News
Jewish center celebrating its 10th anniversary
The Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce/Walled Lake is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a “Share the Light” dinner on Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Steinway Piano Gallery in Commerce Township, located at 2700 E. West Maple Road.
There will be a 5:30 p.m. reception followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The event includes guest speaker Rabbi Zushe Greenberg and a performance by pianist Cliff Monear.
The Celebration of Community will be honoring several couples for their dedication and community work, including Diana and Sy Freilich; Katrina and Arthur Gluzman; Yasmine and Arkan Jonna; Dr. Jay and Renee Kozlowski; Naomi and Vadim Matatov; Rusty and Stephen Rosman; and Sue and Frank Trionfi.
The event will help the center raise funds for the coming year, according to Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce/Walled Lake Program Director Estie Greenberg.
“We provide programming throughout the year, including children’s programs, Jewish holiday programming, going to old age homes and bringing those people joy, adult education classes, and a Synagogue with services, and the funds we raise at this event will help to cover the cost of these programs,” Greenberg said.
Admission to the dinner is $100 per person or $180 per couple. Cocktail attire is requested.
Over the past decade, the Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce/Walled Lake has grown because people increasingly recognize and appreciate its warmth and non-judgmental philosophy. Children are being educated in a lively Jewish environment at Hebrew school, summer day camp and youth programs. Adults are attending Chabad’s classes, lectures, luncheons and personalized study sessions. Families are discovering a new Jewish dimension in their lives through Chabad’s Synagogue and outreach programs.
“When we came here and started, we didn’t know anybody,” Greenberg said. “Today there’s a large Jewish community involved in these programs. We now have a community that we started from nothing and developed. This has become the Jewish center for people in the area.
“We are happy to be here and are excited to share this occasion with everybody,” Greenberg added. “The community around us has been wonderful and accepting, and we look forward to another decade and watching this grow.”
The center recently purchased a home and is renovating it into a permanent Jewish center in order to ensure continuation and expansion of its programs, and to reach more people.
For more information, send an e-mail to [email protected] .
Torah Portion By Rabbi Greenberg
Lag Baomer Article In The Jewish News
The Rabbi Schneor and Estie Greenberg Interview
November 25, 2009 - Rabbi Schneor and Estie Greenberg settled in Commerce Township seven years ago with a shared passion for their love of Judaism. As orthodox, or very observant Jews, they are part of the Chabad movement, which reaches out and embraces other Jews of every denomination and invites them to find the joy of Judaism in ways that hopefully will enrich their lives. Rabbi Greenberg is from an Israeli town near Tel Aviv, in the center of the country. Estie is from Brooklyn, New York, and studied to be a teacher. They met when Rabbi Greenberg came to study in New York. After he completed his studies, they married and traveled around the globe before settling in metro Detroit. They now have six young children — two girls and four boys. In addition to religious services; Hebrew school; bar/bat mitzvah tutoring preparation; adult education; men's, women's, and teen study groups; spiritual and life cycle counseling; and summer camp, Estie opens her house each Friday night for congregants or anyone who wishes to join them for Friday night (Sabbath) dinners, and Rabbi Greenberg is a volunteer chaplain at Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital. Rabbi and Estie Greenberg recently spoke with the Spinal Column Newsweekly about the Chabad movement and their purchase of a building for a new synagogue in Commerce.
SCN: What is Chabad? How does it differ from a traditional synagogue or temple? What segment of Judaism does it represent? Is it part of the orthodox heritage of Judaism? EG: Chabad is the world's largest Jewish educational outreach organization and we are dedicated to providing every Jew, regardless of background, philosophy, or their level of commitment, an open door environment where they can come and strengthen and enhance Jewish family life. We serve individuals and families looking for an anchor and a non-judgmental, personalized Jewish experience. We are actually available to all Jews. My husband and I, we are personally Orthodox, but we are open and accepting of all Jews. Chabad is known to not use labels, and be accepting of all and provide for everyone, whatever they need. SCN: On your website, you write: "Our doors are open to all, regardless of background or affiliation." Many Jews are opposed to the act of proselytizing, of going out and actively converting or convincing Jews to participate. Chabad seems to be the opposite. Would you say that is accurate? Could you explain more about how Chabad works at outreach? EG: We are open and here for everyone who comes and wants to learn. We have many non-Jews that come to us and say to us, "Tell us a little bit about more Judaism." We are glad to explain to them what we are about. SG: I would add one more thing. We encourage people to learn. A lot of people say, "I don't want to do this, I don't want to do that." I'm telling them, "Come learn. At least you should make an informed decision. Come learn. What are you going to lose?" EG: We have a Hebrew school. We do educational programs for the children, and holiday outreach programs before each holiday at the synagogue to show people the joys of Judaism, to show them how Judaism can be exciting and wonderful and can be done in a fun way, and not as such a serious, or negative experience that American Jews have that are practicing Judaism. SG: For most of the peo
SG: Having spoken with contractors, (it will cost) a quarter-million-dollars to renovate the place and make it ready to be a synagogue. EG: We don't charge membership. We want everyone to come and be a part and do not ask that you pay in order to be a member of Chabad. SG: We do not believe it is fair that you need to pay to come talk to God. It's a spiritual connection, and everyone should be able to do it, whether you have money or you don't. Definitely, when people ask how they can help, we say they can always give donations. But like for High Holiday services, we do not ask for tickets. You want to pray — come, you are welcome. EG: Each Chabad is individually run and funded, and thankfully, the local community has understood we cannot do it on our own. They have come together and each person gives when they can and how much they can give. That's how we make it. SCN: You offer a wide variety for a small synagogue, from Shabbath (Sabbath) services, Hebrew school to adult education. You invite congregants to Friday night dinners in your home. Why is it so important to provide so many different avenues for study and learning? Are there certain programs that mean more to you? Which ones have connected with people more than others? EG: We find that we never know what will touch somebody, what will have an effect on somebody. Some people like coming for a Shabbath (Sabbath) dinner, but won't necessarily come for services. Some people like to learn. Some people just like to have a good time, and to enjoy, and come for a ladies' night out. Not all teens will come for services, but will come for a special teen groups made just for them. So we're here for whatever and in whatever way people will feel their connection to Judaism. We've found the Women's Chavurah to be very successful. Local women enjoy that very much. The adult education classes, as well. People love our Hebrew school, so that's great. We currently have 10 kids this year in our Hebrew school. I have a speci
Lisa Brody is a staff writer for the Spinal Column Newsweekly
Chabad of Commerce
810 Sleeth Rd. Commerce, MI 48382