14 | AUGUST 3 • 2023
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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