-

explorations."
That early meeting also spurred
Smith to begin work on a Wayne State-
directed study project, documenting oral
histories of black and Jewish Detroiters.
Goldenberg received a $450,000 esti-
mate for repairs and renovations to the
building from a building contractor.
"Our hopes for the building are to
have it be a relevant and open space,"
Goldenberg said. "That there will be
daily activity in the building: prayer,
congregating and possibly living. With
funds, we would first winterize and fix
ceiling holes and basic necessities with
the top two floors.
"Then we would convert the top floors
into spaces where somebody could pos-
sibly live, a studio for an artist or orga-
nization to work in, income-producing
office space, a meditation room and/or a
place where someone needing a place to
stay could stay, whether that be a rabbi
in resident or a businessman in town:"
The plan also includes a welcoming
tone. "We want it to be open to not just
Jews, but people in our community, the
Detroit community, that are committed
to healing and progressing as a com-
munity," said Goldenberg, a filmmaker
who grew up in Huntington Woods
and a graduate of Hillel Day School of
Metropolitan Detroit in Farmington Hills
and University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
"With funds, we would also fix the
elevator, make the synagogue handicap
accessible, install new lighting, put a
bike rack out front and refurbish the
exterior of the building."
He maintains the importance
of ensuring the building retain a
Conservative synagogue.
"But that does not mean we will
only function with Conservative Jews,"
Goldenberg said. "The shul long has
included attendees from all streams of
Judaism and non-Jewish participants."
The DASC group already has hosted
several well-attended events to inform
the community about the synagogue.
"One was an open house and discus-
sion about how Detroit and the syna-
gogue are a part of our lives, Goldenberg
said. "On Simchat Torah, we had an
evening service, and hakafot [marching
with Torahs] in the street. Then we had a
Havdalah dance party."
They publicized their programs
through e-mail, Facebook, flyers and
friends — even through friends at a
local radio station. "Also, everything is
always free, and we always have plenty
of food," Goldenberg said.
The Isaac Agree Downtown
Synagogue is the only congregation to
own a building in the city of Detroit.
The Reconstuctionist Congregation

of Detroit meets in Detroit in rented
space. The Downtown Synagogue is
Conservative but welcomes Jews of all
denominations as well as non-Jews.

A Unique Purpose

The synagogue was formed in 1921
as the Isaac Agree Memorial Society,
and has been in its present location on
Griswold Street since the early 1960s.
The congregation has not had a rabbi
since the late Noah Gamze left the
Detroit area in 2001. Herman serves as
the ritual director; cantorial soloist Neil
Barris and Torah reader Howard Marcus
participate weekly.
DASC's hope is for the synagogue
board to approve its proposal so fund-
raising can begin, which Goldenberg said
would focus primarily on searching for
foundation grants, independent donors,
events and increasing membership.
"Another fundraising idea we have is
utilizing the empty lot next to the syna-
gogue as a bimonthly recycling spot
— selling kosher hot dogs and having
people bring their recycling:' he said.
Herman said the board is interested
in hearing all of these ideas, but he
plans to share with the committee
issues about what owning and renovat-
ing the building could mean.
"There are issues like taxes and
building codes that must be consid-
ered," he said. "We are very happy to
meet and exchange information, but we
will make it clear that we do not want
to be overtaken, and that keeping our
synagogue a traditional, egalitarian
congregation where Jewish men and
women are counted in the minyan and
called to the Torah is vital."
Smith's interest in the building may
have come as a way to connect with
ancestors and her Iraqi-Jewish family,
but it turned into something more. "The
synagogue is our community center. We
want to see it filled with life seven days
a week."
On that count, Herman agrees.
"The Isaac Agree Downtown
Synagogue is not merely another house
of worship:' he said. "It is a unique insti-
tution. The officers and board remain
committed to the ideals and goals of
the congregation's founders: to provide
an environment in which everyone will
feel welcome, one with a dues structure
so affordable that anyone who wishes to
become a member may comfortably do
so; and to provide High Holiday servic-
es — at no charge or obligation — to
the Jewish community at large."

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January 1 • 2009

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