April 15 - April 21 | 14 Nissan - 20 Nissan , 5782
We wish you and your family Chag Pesach Sameach! Passover begins at sundown on Friday, April 15 and goes through sundown on Saturday, April 23.

Upcoming Shabbat Schedule

Friday, April 15th - Virtual
6:00 PM Shabbat/Holiday Schmooze
Come for a few minutes to say Chag Sameach to each other!

Saturday, April 16th - In-person
9:30 AM Shacharit for Shabbat and Pesach I
(No Torah Study on 4/16)

We look forward to coming together for Shabbat! Services are held at Christ Church, 960 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48207. To livestream services, click here.

Torah portion for the first day of Passover: Exodus 12:21-51; Numbers 28:16-25

For a full calendar of services
Events at IADS
Thursday Torah Study with Rabbi Silverman
Weekly on Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Can't get enough Torah? Neither can we! Join Rabbi Silverman weekly on Thursday afternoons for virtual Torah Study to study the weekly parashah. We welcome those of you who cannot make it to Torah Study on Saturdays, those who are searching for an alternate virtual option, or those who just want to connect with your fellow partners in Torah.

Freedom Stories: From the Jewish and Black Experiences, A Fundraiser for Ukrainian Relief
Wednesday, April 20th, 7:00 p.m.
Temple Kol Ami, 5085 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323
Join storytellers Corinne Stavish and Rev. Robert Jones, Sr., for an evening of stories (and music from Robert) for adults on the theme of freedom. The artists are waiving their fees and all proceeds will be donated to HIAS, an international refugee relief organization, to help those fleeing the fighting in the Ukraine. Please register for either the in-person or live streamed event at tkolami.org/social-action/. Suggested donation of $18, multiples of $18, or whatever your heart allows. Advance registration requested, though walk-ins will be welcomed.
The Downtown Synagogue is pleased to be a co-sponsor of this program.

Save The Date: Simcha Shabbat & Potluck Kiddush
Saturday, April 30th, 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Ledyard Hall at Christ Church, 960 E. Jefferson Ave, Detroit MI
We invite you to join us for Simcha Shabbat and a Potluck Kiddush after Services. Bring a vegetarian dish to share as we enjoy one another's company and celebrate the simchas (April birthdays and anniversaries) in our community! Cake provided by IADS. 
NEW: Diaspora Dinner Series
Last Friday of the month beginning in May
Locations TBA
As we will be out of our historic building for the remainder of the year due to our comprehensive renovation, we are in a time of our own diaspora! To bring our community together in creative ways, we present to you the Diaspora Dinner Series; a series where a rotation of Downtown Synagogue members welcome new and familiar faces to their home (or backyard) for a Shabbat meal each month.

This dinner series will be launching this Summer - if you are interested in hosting a dinner at your home or are interested in attending one of these community enhancing dinners, we invite you to fill out this form. Stay tuned for more details!
Get Involved! Join a Commitee at IADS

Are you looking to make a difference in the Downtown Synagogue community? Do you have creative ideas for programming and engagement opportunities? Look no further than the NEW Membership & Engagement Committee! The committee will be meeting on the last Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

If you are interested in joining this committee, or want to learn more about ways to get involved with the Downtown Synagogue, reach out to Carrie (Committee Co-Chair).
Be a part of Reimagining IADS
This upcoming December, the Downtown Synagogue will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Since the beginning, we have been rooted in the City of Detroit and focused on nurturing a welcoming and inclusive community. As we celebrate our 100th Anniversary, let us make sure that we meet the needs of Detroit’s Jewish community for the next 100 years.

The Downtown Synagogue board, staff, and lay leaders have spearheaded a $5.2 million capital campaign to make this vision a reality. We are thrilled to share that, to date, we have raised $4.9 million. We invite you to join us in reaching our goal of $5.2 million. Every dollar matters toward this effort. Join us and be a part of our exciting future with your financial commitment.
Community Support
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.
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.