36 | FEBRUARY 8 • 2024 J
N

B

en and Eli Sider 
have lived together 
virtually all their 
lives. After all, the identical 
twins, who grew up in 
Huntington Woods, are 
arguably two of the most 
compatible roommates you 
could find.
Therefore, becoming the 
newest Moishe Pod Detroit 
residents — and opening 
their Midtown Detroit 
apartment to the community 
— was a no-brainer.
Moishe House is an 
international nonprofit 
organization made up of 
homes throughout the 
world that operate as central 
hubs and gathering points 
for young Jewish adults. A 
Moishe Pod is similar to a 
Moishe House, but consists of 
two residents, like the Siders. 
At the start of the new 
year, the Siders’ Midtown 

Detroit apartment, in a 
neighborhood they’ve 
lived in for the past year, 
opened to the community 
and launched with its first 
event on Jan. 15: a Nacho 
Libre night that consisted 
of watching the film and a 
huge table spread of nacho 
ingredients.
Some half-dozen young 
Jewish Metro Detroiters 
attended, several of whom 
are affiliated with Chabad 
of Greater Downtown 
Detroit or go to Wayne State 
University medical school.
The Siders, who can be 
Moishe Pod residents for up 
to three years, hope this will 
be the first of many events 
hosted at their Moishe Pod.

AN INVITE TO 
THE COMMUNITY
Starting this month, the 
Siders will host three Jewish 

events monthly that include 
a mix of social events (such 
as Shabbat dinners) and 
volunteer efforts in the 
community.
“I really love Jewish events 
and getting the chance to 
meet more Jews in the area,” 
Ben Sider, a medical student 
at Wayne State University, 
explains. “We’re in a really 
nice location and everyone is 
always welcome to stop by.”
The Siders explain 
that Moishe Pod Detroit 
events are best suited for 
young Jewish adults in 
their 20s and 30s. Anyone 
can attend, regardless of 
Jewish affiliation or level of 
observance. Even better, you 
don’t need to know anyone 
in the community to attend.
“The first thought that 
we put in when we think 
about these events is ‘OK, 
I’m coming here by myself,’” 

Eli Sider, a freelance 
videographer, explains 
of potential guests who 
might be attending solo or 
new to the Metro Detroit 
Jewish community. “‘What 
is the icebreaker that I’m 
going to give to people?’ 
That’s something that we’re 
considering.”
Making a new person feel 
welcome is one of the main 
goals of Moishe Pod Detroit 
and the overarching Moishe 
House organization. “No 
matter how you practice 
Judaism, you are a Jew,” 
Eli Sider continues. “That 
means having a community 
of people that have similar 
experiences as you.”

GROWING WITH DETROIT 
Sider says there’s no better 
city than Detroit to host a 
Moishe Pod in, especially 
now.

Identical twins Ben and Eli Sider are the organization’s newest Detroit residents.

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

NEXT DOR
VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION

New Moishe Pod Detroit 
Opens to the Community

Nacho Libre 
night on Jan. 15.

