Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on June 14, 2022

Congregation Tchiyah, Ferndales resident Reconstructionist congregation, has a central goal of providing meaningful programming and spiritual experiences for its members while also integrating deep commitments to social justice in a warm, welcoming and inclusive community. Tchiyahs goals, which align closely with the Reconstructionist movement as a whole, have also aligned with the congregations growth over the past seven years.

Reconstructionism Judaism was founded in the United States in the mid-20th century, based on the ideals of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan. Kaplan understood Judaism as the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people that is continually reconstructed as it responds to contemporary society, rather than being fixed and unchanging. Kaplan was also committed to a vision of social progressivism, a hallmark of Reconstructionist communities.

Tchiyah means revival, rebirth and renaissance in Hebrew. When Congregation Tchiyah was founded as a chavurah (circle of friends) in 1977, the founders picked the name as an homage to the newly built Renaissance Center in Downtown Detroit, a reflection of its approach to Judaism.

The congregation has had a few homes over the years, including space in the St. Marys Community Center in Greektown and the David and Miriam Mondry Building in Oak Park on the Taubman Jewish Community campus. The congregation now gathers in a dedicated room in the First United Methodist Church in Ferndale on the west side of Woodward Avenue between 8 and 9 Mile roads.

After years of being led and supported by its own membership, visiting rabbis, rabbinical students and scholars, Rabbi Jason Miller became the congregations first rabbi in August 2008. The congregation engaged Rabbi Shawn Zevit as its visiting rabbi for the 2012-13 year. During the 2013-2014 year, services were lay-led.

Seven years ago, the congregation hired Rabbi Alana Alpert as a part-time rabbi. Since her arrival, Tchiyahs membership has nearly tripled in size and attracted a group of enthusiastic millennials and new families from diverse backgrounds. Rabbi Alanas flexible, creative services are a beloved feature of her leadership, facilitating a holistic experience of spirituality incorporating music, meditation and poetry.

Rabbi Alana has enhanced the congregations social justice efforts in a major way. During her seven-year part-time tenure, she was also the executive director of Detroit Jews for Justice (DJJ), the community organizing initiative that grew from her hire and Tchiyahs desire to become the social justice shul in Metro Detroit. DJJ has seen rapid development and growth, as has the congregation, which led to Tchiyah recently bringing Rabbi Alana on as its full-time rabbi.

Outgoing president Mary Ellen Gurewitz believes Rabbi Alanas work and the synergy between DJJ and Tchiyah has attracted people serving as a pathway for many Metro Detroit Jews to delve into social justice work in a Jewish way.

The opportunity to engage in social justice activities through a Jewish organization is clearly something many people are very responsive to and grateful for, Gurewitz said.

Koby Levin, whose dad, Andy Levin, was president of Tchiyah some years ago, became president in May 2022. Gurewitz served as president for the last four years.

Tchiyah also hired Jake Ehrlich, now operations and engagement manager, thanks to a grant from the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Foundation in June 2018.

With the significant growth and forward change, Tchiyah has seen a shift in membership.

We now have well over 100 families, which even 10 years ago wouldve come as a surprise to the leadership of the congregation, Levin said. Many of the new folks are younger. We have families, and we have older folks who see the vibrance of our community and are drawn in.

Tchiyah programming has expanded thanks to its growth.

We have (a program) called Getting Good at Getting Older that appeals to the older generations, introductions to Jewish prayer, a conversion track for folks wanting to either reconnect with Judaism or connect with it for the first time, and to me thats been a clear draw, Levin said. We get folks in these programs who are not members and once they spend some time with us, they tend to stick around.

Known for its inclusivity, Tchiyah says a third of its member households include at least one LGBTQ+ person.

When Levin attended Tchiyah growing up, he says he was one of a small number of young people who attended. Thats since changed in a wonderful way, according to Levin, who believes his new role as president is an opportunity to participate in a generational shift thats already taking place.

This growth has happened organically. We didnt set out as a synagogue to grow, Levin said. It just turned out amid the pandemic and many other challenging things going on in the world over the last five to 10 years that many folks out there are looking for the same thing. Were happy to welcome them and share space with them.

Original post:

Congregation T'chiyah Has Tripled in Size in Seven Years Detroit Jewish News - The Jewish News

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