Rosh Hashanah services took place last week. The Downtown Synagogue will hold Kol Nidre services Friday, Sept. 29, and Yom Kippur and Neilah services on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 8801 Woodward Ave. (at Gladstone). Events are free and open to all, but pre-registration is requested online at downtownsynagogue. org or by phone at (313) 962-4047. The full schedule for services is also available on the synagogue’s website. services in Detroit this year is an affir- mation of our com- mitment to the city and to our shared future,” said Rabbi Ariana Silverman, who also rode in the bed of the truck dur- ing the scroll roll. “It will be a privilege to worship in a space that has such deep significance for the Jews of Metro Detroit and to our neighbors and partners who worship there now. We could not do so without our Torah scrolls, without our neighbors and partners, and without the enthusiasm of our con- gregation to honor the beautiful sanctuary’s sacred past and pres- ent.” When the truck pulled up to the grand entrance of the old temple, a small crowd of congregants and members of Breakers Covenant Church International (which holds weekly services in the building) was waiting to greet the scrolls and carry them inside. The group formed two lines, passing the Torahs from one person to the next until they were placed inside the sanctuary. There were songs and prayers; Rabbi Mark Miller of Temple Beth El, Pastor Aramis Hinds of Breakers Covenant Church International and Rabbi Silverman also shared some thoughts and reflec- tions. “It was very mov- ing for everyone involved,” said Arlene Frank, the Downtown Synagogue’s executive director. “It brought back history, it created a future and it made a deep connection between our commu- nities.” Little is known about the origin of the Torah scrolls or their history, but they’ve certainly traveled many miles. Over the last six years, the scrolls were transported back and forth to and from the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills for High Holiday services. They have also been carried around the streets of Downtown Detroit as part of what Rabbi Silverman describes as “a raucous annual Simchat Torah celebration.” But, this year holds special signifi- cance. “We are proud to be working in partnership with the Bethel Community Transformation Center and to be celebrating our shared textual tradition,” Rabbi Silverman said. “Young Jews are proud to be embracing the Torah in the streets of Detroit and proud to be learning from the rich history of the former Temple Beth El building.” • INNOVATION. TECHNOLOGY. LIFESAVING. Please join us at the MAGEN DAVID ADOM DETROIT GALA KEYNOTE SPEAKER Jonathan Medved Expert on Israeli Technology EMCEE Alan “Big Al” Muskovitz “Dick Purtan and Purtan’s People” radio show SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF 2017 MDA VOLUNTEERS Lauren Goldstein Samantha Katz Nathan Klausner Stephanie Schulman TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2017 5:30 p.m. Cocktails and VIP Reception with Jonathan Medved 6:30 p.m. Dinner and Program Congregation Shaarey Zedek 27375 Bell Road, Southfield, MI 48034 Cocktail attire. Dietary laws observed. To R.S.V.P. or for more information, please contact Sharon Kobernik at 888.674.4871 or skobernik@afmda.org. Magen David Adom is Israel’s ambulance, blood-services, and disaster-relief organization, serving as emergency medical first-responders for the state’s more than 8.5 million people. MDA is the only organization mandated by the Israeli government to serve in this role, but it’s not a government agency, so it relies on people like you for funding. jn September 28 • 2017 17