10 | AUGUST 8 • 2024 
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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