18 | AUGUST 24 • 2023 

programs and services, and the partner 
organizations will work together to 
serve our community far beyond 
what we are able to as individual 
organizations. 
“We have modeled this space and 
collaborative spirit after successful 
community efforts in Chicago and San 
Diego and look forward to creating a 
new model here,” she added.
The renovations include a first-floor 
community gathering space and a newly 
renovated sanctuary, with a dedicated 
space for children. “Many of our 425 
families have young children,” said 
Rabbi Silverman. “Serving the whole 
family is part of our intent with this 
new building.”
The IADS’s third floor is now a 
shared co-working and meeting 
space available for Jewish nonprofit 
organizations to have a presence in the 
heart of Downtown Detroit and Jewish 
life. Organizations already on board 
to take advantage of this collaborative 
opportunity include Adamah Detroit, 
JARC, Jewish Community Center, 
Jewish Family Service, Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, 
Repair the World and Reconstructionist 

Congregation of Detroit. 
“When I first moved to Detroit in 
2008, the Downtown Synagogue and 
the spirited and deeply intentional 
people involved in stewarding the 
evolution of the synagogue became a 
home for Jewish connection, ritual and 
organizing, all of which helped to build 
the foundation for the next chapter 
of my Jewish life,” said Amit Witzer, 
director of Adamah Detroit 
(formerly Hazon Detroit). 
“Now, nearly 15 years 
later, as the Adamah 
Detroit director, it feels 
beshert (meant to be) to be 
collaborating with IADS as 
a shared workspace partner. 
The Adamah Detroit team is looking 
forward to a continued and deepened 
partnership with the synagogue and 
other local community partners in our 
work to cultivate Jewish environmental 
leadership and integrate enriching 
environmental education and action 
into Jewish life.” 

A PLACE FOR ALL 
“The newly transformed Downtown 
Synagogue is designed to be a home 

for all Jewish Detroiters 
from across Metro Detroit,” 
George Roberts said with 
pride and optimism. “If 
you’re Orthodox, Reform, 
Conservative, secular or 
somewhere in between, 
we want this building to 
be your Jewish home in the city of 
Detroit.”
Melanie Baer Schwartz is curating 
the inaugural art exhibit in the ground-
floor social hall of IADS. The theme 
for the exhibit is Kehilla, meaning 
community in Hebrew, and will be on 
view now through Dec. 1.
“We are thrilled to bring together 
and present a really powerful and 
meaningful group of Jewish artists 
for the first exhibition in our newly 
renovated synagogue — whether 
emerging, mid-career or established, 
these artists are all making an impact 
on the larger Detroit community,” 
Schwartz said.
Featured Jewish artists making an 
impact on the Detroit community in 
the exhibit include Lynne Avadenka, 
Jamie Feldman, Yevgeniya Gazman, 
Rachel Gluski, Danielle Gumbin, Olivia 

The view 
from 
Griswold 
Street

OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

PHOTO BY YEVGENIA GAZMAN

George 
Roberts

Amit Witzer

continued from page 16

