Chabad of Ann Arbor to celebrate 50 years
By Dvora Schulman
On September 8, the Ann Arbor Jewish community will gather for a once-in-a-generation celebration: the 50th Anniversary Gala of Chabad House of Ann Arbor. Held at the historic Michigan Union, the evening event will honor five decades of vibrant Jewish life and the unwavering leadership of Rabbi Aharon and Esther Goldstein, who came to Ann Arbor in June 1975 at the direction of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
In a fitting tribute to their mission and the enduring vitality of the community they helped build, the final letters of a Torah written specifically for Ann Arbor will be completed at the Gala. Commissioned in honor of longtime supporters Florence and Marvin Gerber, this Torah — begun in a private ceremony at the University of Michigan stadium — marks the first Torah ever written in Ann Arbor.
A vision takes root
The seeds of Chabad in Ann Arbor were planted in the turbulent campus climate of the late 1960s and early ’70s. Students were searching — for meaning, peace, and purpose. In response, the Lubavitcher Rebbe initiated a movement to establish Chabad Houses on university campuses. Rabbi Berel Shemtov in Metro Detroit purchased a former fraternity house on Hill Street on the Rebbe’s birthday in the spring of 1975 in honor of the Rebbe’s 25th year of leadership. He also renovated the building. A few months later, Rabbi Aharon and Esther Goldstein arrived.
“It was beautiful,” Esther recalled of their arrival. “The air was so fresh. But where were the Jews?”
As it turned out, the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. Initially met with suspicion, the Goldsteins slowly transformed neighbors into friends, skeptics into supporters. Rabbi Goldstein recalled, “My approach is to overcome confrontation with love. I never challenged. I smiled and invited them for Shabbos.”
Building a community, one step at a time
Jewish tradition teaches that before building a synagogue, one must build a mikvah. True to that principle, one of Chabad’s first milestones was constructing a mikvah, affirming the centrality of Jewish family life. The Hill Street building, previously damaged in a fire, was lovingly renovated — removing a fireplace in the middle of what would become the sanctuary — and rededicated as a place of learning, worship, and welcome.
Over the years, the Chabad House evolved from a student-focused center to a multi-generational hub offering programs like Camp Gan Israel (CGI), the Torah Education Program (TEP), Chabad Hebrew School (CHS), and Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) courses. The Goldsteins’ children, now grown with children of their own, returned to serve the very community that nurtured them. Rabbi Zalman and Shternie Zwiebel, along with Rabbi Alter and Chanchi Goldstein, expanded Chabad’s reach to local families and university students alike.
“There are CGI camps all over the world, and I wanted our children here in Ann Arbor to have that same joy — a place to run, laugh, and feel proud to be Jewish,” said Shternie Zwiebel, who founded Camp Gan Israel locally over 25 years ago. “We started small, and today we have over 100 campers. What moves me most is hearing from alumni — now parents themselves — who tell me that camp reached deep into their souls. Their kids are now singing the same CGI songs they grew up with, like ‘I’m a Jew and I’m proud and I’ll sing it out loud,’ even in today’s climate of rising antisemitism.”
Throughout the decades, Chabad of Ann Arbor has responded to both everyday needs and historic moments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, creative adaptations kept the community connected: Shavuot kits with all but the ice cream, Rosh Hashanah shofar blowing outdoors, and a drive-in Chanukah celebration featuring a giant screen and hot latkes.
And always, at its core, Chabad remained open to all. “We’ve never asked for affiliation or membership,” said Rabbi Aharon. “Every Jew is welcome, wherever they are on their journey.”
The Torah project encapsulates the spirit of the past 50 years — rooted in tradition, inspired by love, and committed to the future. “The Torah is the bedrock of Judaism,” said Rabbi Alter Goldstein. “Especially after the events of October 7 and the rise in antisemitism, writing a new Torah brings unity, protection, and spiritual strength to our community.”
Opportunities for community members to dedicate letters or sections of the Torah remain open at Chabad50gala.com
The 50th Gala promises to be a joyful and meaningful evening, filled with reflection, a special video presentation, and the powerful moment when the final letters of the Torah are written. Rabbi Aharon and Esther Goldstein will be honored.
RSVPs are being collected on the dedicated website. Volunteers and lay leaders are working behind the scenes to ensure the evening reflects the warmth, energy, and inclusive spirit that have defined the Chabad House for half a century.
“We hope people leave the Gala uplifted, joyful, and inspired,” said Esther Goldstein. “And that future generations look back on this moment and see what’s possible when you build with love and faith.”
As longtime community members Sassa and Jan Akervall shared, “We met Esther at a bar mitzvah nearly 20 years ago and instantly became friends — but more than that, the Goldsteins have been instrumental in our family’s Jewish learning and growth. We’re so grateful for everything they’ve done for us and for the entire community. Mazel Tov!”
Reserve your place now: Chabad50gala.com
