IT WAS A GREAT SUKKOT SHABBAT! | | With appreciation to Jean Klarich for the photos! | | |
NEWS & EVENTS
Sept. 29, 2026
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DO YOU HAVE A CARD TABLE YOU NO LONGER NEED?
Because the temple needs one!
To donate it, please contact the office at:
office@chj-detroit.org
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In today’s commentary, Rabbi Falick introduces us to Dr. Dara Horn, one of today’s most respected voices on Jewish life and antisemitism, and previews the fascinating interview with her that we will watch this Friday night (see below for more details on this week’s Shabbat).
CLICK HERE TO READ
| | Topics and programs subject to change. Please check the calendar or latest newsletter. | |
✦ SHABBAT /
SIMCHAT TORAH SERVICE
Friday, Oct. 2, 7pm
SPECIAL SCREENING:
AN INTERVIEW WITH DARA HORN
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This Shabbat's service will include a celebration of Simchat Torah, followed by a screening of an interview with acclaimed author and scholar Dr. Dara Horn. We’ll hear her explore Jewish life, antisemitism, and some of the provocative ideas behind her acclaimed work, "People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present." This program will serve as a lead-in to Rabbi Falick's review of her most recent book, "The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living."
The service will stream on You Tube at THIS LINK.
The interview with Dr. Horn will not stream on our feed but can be found at THIS LINK.
To learn more about Dr. Horn and this week's Shabbat program, read Rabbi Falick's commentary, linked above
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✦ SHABBAT SERVICE
Friday, Oct. 9, 7pm
A DEEP DIVE INTO MICHIGAN'S UPCOMING BALLOT PROPOSALS
WITH NOMI JOYRICH, MICHIGAN DIRECTOR, JEWS FOR A SECULAR DEMOCRACY
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What will Michigan voters be asked to decide this November?
Join us for a Ballot Proposal Deep Dive with Nomi Joyrich, Michigan Director of Jews for a Secular Democracy (JFASD).
Nomi will guide us through the two proposals appearing on the November ballot, explain the legal status of proposals that did not make the ballot, and discuss making a voting plan and ways to help protect our elections. JFASD is dedicated to protecting the separation of religion and government and strengthening democracy.
Learn what’s on the ballot—and what it means!
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✦ SHABBAT SERVICE
Friday, Oct. 16, 7pm
FROM LANDFILL TO LUNCHBOX: RETHINKING FOOD WASTE
WITH MATHIAS BAHNMUELLER, CREATIVE COOK & VOLUNTEER AT "MAKE FOOD NOT WASTE"
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What happens to the food we don’t eat—and what can we do about it?
Join us as Mathias Bahnmueller, a creative cook and volunteer with
Make Food Not Waste, shares practical ways to reduce food waste, keep food out of landfills, help feed people, and turn kitchen scraps into healthy soil. Make Food Not Waste is a Michigan nonprofit working to cut the state’s food waste in half by 2030.
The evening will include slides, food samples, and plenty of ideas you can put to use at home!
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Next Session:
Monday, Oct. 26, 6:30pm
in the Sherwin Wine Library
Join Russell Linden and Yossi Ben-Gal for our new monthly Current Events Discussion Group.
Each 90-minute gathering offers an opportunity for thoughtful conversation about important political, economic, national, and international issues. Possible topics may include upcoming elections in Israel and the United States, conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, artificial intelligence, and other major issues in the news. The group will focus on current events rather than religious or personal matters.
Join us for lively, respectful, and engaging discussion!
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Returning on Monday, Oct. 12 at Noon
THE AMERICAN JEWISH EXPERIENCE, PT. 2
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Join Rabbi Falick most Mondays at Noon for the continuing story of Jews in America.
We'll begin with a brief review of the early days and continue with the great immigration of the late 19th - early 20th centuries...right up to today.
Fall Dates:
Oct. 12, 19, 26
Nov. 9, 16, 30
Dec. 7, 14
Please Note:
This class is for CHJ members only (unless by special arrangement); in person with a Zoom option available on request to rabbi@chj-detroit.org.
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SPECIAL EVENT!
A Women’s Dinner Honoring Gloria Steinem
Wednesday, October 28, 6:30pm
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Join us for a special evening for the women of our community as we celebrate and honor Gloria Steinem—and enjoy an opportunity to spend time together, connect, and get to know one another better.
Over a delicious dinner prepared by Chef Julie Claire, we’ll share our own reflections on Gloria Steinem and her remarkable life and work. Come prepared, if you wish, to share how she inspired you, a favorite quote, an accomplishment that especially touched you, a story about her, or simply what her work has meant to you.
Members: $30 | Non-members: $45
Please RSVP to Michele at office@chj.org by Wednesday, October 21.
Let the conversation continue!
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WED., NOV. 4, 6:30PM
HARLEM RHAPSODY
by Victoria Christopher Murray.
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Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray tells the extraordinary story of Jessie Redmon Fauset, the woman whose work helped ignite the Harlem Renaissance. In 1919, Fauset arrives in Harlem to become literary editor of The Crisis, the influential magazine founded by W. E. B. Du Bois. The first Black woman to hold the position, she is determined to discover and nurture a new generation of Black literary voices.
Among the young writers Fauset champions are Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen. Under her leadership, The Crisis flourishes, and Fauset finds herself at the center of a remarkable renaissance in Black literature, music, theater, and the arts. At the same time, she is navigating a complicated and potentially damaging secret: her affair with Du Bois, her boss and a married man fourteen years her senior.
As Fauset’s own first novel earns acclaim, she must balance her ambitions as a writer with the enormous influence she has gained as an editor and mentor. Harlem Rhapsody brings to life a woman who helped shape a generation of literary legends while struggling to secure her own place in history. People calls it “a gripping narrative,” while novelist Tayari Jones describes it as both “a page turner and history lesson.”
| | Members, No charge / Nonmembers welcome, $10 | | |
SPECIAL PROGRAM
SATURDAY, NOV. 7, 10:30AM
A VISIT TO THE DIA EXHIBIT...
GEORGIA O’KEEFFE:
ARCHITECTURE
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Join us for a visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts to see GEORGIA O’KEEFFE: ARCHITECTURE, a groundbreaking exhibition exploring a fascinating and lesser-known side of one of America’s most celebrated artists.
The exhibition brings together approximately 35 paintings spanning four decades and is the first devoted exclusively to O’Keeffe’s fascination with the built environment—from Manhattan skyscrapers and rural barns to the adobe homes of New Mexico.
We will meet in the lobby of the DIA at 10:30am on Saturday, Nov. 7, and plan to join one another for lunch afterward at Café DIA. Admission to the special exhibition is $20 unless you are a museum member.
Please RSVP to office@chj-detroit.org by October 17.
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SAVE THE DATE
POP-UP ART STOP
Saturday, Nov. 14, 1-5pm
The LOVE Building
4731 Grand River Avenue, Detroit
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Join our Social Justice and Programming Committees for a field trip to the Pop-Up Art Stop, a free afternoon of art and performance hosted by Linkage Community.
This organization—where temple member Frannie Shepherd-Bates serves as Director of Development—is a statewide creative network led by and for people with lived experience of incarceration.
Through the arts, Linkage works to build connection, reduce isolation, and create opportunities for its members.
The Pop-Up Art Stop is free and open to everyone. Stop by anytime between 1 - 5pm to experience the art, performances, and community.
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In Hebrew, Kesher means Connection — and that is the purpose of a wonderful new committee at CHJ.
The Kesher Committee—chaired by Sarah Markowitz—helps our congregation stay connected through life’s simchas (joys) and tsuris (troubles) ... celebrations, illnesses, losses, recoveries, milestones, and difficult moments.
If you are interested in volunteering...
please contact Sarah at: 1Luciannn1@comcast.net
or the CHJ staff at: office@chj-detroit.org.
Please let Sarah know if you or another congregant could use a phone call, card, meal, visit, or any other gesture of support.
LET'S KEEP CHJ CONNECTED!
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HELP CHJ MEMBERS IN NEED!
The Kesher Committee is looking for people to volunteer for a new program for meal delivery. As a volunteer, you will make or purchase a meal, and then deliver it to the CHJ member in need.
Volunteers will be provided with the amount, type/preferences, and allergen info of the recipient, and the ability to sign up for your chosen date/time of delivery.
PLEASE CONTACT:
Linda Kahn Gale
248.320.3725 / avrum52@aol.com
...to be added and join us in the opportunity to serve your friends at CHJ!
| | | SHOW YOUR PRIDE IN CHJ WHILE SUPPORTING THE SOCIAL JUSTICE CMTE. | | |
Through an arrangement with TeePublic, CHJ receives a share of the profits to support the work of our Social Justice Committee.
Shop CHJ clothing, hats, bags, gifts and more, featuring all kinds of designs, styles, colors and sizes. Just click the button to get started!
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SAVE THIS DATE!
FOR OUR CHANUKAH CELEBRATION
& SOUPER SUPPER!
FRIDAY, DEC. 11, 6PM
More information coming soon...but it's never too early to contact Audrey to offer a soup or other food donation! (audreypleasant@gmail.com)
| | SOUPER SUPPER COOKBOOKS ON SALE! | | |
We are continuing to collect food and other needed items (e.g. diapers--especially large sized, feminine hygiene items, cleaning products, toiletries) for local charities. When you come to our building for an activity or are just in the neighborhood, you can drop some off.
To learn of additional efforts—current and planned—contact Audrey or come to an SJC meeting. All are invited.
Success depends on the help of many people.
For more information, contact Audrey (audreypleasant@gmail.com).
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JOIN THE SJC EMAIL LIST!
We have so many plans in progress!
To keep up to date, be sure you are signed up for the SJC email list
Contact Audrey Pleasant:
(audreypleasant@gmail.com) to sign up!
No obligation!
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR HALLOWEEN PARTY
Volunteers are needed to help with Freedom House’s Halloween Party for children on Thursday, October 29, from 4:30–7pm. at their new residence.
Contact Audrey (audreypleasant@gmail.com) to volunteer or for more information.
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WELL WISHES
BEST WISHES FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY TO
Joe Barclay
Lee Bricker
Rabbi Jeffrey Falick
Natan Fuchs
Jim Walker
Please inform us if you know that someone is ill or in need.
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ONLINE, IN-PERSON & BOTH!
Classes are for members only or by arrangement with Rabbi Falick or Ann-Marie Fisher, exec. director.
THE AMERICAN JEWISH EXPERIENCE
In person and online. Members only. Mondays at Noon. Resumes Oct. 12.
SOCRATES CAFE
Tuesdays, 11am
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/182488428
MAH-JONGG
Tuesdays, 1-2:30pm - In-Person
For more information, contact Denise Parker, 248.321.9428.
YOGA
Wednesdays, 9:30am - In-Person
with Connie Grossman
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