Alan and Lori Zekelman of Bloomfield Hills announced Monday they are giving $2 million toward Mishkan Israel on 9 Mile west of Coolidge. The 12,000-square-foot building, which also serves as a synagogue, is nearly 40 years old.
Gifts to Upgrade Jewish Schools
Oak Park, MI — A high school and rabbinic college in Oak Park will get major renovations and new dormitories thanks to more than $2.75 million in donations.
Alan and Lori Zekelman of Bloomfield Hills announced Monday they are giving $2 million toward Mishkan Israel on 9 Mile west of Coolidge. The 12,000-square-foot building, which also serves as a synagogue, is nearly 40 years old.
The Zekelmans, including Alan Zekelman’s brothers, gave $10 million in January to the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills to retire the museum’s debt and help it expand.
There is no timetable for the Mishkan Israel project, but it will happen within two years, Alan Zekelman said.
Another $750,000 is coming from the Meer family, local philanthropists. It will be used for the renovation and expansion of a Lubavitch lower school on Coolidge north of I-696. Work could begin this summer.
The financial commitments help solidify the city’s Jewish presence.
Lubavitch of Michigan has also acquired, through money from different donors, apartment buildings across 9 Mile that will serve as three dormitories for the 100-plus students at Mishkan.
Zekelman, 44, got interested in Mishkan Israel while he attended services there to say the traditional prayer of mourning for his mother, Wanda Zekelman of Windsor.
Each time he walked in, he said, he saw both the threadbare quality of the building and the enthusiasm on the faces of the boys studying there.
Giving made sense to him.
“Each time I stepped through the door I knew that making a commitment to them would be fulfilling for me and for them,” he said.
Site plans for the projects have not been submitted to the city, but Oak Park Mayor Gerald Naftaly said he’s happy that the Jewish community is staying and investing in their homes and institutions.
“We’re proud of what’s going on,” he said.
levi
detroit is continuing to give nachas to the rebbe thru its mosdos growing by leaps and bounds
Tomim
Detroit Chai!!! kol hakovod!
keep it up is from the last normal yeshivas in lubavitch today.
levi
yeshivas lubavitch ur the best!!!
Rosey
As a former Detroiter who grew up in Oak Park with such beautiful memories especially Shabbosim,
I am so thrilled.Thirty years ago I davened in Mishkan Israel There was such great ahavas yisroel, achdus and hachnasas orchim.I have especially fond memories of the Kagen’s,(we Really miss Rabbi Kagen A’H)What an amazing chassid…………………
From this great boost b’gashmious we should continue to see great things b’ruchnious.
Kol hakovod and much nachas to the doners,,,,
shn
this is definitely the best yeshiva out there today!!! keep it up!!!
l.m.
talmid here. this is the best yishva in the world
mosh
the bestest yesiva on the globe!
a proud talmid
Mendel,
It looks like it takes $2m to bring back the pride but at least it’s working.
Your 12 years of sweat for the bochurim are paying off…
Mazel Tov!