people and a seder with 20 
just a month after we moved 
was very rewarding,” Shemtov 
says. 
Participants drive as far as 
90 minutes to attend events, 
including a seder, Purim 
celebration, Lag b’Omer BBQ, 
women’s events, Shabbat 
dinners and weekly learning 
sessions. 

CONGREGATION 
BETH SHALOM
Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg 
drives Up North at least 
once a month from his 
home in Lake Orion to lead 
services and celebrate the 
holidays with the members of 

OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

continued from page 13

ABOVE: Congregation Beth Shalom in 
Traverse City, the oldest building in Michigan 
to be continuously used as a synagogue. 
BELOW: A Purim party at Congregation Beth 
Shalom. RIGHT: Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg.

COURTESY OF CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM

