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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

