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

