Hyman and Sonia Blumenstein Outreach Institute

Sara & Morris Tugman

The Hyman and Sonia Blumenstein Outreach Institute at Bais Chabad was established in September 2000 to honor two cherished pillars of the Detroit Jewish community. Having survived the shadows of persecution and devastating loss in Eastern Europe, Hyman and Sonia immigrated to North America, married in 1933, and eventually moved to Detroit, where they built a successful business and raised a beautiful family.

Guided by a deep love for Torah, prayer, and the importance of Tzedakah, they became instrumental founding members of the Bais Chabad Torah Center. When they were honored with the prestigious Kesser Shem Tov (“Crown of a Good Name”) Award, this dedicated institute was created in their name to permanently fund vital lectures, classes, and community outreach projects.

An Enduring Legacy

Sara & Morris Tugman

The institute stands as a beautiful testament to the enduring legacy of the Blumenstein family, as well as the late Sara Tugman, in whose memory the Torah Center itself is named. Sara Tugman was a courageous Holocaust survivor who overcame immense childhood tragedy to become the ultimate “Yiddishe Mama,” dedicating her entire life to her family and instilling a fierce devotion to Jewish values in her children.

Similarly, Sonia Blumenstein’s own life was shaped by her mother’s profound faith, a spiritual strength she passed down to her five children—the Fishman, Blumenstein, Rogers, Borsand, and Ruby families—along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Today, the Outreach Institute ensures that their shared values of faith, resilience, hard work, and unconditional care for others continue to inspire and educate the entire community for generations to come.

The Blumenstein Family Legacy

Fishman
Blumenstein
Rogers
Borsand
Ruby