Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue
Rabbi Ariana Silverman has served as its rabbi since 2016.
History
The Isaac Agree Memorial Society was formed in 1921 by the Agree, Canvasser, Kaplan, Rosin, and Zatkin families. The synagogue went through two periods when it did not own a permanent building. The congregation purchased its location on Griswold Street and Clifford Street, its third home, from the former Fintex department store in the early 1960s. In the past, the congregation had hundreds of members, joined by Jewish businessmen visiting and working in the city.
In 2000, the congregation drew 25 to 30 worshipers for Shabbat services on Saturday mornings. Six hundred worshipers attended the synagogue's High Holiday services in 2007, which were open to all. In 2008 the Shabbat morning prayer services were the only weekly scheduled services offered by the synagogue; however, by 2014 the weekly offerings expanded to include Thursday morning and Friday evening services.
As of 2008 patrons and staff of a neighboring club together developed a plan to help revitalize the synagogue. A contractor estimated that it would cost US$450,000 to repair the building and convert the top two floors into living and work space. The group approached the board with the proposal.
In 2022, the synagogue marked its centennial with a block party and groundbreaking on a US$5 million project to expand and renovate its building, which had been in poor condition and lacked office space for the synagogue's five full-time staff. The building reopened in August 2023 and houses offices for several local Jewish nonprofit organizations, along with a community gathering space, and a newly renovated sanctuary.
As of 2023, the synagogue is the last in Detroit city limits. It had a membership of 425 families.
On October 21, 2023, Samantha Woll, the synagogue's president, was found stabbed to death outside her home in Lafayette Park.
