28 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 
J
N

G

orman’s Home 
Furnishings & 
Interior Design 
contributed furniture to 
Michigan State University’s 
Chabad Jewish Center 
Lounge, giving a much-
needed lift to the look and 
feel of the space. 
 Additionally, thanks to 
a monetary contribution 
totaling $6,750 made by 
Gorman’s to support the 
Center, a portion of the 
funds allowed more than 
150 students to enjoy a 
special Shabbat dinner on 
Sept. 15 this past Rosh 
Hashanah.
“Students communicated 
to MSU Chabad alum 
that they craved a place of 
comfort and relaxation on 
campus, a safe place away 
from everyday stressors, a 
place to come together in 
support of each other,” said 
John Moray, CEO, Gorman’s. 
“We were up for the task 
and decided to provide them 

with comfort the best way 
we know how — by making 
the space a reality and 
elevating the student lounge 
with quality furniture to 
make it the place to be. It’s 
our hope that the Chabad 
Jewish Center Lounge will 
not only be a space for 
students to study, come 
together and talk, but also a 
place they can feel safe and, 
hopefully, as relaxed as they 
are at home.” 
In addition to Gorman’s, 
MSU Chabad alum 
donations also contributed 
to the completion of the 
lounge.
Gorman’s gave the space 
a contemporary look 
designed in colors of warm 
mulberry and “MSU green” 
with walnut wood tones. 
Furniture for the lounge 
included a sofa, 12 bar 
stools, four occasional chairs 
and four tables, as well as 
a plush area rug by leading 
furniture manufacturers, 

including Precedent, Nuevo, 
Amisco, W. Schillig and 
Surya.
“MSU Chabad is 
dedicated to providing a 
‘home away from home’ for 
every Jewish Spartan and, 
with the new furniture, 
the student lounge will do 
just that. We are thankful 
for Gorman’s support of 
our Jewish community of 
students and its donations,” 
said Rabbi Benzion 
Shemtov, director of MSU 
Chabad. 
In addition to the 
furniture contribution, 
MSU Chabad leveraged 
a portion of Gorman’s 
separate monetary donation 
to provide out-of-town and 
some local students, who 
couldn’t spend the holiday 
with their families, a very 
special and elegant Shabbat 
dinner with brisket and 
challah and other traditional 
foods to celebrate Rosh 
Hashanah. 

Jewish students enjoy the new furniture donated by Gorman’s Home Furnishings & Interior Design.

MSU CHABAD

Gorman’s Home Furnishings helps give 
the lounge a new look.

MSU Chabad Center 
Lounge Gets a Makeover

JN STAFF

OUR COMMUNITY
Holiday Shopping

The Birmingham Bloomfield 
Art Center’s (BBAC) Holiday 
Shop, now in its 43rd year, is 
an annual, local pop-up shop-
ping experience, where more 
than 3,000-square-feet of 
BBAC gallery space is trans-
formed into a unique bou-
tique offering one-of-a-kind, 
handmade gift items from 
more than 200 juried artists. 
Holiday Shop offers: ceram-
ics, jewelry, home goods 
and décor, fiber wearables, 
glassware, stationary and 
greeting cards, ornaments, 
Judaica, men’s gifts, baby and 
children’s items, the popular, 
“Mug Wall” and more. There 
is something for everyone, 
with items ranging from $5 to 
several hundred dollars. 
 Additionally, for those 
looking to shop (sip!) and 
save early, the BBAC Holiday 
Shop experience will once 
again this year kick-off with 
the Shop & Champagne pre-
view party, now in its 20th 

year. The ticketed sneak peek 
event includes sparkling bev-
erages, a gourmet strolling 
supper and shopping (plus 
complimentary valet parking 
and a 10-percent discount on 
all purchases made that eve-
ning).
The preview party takes 
place Nov. 29 from 6:30-9 
p.m. and the Holiday Shop 
runs Nov. 30-Dec. 20 10 a.m. 
to 6 p.m. Monday–Saturday; 
noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays at 
Birmingham Bloomfield 
Art Center, 1516 S. Cranbrook 
Road in Birmingham.
The Holiday Shop is free 
and open to the public.
Shop & Champagne tick-
ets are on sale now. $90 in 
advance; $125 at the door (if 
available). To purchase, visit 
BBArtCenter.org or call (248) 
644-0866. 
 

