10 | AUGUST 8 • 2024
J
N
A
t last year’s
Downtown
Synagogue Block
Party, Samantha Woll stood
at the podium in front of
family, friends, colleagues
and community, as proud as
can be.
The event celebrated the
grand reopening of the
reimagined synagogue after
five years of fundraising
and a year of construction
for phase one of its
comprehensive building
renovation.
Woll, who served as
president of the synagogue,
played a major role in
leading the synagogue’s
fundraising campaign,
grand reopening and
overall revitalization of the
congregation in the heart of
Detroit.
This year’s Block Party
will be another celebration
— of the completion of
phase two of the synagogue’s
renovation, and a celebration
of Samantha Woll’s life and
memory.
Specifically, the
Isaac Agree Downtown
Synagogue’s (IADS) third
annual Block Party on
Sunday, Aug. 25, will
celebrate the completion
of its long-awaited roof
deck and the naming of the
building in honor of Woll.
The Block Party will
feature a dedication
ceremony, live music, food,
building tours, activities for
kids and more. The event is
free and open to the Metro
Detroit Jewish community.
Registration is requested
at downtownsynagogue.
org/blockparty. Online
registration ends Aug. 23.
Walk-in registration will be
available on the day of the
event.
The building itself will be
named after Samantha Woll.
The synagogue will still be
named after Isaac Agree.
The story behind it is
simple — it was a true mutual
fit. The synagogue board
wanted to do something to
honor Woll, to remember her
and recognize her importance
in the community. The Woll
family knew the synagogue
was looking for someone to
whom they could dedicate
the building. When the
family came forward with
a generous gift, it was
unanimously approved by the
board.
The family and synagogue
board worked together to
come up with a specific name
that will be on a new exterior
sign placed on the building.
The sign and name they
chose will be unveiled during
the dedication ceremony.
There will also be an interior
plaque with Samantha’s
picture and story.
It’s been less than a year
since Woll’s death. This
gesture, while
bittersweet,
is beyond
meaningful to
everyone she
touched.
“It’s still very
hard. I miss
her,” said IADS
Downtown Synagogue
building to be named in her
honor at annual Block Party
on Aug. 25.
Honoring
Samantha Woll
DANNY SCHWARTZ
SENIOR STAFF REPORTER
OUR COMMUNITY
Rabbi
Ariana
Silverman