Say Shalom to Jewish Ferndale’s New Home

By Ingrid Sjostrand

Ferndale is a community built on inclusion and acceptance, with so many organizations and events made to bring people together. Rabbi Herschel Finman recognized this, and saw Ferndale as the perfect place to build and foster representation for a rapidly growing Jewish population in the area.

“I have always looked for opportunities to help and serve people in communities, especially where there were no services offered,” Rabbi Finman says. “About a year ago my wife and I saw that Ferndale was becoming a place where Jewish people were moving, but there was nothing servicing them so we decided to start getting involved.”

He and his wife, Chana, created the group Jewish Ferndale in December 2014. Through word of mouth, hosting classes and conducting events, like the Menorah lighting at the Kulik center in December 2015, Jewish Ferndale has gained a strong following. So strong that they have found themselves in need of a permanent space. “We have always had to scramble to find spaces. The library has been very gracious in offering us space,” Rabbi Finman says. “We’ve had to rent out various establishments around the city for parties the library wouldn’t be the proper medium for, so it was determined last July that we should really start looking for our own place.”

It didn’t take long for them to find 1725 Pinecrest Dr. sitting at the corner of 9 Mile. Built in 1950, this former dentist’s office needed minimal work to create a gathering spot and residence for Rabbi Finman and his wife. While they currently reside in Oak Park, it was essential that Jewish Ferndale be a warm, comfortable home retreat for visitors.“We have people that come to our house all the time so this will be an extension of our home that people can come to and relax at,” Rabbi Finman says. “That will be a focus for drawing people in –to experience various mediums in a relaxed area.” The four-bedroom, two-bath space is currently being renovated to include a Jewish library with resources and books, a large commons area with a cozy, hearth fireplace, a garden and a detached garage to become an art studio. The Finman’s will reside on the second story.

“Maybe a Saturday night coffeehouse, which sounds very grandiose, but really it’s just someone itting next to the fireplace with a guitar, people sitting on couches schmoozing and drinking tea,” Rabbi Finman pictures one of many future nights within the home.

Rabbi Finman is not lacking in involvement in Metro Detroit’s Jewish community; he has been an active member for the last 30 years. Not only does he host Michigan’s only Jewish radio program, The Jewish Hour; he sends a weekly email entitled eParsha to a mailing list that has grown to include over 14,000 people in the last 16 years and produces short youtube videos, YouParsha, discussing the Jewish happenings of the week.

In all his ventures Rabbi Finman has always recognized a lack of resources or listened to the needs of the community and created a solution. He says that the success of Jewish Ferndale will follow that same path.
“We have to get people just to come in and see what they can have and what people will want and if it’s within our scope, and parameter and resources than we’re willing and open to it having those things.”
He hopes that complete renovations to Jewish Ferndale’s new home will be done by Labor Day, but has already begun conducting classes within the space.

“It will be another place for people to go, they have their home, their business and this will be the third place,” Rabbi Finman says. “The main thing is that we hope it will be warm and inviting.”

If some happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a cure. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotency and other states united to erectile disfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What humanity talk about “viagra stories“? The most substantial aspect you should look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Causes of sexual disfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk.