52 | JULY 14 • 2022
JAMIE FELDMAN
OUR COMMUNITY
A
s the Isaac Agree Downtown
Synagogue will be out of
its historic building for the
remainder of the year due to its com-
prehensive renovation, they are in a
time of their own diaspora.
To bring its community
together and build rela-
tionships, the synagogue
is presenting the Diaspora
Dinner Series — a rotation
of Downtown Synagogue
members welcoming new
and familiar faces to their
home (or backyard) for a
Friday night Shabbat meal
each month.
Hosts and attendees for
July and August are now being booked.
Upcoming dinner dates include July
15, July 22, Aug. 19 and Aug. 26. Those
interested in hosting a dinner at their
home and/or attending a dinner are
invited to fill out a form that can be
found at www.downtownsynagogue.
org/services.
The idea came about this past spring
at a board meeting as construction
on the building began, said Nicole
Feinberg, community, engagement
and advancement manager at the
Downtown Synagogue.
“We were looking for ways to encour-
age more engagement and connection
between our community members
coming back in person and just finding
creative ways to enhance their Shabbat
experience while we’re still out of our
normal building,” Feinberg said. “It’s
just a nice opportunity for
everybody to reconnect with
the community they haven’t
seen in a couple years.”
The series kicked off in
May. Feinberg says the din-
ners have gone well.
“We’ve had a couple din-
ners centered on families
with children so families
and parents can meet
other parents in the area,”
Feinberg said. “There’s been
some other ones with older folks that
can connect in retirement. It’s been
really great. People have made a lot of
new friends and connections.”
Feinberg says the series could be
something that continues after the ren-
ovations are done.
“We hope so, Maybe it will be less
frequent. We’re doing it twice a month
right now. But definitely, especially in
the summer months where people can
be outside and it’s an alternative to
coming down to the city every week-
end,” she said. “Our focus once we’re
back in the building is of course to go
back to normal Shabbat services, where
we have meals, but I think it would be
nice to find a way to continue some-
thing like this.”
Feinberg says the dinners are open to
anybody, whether they’re a member or
someone looking to learn more about
membership or the synagogue in gen-
eral.
“This is a really nice way to get a feel
for our community and meet people, so
it’s open to the public,” Feinberg said.
“Our hope is that our community can
maintain the connection of Shabbat and
the ritualistic aspect of coming together
and sharing a meal and just really stay-
ing connected and being creative with
how we can offer these opportunities
for our members.”
Downtown Synagogue kicks off series during building renovation
Diaspora Dinner Series
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
The Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue is
being renovated.
Nicole Feinberg
Darchei Torah Hosts Summer Food Plan
Yeshivas Darchei Torah is sponsoring
a Summer Food Service Program for
children.
Free meals will be made available to
children 18 years of age and under or
persons up to age 26 who are enrolled
in an educational program for the
mentally or physically disabled that is
recognized by a state or local public
educational agency.
The meals will be provided without
regard to race, national origin, age, sex
or disability, and there will be no dis-
crimination in the course of the meal
service.
Campers must be enrolled in the
program to receive the meals, which
will be provided through July 29 at
Yeshivas Darchei Torah Campus, 21550
W. 12 Mile Road in Southfield. Lunch
is served between 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. A
snack is served between 2-4:30 p.m.
For more information, call (248) 948-
1080.