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16 | JULY 15 • 2021
OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER
growing focus on social justice and
Jewish community building and is based
on other movements such
as IKAR in Los Angeles and
Mishkan in Chicago.
“Social justice is an import-
ant part of who we are at the
Downtown Synagogue, and
the ritual aspects of Judaism
are an important sliver of
what we do as well,” Avshalumov said.
“The goal with this renovation is to truly
become the central hub for the entire
Metro Jewish community and to pro-
vide collaborative and office space for
many partnering Jewish agencies so they
can have a place to call home for their
Downtown efforts.”
MEETING CHANGING NEEDS
Rabbi Ariana Silverman said some of the
building’s renovations reflect the grow-
ing number of families with children
who, before the pandemic,
were using the building for
a variety of religious, social
and educational purposes.
The congregation now boasts
almost 90 children under the
age of 18. When renovations
are complete, a children’s play
area on the north end of the second level
will be separated from the sanctuary with
a glass wall with a view of the bimah and
the ark. That way, families with young
children can take a break outside the
main sanctuary but still feel connected
to services with a “sacred cacophony” of
noise, said Silverman.
One wall of the sanctuary — which will
be outfitted with chairs instead of pews for
more flexible usability — will be lined with
shelves for a lending library that will be
stocked with books for readers of all ages.
The uppermost floor will be the rab-
binic study and suite with views of the
iconic Detroit skyline. Silverman said this
office will provide congregants and others
in the community a more private setting
to meet and receive pastoral care in great-
er confidence.
Silverman said, ultimately, the renova-
tions are designed to serve a multi-genera-
tional Jewish population who have diverse
outlooks of what Jewish life looks like.
“There are multiple pathways to Jewish
life — whether they be through social
justice, the arts, courses taught by me
or other members of the community,”
Silverman said. “The space of IADS will
be designed for building sacred relation-
ships, and that can start simply by sharing
a cup of coffee with another in our newly
designed foyer/café.”
CURBSIDE APPEAL
On the outside, the most dramatic change
to the building will take place on the
ground floor. Currently, the first thing pass-
ersby notice about the building’s structure is
its red brick facade. That will be replaced by
a wall of glass.
“Many people think they are walking past
an abandoned building,
” said Avshalumov.
“The glass on the first floor will give the
inviting message to come in and see what
we are doing inside.
”
Recognizing the realities of today’s world,
the glass will be ballistic grade. There will
be other security features, including ongo-
ing entry with a buzzer door, a keycode
entry system for staff and additional emer-
gency exits on the second floor. Costs for
security run up to about $300,000.
The building will be made ADA-
Vadim
Avshalumov
Rabbi
Ariana
Silverman
JOHN HARDWICK
“I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE
FLEXIBLE SPACE FOR EDUCATION
AND YOUNG FAMILIES.”
— BOARD MEMBER EMILY LEVINE
The rooftop looking west
RENDERINGS FROM LAAVU DESIGN OF DETROIT