December 18 - December 24, 2020 | Tevet 3 - 9, 5781
Community Message
As Hanukah 2020 comes to a close, we reflect on the lightest and darkest aspects of this past year. While we have remained at a distant as a community, we invite you to safely venture Downtown and visit the newest artistic addition to the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue's building.

This winter, Detroit was chosen among seven other cities around America to be part of the re-imagined Jewish Street Art Festival. Each participating city welcomes a local artist to paint a Hanukah menorah. We are honored to welcome local artist Rachel Gluski, Metro Detroit Native, to paint the Hanukah menorah mural on our building. After the final touches were put on last weekend, we now invite you and your family to take a trip Downtown and see our newest mural. Bundle up, grab a coffee, and take a picture with the mural.

Although we are physically apart for this season of connection and community, we sincerely look forward to the days where we can light our menorahs together once again.

To learn more about the 2020 Jewish Street Art Festival and artist Rachel Gluski, click here. The Festival is supported by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation’s Grassroots Events program.

-Nicole Feinberg, IADS Program Coordinator
Downtown Synagogue Zoom policy for services/programs
For increased security, we will no longer be sharing Zoom links for services and programs in our newsletter. We will be using a different Zoom link each week, and that link will be used for all services/events happening that weekend (Friday night Shabbat, Saturday morning Shabbat, Tot Shabbat, Havdallah, etc.). The new Zoom link will be posted weekly on our website at 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoons.

Additionally, if you are joining from a cell phone, please update your name so that we know to let you in.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding. We look forward to maintaining our community connection in these challenging times.

Virtual Shabbat Services Schedule
 
Friday, December 18th
5:00 p.m. - Schmooze
5:30 p.m. - Kabbalat Shabbat
 
Saturday, December 19th (Sleep-In Shabbat)
10:30 a.m. - Schmooze
11:00 a.m. - Torah Study
12:00 p.m. - Mincha
 
Please find the link to this week's services on our website.

Torah Portion- December 18th & December 19th: Genesis 41:1−44:17

Community Check-ins with Rabbi Silverman
By Appointment Via Email
Moving forward, we ask that those interested in having a personal check-in with Rabbi Silverman email her directly to schedule one.
If you need help setting up Zoom technology, please email us and we will walk you through it.
Tributes

In honor of the birth of Jacob Avashlumov by Davida and Warren Robinson, Shelly Rubenfire, Carrie and Brad Reinis, Kate and David Kurzman, Mary and Jonathan Aaron.
Jewish Family Service is pleased to present psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey London as he provides an introduction to anxiety disorders and how to cope during this difficult time.
 
You’ll learn:
  • How to prepare emotionally for the winter months
  • What anxiety looks like in children and adults
  • Different types of anxiety disorders
  • Tips for getting through a crisis
 
When: Wednesday, January 6, 2021 from 3:30-4:30pm
Where: Via Zoom
Hanukkah might be a little different this year, but there are some things that never change: the importance of family and health. Whether it’s reproductive genetic testing to help prevent devastating diseases in your future children, or cancer genetic testing that helps you be proactive about your own health, JScreen is here for you and your family.

To make your holidays a little sweeter, JScreen is offering a discount for reproductive genetic testing service - click here to redeem your discount code and get started!
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.
In addition, we are aware of the following community resources:
 
  • Jewish Federation: Please visit the Jewish Federation Coronavirus community resource page which includes support for meal delivery, emergency loans for small businesses, and mental health support. 

  • City of Detroit: Please visit the City of Detroit's website to learn more about the free meal program/food resources, unemployment benefits, water restart plan, and what actions and precautions are currently being taken to slow the spread of COVID-19. 

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.