16 | AUGUST 24 • 2023
feet of space, including use of the third
and fourth floors, which had been
closed off and condemned for decades.
Also, IADS now has a working elevator
able to reach not only the sanctuary
on the second floor, but also the
rooftop, which will be completed as a
usable event space in a future phase of
renovation.
The investment in IADS is an
investment in the bright future of the
Jewish community in Detroit. As Barak
quoted from the Book of Ezra, “Look
to the city in which you live, ‘for in its
welfare, you will find your welfare.’”
“The Downtown
Synagogue has been
reimagined as a hub for
Jewish life in Detroit,
including welcoming some
of the region’s leading
Jewish nonprofits into
the space,” said Rachel
Rudman, the synagogue’s
executive director. “The growing
Jewish population in the city will
have better access to Jewish resources,
TOP: A photo of the interior during construction.
ABOVE: In March, workers replaced the stained glass.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY IADS
continued on page 18
Rachel
Rudman
continued from page 14