54 | AUGUST 15 • 2024 J
N

Y

ale Strom, who travels the
world leading and playing
violin with his varied
folk band titled Hot Pstromi, has
strong memories of growing up in
Michigan. He recalls stories told of
the discontinued Chasidic Aaron
Israel Synagogue in Detroit as
attended by his close relatives.
That synagogue, known as the
Stoliner Shul because members came
from the Russian-based town of
Stolin, has been sold and became the
Victory Fellowship Baptist Church,
visited by Strom as he looked back on
his family’s past.
During his visits, Strom talked
with congregation leadership and
learned about changes made to the
building.

The instrumentalist, who performs
in concerts and on recordings, got
the idea to use varied music he
believes brings people together. He
has planned a presentation at the
church to combine Jewish music that
was once sung in the building and
African-American music performed
there now.
“Hallelujahs in the House:
A Celebration of Gospel and
Khasidic Music” will be presented
Sunday afternoon, Aug. 25, with
the co-sponsorship of the Jewish
Historical Society of Michigan.
“When my father, David Strom,
passed away in 2021, I started slowly
putting this event together,” Strom
said. “I wanted to celebrate the
backgrounds of my relatives who had

lived in that neighborhood and the
people who live in the neighborhood
now, both worshiping in that very
same building.”
Besides vocals by Strom’s wife,
Elizabeth Schwartz, and reed playing
by Norbert Stachel, the event will
include the talents of local musicians
— Djallo Djakate on drums, A.
Spencer Barefield on guitar and
Marion Hayden on bass.
Strom, who lives in California
and performed in the Detroit area
before the pandemic, talked with
Pastor Raymond Willis,
who put him in touch
with people active in
the church’s musical
program.
“When my group
plays, we’re going
to begin with tunes
that were specifically
sung on holidays in
the synagogue, with
members from part
of the area that is now
associated with Belarus,”
Strom said. “These are
tunes I grew up hearing
from my father and other
relatives.
“The gospel group will
do what they sing best
and love, and then we’ll
come together. They’ll
sing one of our tunes,
and we’ll sing one of
their tunes. At the very
end,


all of us will come
together to celebrate
what was once a little
synagogue and now
this wonderful African
American Baptist
church.”
The Jewish songs will be selected
from services presented on Yom
Kippur, Passover and Simchat
Torah in the building that holds
more than 200 seats.
The original synagogue rabbi,
Yaacov Chaim Perlow, was based
in New York and would come to
Michigan once a year to preside over
services. He would stay for a week at
the observant home maintained by

Strom’s great-grandmother (Chava
Hoberman Wainer) and grandmother
(Dora Wainer Strom).
Although Strom was too young
to know the rabbi, he did know that
the man died in 1946 and chose to
be buried in Michigan. The rabbi’s
nephew (Baruch Meir Yaacov
Shochet) also became a rabbi, and
Strom learned he has come to Detroit
to pay tribute to his uncle.
“I play the rabbi’s beloved melodies
on the holidays,” Strom said.
Strom explained that he isn’t
planning this concert to make money.
Although the tickets will have asking
prices, he will take part in assuming
responsibility for extra costs.
“I’m doing the performance to
celebrate cultures,” said Strom, whose
income comes from performing
mixtures of Jewish music and folk
music from and in various countries.
“Jews and African Americans have
been through a lot in Detroit history,
and we need to strengthen our
connections.
“I think people will have a good
time, and some will be saying this
was the old neighborhood. The
African American community
will recognize the deep history
of the building. Hopefully, this
will strengthen the ties between
the Jewish community of Metro
Detroit and the African American
community.
“We want to work together to make
things better for both communities
and understand each other. Let’s say
if it’s successful, maybe it becomes a
yearly event to hear good music and
venture back. I’d like that.”

Strengthening Ties

ARTS&LIFE
MUSIC

Musical event to connect Jewish Chasidic
music and Gospel in former home of the
Stoliner Shul in Detroit.
A. Spencer
Barefield

Marion
Hayden

Djallo
Djakate

Norbert
Stachel

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Details

“Hallelujahs in the House:
A Celebration of Gospel
and Khasidic Music” will be
performed at 3 p.m. Sunday,
Aug. 25, in the Victory
Fellowship Baptist Church,
2565 Elmhurst, Detroit.
Suggested donation $36. For
information and registration,
call (248) 915-0114.

Elizabeth Schwartz
and Yale Strom