July 2 - July 8, 2021 | Tammuz 22 - 28, 5781

Shabbat Services Schedule
 
Friday, July 2nd (Virtual)
6:00 p.m. - Shabbat Schmooze
6:15 p.m - We invite you to join us for a virtual visit to Park Avenue Synagogue. Click here to join their live worship service.
 
Saturday, July 3rd (Virtual)
9:00 a.m. - Torah Study
10:00 a.m. - Services

Please find the link to this week's services at 4:30 p.m. on Fridays on our website.

Torah Portion- July 2nd & July 3rd: Numbers 25:10−30:1

Shabbat Together: Song, Spirit, Sustenance
Friday, July 16th, 6:15 p.m.
Belle Isle Park
We invite you to a beautiful, alternative Shabbat experience on Belle Isle! We'll start off with innovative Shabbat ritual stations that will allow you to experience candle lighting, the fruit of the vine, that delicious nosh of challah, and hand washing in totally new ways. Then we'll move into our Shabbat service, filled with song, chanting, and energy, designed especially for young adults. After the service, join us for a bring-your-own picnic dinner and endless schmoozing! This event is held in partnership with Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Temple Beth El, Temple Israel, Adat Shalom Synagogue, Congregation Shir Tikvah, The Well, Repair The World, and Hazon.

As a reminder, this event is specifically intended to serve as a community building Shabbat for young adults.

Register here. Due to the generosity of donors, subsidized tickets are available for $10 and advance registration is required. Details about our exact meeting spot will be provided to registered participants prior to the program.

Shabbat Torah Study with Yiftah Leket
Saturday, July 24th, 11:00 a.m.
Zoom link will be provided closer to event date
We invite you to join us Saturday, July 24th for a Torah Study discussion led by Yiftah Leket. Yiftah is the Senior Community Shaliach (Israel emissary) for the Metropolitan Detroit area, and has extensive experience as a long time educator in both Israel and the United States. We look forward to having him share his knowledge, experience, and perspectives with our Downtown Synagogue community in our Shabbat Torah Study.

Check-ins with Rabbi Silverman
Many of us need a little extra support and care these days. Please reach out to Rabbi Silverman to schedule a personal check-in.
If you need help setting up Zoom technology, please email us and we will walk you through it.
Tributes

In honor of Rachel Schreiber by Ron Sussman
In honor of Lawrence Wolfe being the 2021 Fred M. Butzel reciepient

Entering the Garden: Intro to Jewish Mysticism

Spend your summer getting acquainted with 2000+ years of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism, with Dr. Justin Sledge!

We are excited to partner with Congregation T'chiyah and Reconstructionist Congregation of Detroit to host this summer series with the sought-after educator Dr. Justin Sledge

The mystical dimension of Judaism has endured from Israelite shamans to contemporary times. This 10-week class will serve as an introduction to the major concepts, texts and traditions of Jewish mysticism, especially the Kabbalah. No prior knowledge of Jewish mysticism is required or expected. The aim of this class is to equip you to dive into aspects of Jewish mysticism you find most interesting on your own. Hopefully it will be interesting and fruitful for both folks interested in the history of Jewish thought academically but also for anyone wishing to deepen their relationship with the history for Jewish spirituality.

Topics covered include: History and analysis of theophany and Israelite shamanism, Apocalyptic Judaism, merkavah mysticism, Jewish magical texts, Sefer Yetzirah & Sefer Bahir, Early Kabbalah, The Zohar, Lurianic Kabbalah, Sabbateanism & Hasidism. 

Details:
  • Class will meet weekly via Zoom on Wednesdays at 7 PM, beginning on July 7. 
  • This 10-week class is available free of charge to members of T'chiyah, the Downtown Synagogue and the Reconstructionist Congregation of Detroit .
  • Syllabus to be announced. Texts will be available in English translation and, when available, original source languages (Hebrew and Aramaic).

To learn more and register, click here. For questions, reach out to Jake.
The staff and board of the Downtown Synagogue is thinking of ways to support our community's needs right now. If you or a loved one needs help, please let us know- we will endeavor to connect you to services or help you directly. Please reach out to Rabbi Silverman with resource inquiries.

  • City of Detroit COVID-19 Vaccine Information: Check your eligibility and schedule your covid-19 vaccine through this resource. Eligible groups will be added to this page as additional vaccine becomes available.
Call for Mi Shebeirach
During our Shabbat morning worship, we read the names of people in our community who are in need of healing. As we invoke God's blessing, we also become more aware of the people who could use a little extra care. Please let us know if you would like us to read the name of a loved one.