32 | AUGUST 25 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

O

n Sunday, Aug. 14, 
the Detroit Jewish 
community and 
allies gathered for the Isaac 
Agree Downtown Synagogue 
(IADS) Groundbreaking and 
Centennial Block Party. There 
is much to celebrate. 
IADS is the only free-stand-
ing synagogue in Detroit. Not 
only that, IADS, founded in 
December 1921 by Charles 
and Nathan Agree in memory 
of their father Isaac Agree, 

never left Detroit. IADS 
is celebrating 100 years in 
Detroit. That, in itself, is a 
huge feat.
Vadim Avshalumov, IADS 
immediate past president 
and Renovation Committee 
co-chair, credited Jodee 
Fishman Raines and other 
lay leaders for planting and 
nurturing the seeds for reno-
vating and reimagining IADS 
10 years ago. 
The groundbreaking cele-

bration is the culmination of 
a $5.7 million campaign that 
brought together the com-
munity and major donors to 
invest in the future of IADS 
and the Detroit Jewish com-
munity. 
IADS is a welcoming and 
inclusive spiritual space in 
Michigan. The congregation 
is known for vibrant ritual 
services, delicious community 
meals, educational program-
ing and dedication to Detroit. 

All that and so much more 
while making do with many 
structural limitations. 
For decades, IADS func-
tioned with its third and 
fourth floors condemned and 
unavailable and with a broken 
elevator despite the sanctuary 
being on the second floor. 
Soon these limitations will be 
distant memories. 
The vision for the renovat-
ed and revitalized IADS will 
be from its foundation to its 

Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue celebrates groundbreaking.
Centennial Block Party

STORY AND PHOTOS BY YEVGENIYA GAZMAN

CLOCKWISE FROM 
TOP LEFT: 
Dr. Martin Herman 
and Rabbi Ariana 
Silverman

Rebecca Waisanen, 
Jeff Herbstman, 
IADS President 
Samantha Woll and 
Laura de Palma

Leor Barak and 
Sam Woll

Matt Lester, 
Larry Wolfe and 
Steven Ingber

