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Detroit Jewish News

Silberbergs Honored for 40 Years of Shlichus

40 years ago, Rabbi Elimelech and Chaya Sarah Silberberg packed up their lives and the first two of their 10 children to, as the rabbi recently put it, “bring light to West Bloomfield, Michigan.” They were a couple on a mission, Shluchim of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. And what began in 1974 as a handful of families gathering to pray in rented space has grown into the Sara and Morris Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center (BCTC) of West Bloomfield.

“In the old days, we had to knock on neighborhood doors to get a minyan,” recalls Rabbi Naftali Silberberg, 38, Chabad’s Jewish Learning Institute editor- in-chief and one of the Silberberg children.

Those days are long over. Today, Shabbat services at Bais Chabad typically attract 150 people.

“An exciting part of our growth in recent years has been the influx of young couples and families who have joined,” said Rabbi Shneur Silberberg, BCTC associate rabbi and outreach director. “A highlight of Shabbos is to see the line of strollers in the lobby and to watch parents trying (usually unsuccessfully) to keep their small children quiet in shul.”

BCTC also is well known for spearheading community holiday events, including the Jewish New Year Sherrill Berman Shofar Factory, Chanukah Wonderland and the pre-Passover Bloom Matzah Factory at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield, often in partnership with other groups.

“An Evening of Appreciation,” a dinner honoring the Silberbergs for nearly 40 years of service, was held on Wednesday, May 21, at the Sheraton Novi Hotel.

Rabbi Benjamin Blech, an acclaimed educator, author and lecturer, was the featured speaker. He has been involved in negotiating the return of precious Judaica held by the Vatican.

Early Years

Rabbi Silberberg, 64, grew up in the Bronx, received his smichah (rabbinic ordination) from Mesivta Torah Vodaas in 1971, and continued his post-rabbinical studies at Chabad headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

“Soft-spoken and kind beyond words, he is not only learned, but in the parlance of Judaic scholars, he is a Talmidei Chacham [Torah scholar],” says Martin Goodman of West Bloomfield, son of Sara and Morris Tugman, for whom the shul is named. “Rabbi Silberberg’s love of Torah is reflected not only in the scholarly texts he’s published, but also in the small, day-to-day kindnesses that define him.”

Chaya Sarah also has contributed to the growth of the community with her open door and caring heart. She hosts dozens of people at her Shabbos table every week, and is a gifted teacher with an eye on the modern world. She is a correspondent for Ask the Rabbi on Chabad.org and a well-known speaker, able to link contemporaneous events to Torah teachings.

“Chaya Sarah combines brilliance with being down to Earth — and is the best role model you can find on how to raise really amazing children,” says Andrea Stawis, formerly of West Bloomfield. “Rabbi Silberberg is such a genuine person and good, sincere friend,” says Eileen Borsand of Bloomfield Hills. She and her two sisters, Leah Ruby and Fran Rogers, learn with the rabbi in a weekly class that began in the 1970s. Over the years, the women chose to become more observant. Silberberg was also instrumental in helping the Borsands found the Birmingham-Bloomfield Chai Center, the only shul in that locale.

Next Generation

Five years ago, son and daughter-in-law, Shneur and Zeesy Silberberg, arrived in West Bloomfield as junior partners, ready to begin yet another chapter in the BCTC story. The couple, with four young children, works to cultivate youth programs and events that reflect contemporary, changing times.

A monthly Jewish Women’s Circle convenes for fun, educational activities, and Jewish Learning Institute courses explore topics that connect the personal and professional worlds with participants’ religious lives. Zeesy teaches Jewish-themed music and cooking classes for children, while Shneur travels to college campuses across the state for Pizza and Learning sessions. They host community Pesach seders, Rosh Hashanah dinners and monthly Shabbos meals for young adults in their home.

“It is because of the Silberbergs, all of them, that we moved to West Bloomfield,” says Chaya Bolotin Goodman. “You have to be excited about people who believe so completely and do not judge. You see their dedication, their complete love of Torah and it’s inspiring, infectious.”

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14 Comments

  • Anonymous

    Beautiful! Mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Silberberg! The great Shluchim of the Rebbe from West Bloomfield!
    May you continue in your Shlichus in good health and much joy and success for many years to come!

  • Former detroiter

    May Hashem bless this extraordinary couple with continued success in their avodas hakodesh and chassidishe nachas from their beautiful family.

    If only there were more people out there like them…

  • i visited there two years ago...

    the silberbergs are the old fashioned shlichus- learning with people and bringing them back to yiddishkeit one neshama at a time- i have seen it first hand when i visited their shul two years back.
    non stop shiurim, one on one, etc.
    i’ve been to many chabad houses and i can honestly say that i have never seen a more warm and unified community like the one the silberbergs have created- and all with a torah feeling. they breath torah in that place- you gotta see it to believe it.
    kol hakavod! keep going!
    hashem should repay you for all you do for the west bloomfield community, and all the neshamos you have helped on their journeys back to yiddishkeit.

  • visitor

    i visited west bloomfield and was touched to see the simple emesdikeit of the Silberbergs senior and the Silberbergs junior.
    the two Rabbis Silberberg learn Torah with people day and night.
    the two Rebbetzins Silberberg help people all day and night, with whatever they may need.
    it’s just a beautiful, happy place.
    why anyone would want to throw a wrench into that kind of beauty and happiness is beyond me. i urge the wrench-throwers to get the help they need.

  • A long lost friend

    Suri, what nachas to the Rebbe. Who would have believed all those years ago..

  • Kaplan, Maryland

    Mazal Tov to our Mechutanim for an honor well deserved. We share your simcha for this major accomplishment and wish you many more healthy, happy years of Shlichus and Nachas. We love Rivky!

  • yzee

    Mazal Tov from your former students of Machon Chana! We loved you both then – we love you both now!

  • my teacher

    15 years ago Mrs Silberberg was my chumash teacher in 11th grade. i remember her classes as if it was yesterday. She is such an amazing person. Thanks for such great classes and lessons.

  • Nice that you sign your name.

    It’s nice that you sign your name. Everyone should learn from you.