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