26 | FEBRUARY 1 • 2024 J
N

faces&places

F

our years ago, Rabbi 
Menachem and Chana 
Caytak moved to East 
of Woodward with a goal of 
creating a Jewish community. 
What started as just a list 
of names has turned into a 
beautiful community with 
hundreds of families. There 
are programs for all ages 
— children, teens, college 

students and seniors. There 
are classes for all levels, weekly 
Hebrew school, a synagogue 
and holiday programming. 
Jewish life is flourishing and 
continues to grow year after 
year. 
On Nov. 8 at the Crowne 
Plaza Hotel in Auburn Hills, 
they held a community 
celebration for Jewish life. 
Over 100 donors, friends and 
Jews from throughout the 
entire Eastside joined. 
The evening began with 
music, hors d’oeuvres and 
an open bar followed by a 
program. A few highlights 
of the program included 
Chana Caytak emceeing 
the evening and Rabbi Levi 
Shemtov, executive director of 
Friendship Circle, leading a 
prayer for Israel. 
Gillian Treier, a mother 
living in Clinton Township, 
shared how grateful she was to 
have the Hebrew School of the 

Arts for her two children. Her 
daughter Hayden then shared 
what she loves learning about 
in the Hebrew school. 
Anthony Elizarov was 
interviewed by Morah 
Danielle Glanvill (a teacher 
in the Hebrew school) about 
his experiences in the Hebrew 
school and the Camp Gan 
Israel Day Camp. He also 
shared why he is proud to be 
a Jew. 
Ella Dotan, a teen in the 
Jewish Teen Club, shared 
why she was grateful for 
Chabad. Rabbi Menachem 
shared words about the past 
and what the goals are for the 
future. 
Tommy Barnes, a student at 

Oakland University, shared his 
fascinating story about how 
he connected with his Judaism 
through an interaction with 
Rabbi Menachem. He then 
showed a mini-documentary 
he created about the history of 
Judaism in the Eastside. You 
can see it here: www.youtube.
com/watch?v=njG86lhIzL0. 
Ilene Bischer was awarded 
the Jewish supporter of the 
year, and she shared powerful 
words about why she supports 
Chabad of Troy. 
The future is bright for 
Judaism throughout the East 
of Woodward area, and it’s 
thanks to its donors that they 
continue to grow. 

East of Woodward 
Jewish Community 
Celebrates 

Ilene 
Bischer 
speaking

Julie Sosnowski 
and Mark Pasik

Irene and 
Roman Sadikoff 
in conversation 

The Elizarov 
family poses 
for a picture.

