32 | FEBRUARY 8 • 2024 J
N
A
re you a Jewish Metro Detroiter
who loves riding motorcycles
and is looking for a like-minded
group? If so, a new motorcycle club is
taking on new members who share the
goals of having fun while giving back to
the Jewish community at the same time.
Motorcyclist and sales professional
Gerry Lullove, 72, of Farmington Hills and
a Temple Shir Shalom member, is bringing
Chai Riders of Detroit to life this spring
and summer.
As part of the umbrella of the
international Jewish Motorcycle Alliance,
Chai Riders of Detroit — which is
accepting applications through its
Facebook page (www.facebook.com/
groups/1426530734209965/) shines a light
on tradition, heritage and, of course, a love
of hitting the open road or, in this case, the
“chai way.”
While Chai Riders of Detroit is in its
initial stages of getting off the ground and
recruiting members, Lullove plans to hit
the ground running (or riding) by late
April or early May.
“We’re a Jewish organization and a
Jewish motorcycle club,” Lullove explains.
“There’s gotta be other Jewish men or
women out there who ride motorcycles
and are looking for people to ride with,
or to ride with a group with a Jewish
overview to it.”
He says the ongoing Israel-Hamas
war has also given many people in the
community reason to build friendships
with other local Jews. “There might be
people who don’t want to ride alone
anymore,” Lullove says.
Like many clubs affiliated with Jewish
Motorcycle Alliance, Lullove plans for
Chai Riders of Detroit to ride and raise
money for local Jewish organizations and
charities. He also hopes to partner with
Jewish food pantries to help make food
deliveries in the area.
Previously, Jewish Motorcycle Alliance
clubs, for example, have raised funds for
Holocaust education centers and other
efforts surrounding Holocaust awareness.
In total, the alliance has 50-some clubs and
nearly 1,000 dedicated members.
Other Jewish motorcycle clubs
throughout the country include the Mazel
Tuffs, Chai-Way Riders, Hillel’s Angels,
Mountain Menschen, and Shalom and
Chrome.
Lullove says Chai Riders of Detroit is
open to riders ages 21 to 73 but will accept
applications outside of this age range on a
case-by-case basis. So far, the group has 14
committed members and is self-run by all
members, rather than a dedicated board.
Chai Riders of Detroit also doesn’t plan
to charge any membership fees.
So far, Lullove says the local club is set
to ride at Rolling Thunder Washington,
D.C., in May to support veterans; Toronto
in June with other Jewish Motorcycle
Alliance groups; and is in discussion about
a ride in Missouri later this year.
Still, most events and gatherings are
local (including traditional Sunday rides),
so members don’t have to travel far to be
involved. Overall, Lullove says Chai Riders
of Detroit is a fit for anyone local and
Jewish who wants to ride motorcycles with
others, have fun and make an impact on
the community at the same time.
To learn more about Chai Riders of Detroit, visit the
group’s Facebook page or call Gerry at (248) 672-2508.
Hitting the
Open Road
OUR COMMUNITY
Jewish motorcycle club Chai Riders
of Detroit is enrolling new members.
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER