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Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue
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IADS Community Essay written by Karen Chava Knox
What Does Black Lives Matter mean to me? My father was born in Hope, Arkansas. A place my father would never take me to visit, no matter how much I begged and plead with him to take me with him when he returned to the south. It would be only when my grandfather passed away that my father would take his children to return to the south for his father's funeral. Many years later, I would understand why he didn't want his children to visit the south.
I remember at a very early age; my siblings and I being given the talk. If you are ever stopped by the police say yes sir and yes ma'am. Whenever you go to the store make sure anything you buy at the store is put into a paper bag, so they won't accuse you of stealing. It wasn't explained any further.
I remember, after returning from the show and walking down the street with my boyfriend and the police pulled up and stopped us. He was put on the car and searched for no reason at all. I stood in silence and watched. The police released him and told him to go. He was very angry and at the age of 15, I didn't really get it. All I knew he was stopped for no reason.
I tell these stories because I have seen and experienced the pain of my skin being used against me. I have seen the pain of my sons and the destruction of their self-esteem because they are black men. How my son, while waiting for me to pick him up after work was always harassed by the police each night in Orange County, CA. How police arrested him on false charges, only later to release him, saying it was the wrong person. Each time they arrest our children, even though the charges are dismissed or dropped the system is building a record for them. I, as many parents didn't know a person must go and pay to have those false charges removed from their record. If they ever get into trouble all those false charges will show up as that person having a record. Stating he or she has been arrested several times. It is all in the game in the system of racism.
I look back and I wonder how being arrested by the police went from being hand cuffed behind a person back while standing, to having the person sit on the curb, to now having them lay on the ground face down. Sending the message to them that they are dirt and worthless.
When asked what Black Lives Matter means to me. It means having freedom to walk and drive in peace without being harassed because of the color of my skin. It means that our children have value in society. Our children have always had value to us. We want our children to be valued in the United States. See us and treat us with respect and dignity. We are humans and we too love our children also. Black Lives Matter would not exist if we had the rights and privilege of being seen a human instead of being seen as less than human.
I want my grandchildren to be free of the fear of being killed by the police because of the color of their skin. Black Lives Matter is not just the next in thing to say or do. It is reality for all African Americans in this country. When the dust settles, African American want to say, I no longer have to give the talk. We no longer have the fear of walking while black and driving while black. Being caged for years for being black, and most of all being killed for being black. Black Lives Matter.
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Update on Downtown Synagogue Zoom usage 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.
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Virtual Shabbat Services - *Updated Schedules*
Friday nights
On Friday nights, we will begin at 5:30 p.m. with some check-in time, and then around 6:00 p.m., we will begin Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv.
On the first Friday night of each month, we will hold a Tot Shabbat service led by Rabbi Silverman and Gavri Yares from 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. We invite you and your young children to join us in song!
There will be no Tot Shabbat this Friday, July 3rd.
Saturday mornings
Tomorrow, and on all
first and second Saturday mornings of the month, we will have Torah Study at
9:00 a.m., followed by a worship
service at
10:00 a.m.
On all
third and fourth Saturday mornings of the month, we will have our Sleep-In Shabbats starting at
10:30 a.m. with Schmooze time, 11:00 a.m. Torah Study, and 12:00 p.m. Mincha service.
On the
third Saturday morning of the month, we will hold a Tot Shabbat service
led by Rabbi Silverman and Gavri Yares from
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. We invite you and your young children to join us in song!
Torah Portion for July 3rd - July 4th: Chukat-Balak,
Numbers 19:1 - 25:9
**Summer 2020 Shabbat Schedule Coming Soon...**
Community Coffee & Check-in with Rabbi Silverman
Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Zoom (see below for details)
Rabbi Silverman will be holding open hours to connect, catch-up, and drink some homemade coffee on Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m-11:30 a.m.
Link for all Coffee & Chat hours:
Or call 646.876.9923, Meeting ID 594 469 508
Detroit Partnership Shabbat
Saturday, July 11th, 9:00 a.m.
Use Zoom link for Shabbat (link on website)
Join us for our bi-monthly Detroit Partnership Shabbat, in partnership with Reconstructionist Congregation of Detroit. We look forward to bringing our communities together in prayer, song, and connection.
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If you need help setting up Zoom technology, please email us and we will walk you through it.
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Help Us Help You!
Worshiping with IADS
To ensure everyone's health and safety, IADS has been holding our services on Zoom, and will hold online High Holiday services this year.
The staff and board are working hard to be both considerate and creative about next steps. We understand many of you may be tired of sitting in front of a computer for work, education, social activities and religious services. We ask that you take 5 minutes to
complete this survey by
Monday, July 6th, so that we can better understand your needs and desires.
We will do our best to make your requests and suggestions happen! We appreciate your time and feedback and look forward to seeing you, even if virtually, very soon.
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A Conversation With My Friend
If you missed it yesterday, Rabbi Ariana Silverman and Pastor Aramis D. Hinds Sr. from Breakers Covenant Church International had a purposeful conversation on race in America and the importance of having challenging conversations. This discussion was moderated by BCCI member Gerald McLean.
We invite you to view and reflect on their conversation by viewing it here. Stay tuned for more discussions in the series of A Conversation With My Friend, as we address and work through our current times.
*Photo credit to Hour Detroit Magazine
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Resources to support the
Black Lives Matter Movement
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Downtown Synagogue Siddurim
Have you been participating in services? Are you ready to have your very own copy of the Downtown Synagogue prayer book? Our prayer book is unique as every Hebrew word is both transliterated and translated, and was prepared by our member Joe Lewis.
We are happy to provide contact-less delivery directly to you, so that you can continue to worship with us from the comfort of your home.
If you are interested in purchasing a prayer book for a suggested donation of $36, please reach out to Liz.
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Community Resources for COVID-19
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:
Unemployment Insurance Agency: Please visit the UIA website to learn about how to file for unemployment.
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.
Jewish Family Service: Please view this PDF to learn about all local resources, compiled by JFS. Resources include financial assistance, employment services, housing, food assistance, transportation, and much more.
Yad Ezra: Please visit Yad Ezra's website to learn more about their current food distribution services.
Pantry Net: Please visit Pantry Net's website to view a local listing of pantries throughout Michigan.
to view resources that may support the local Jewish community.
JHelp Food Delivery Program: JHELP/Kosher Meals on Wheels program is for people over 60 years of age and those with disabilities in the tri-county area who need Kosher food and do not have other options for receiving support with their food needs. The food delivery service is free.
For those who do not qualify for government funding and may be unable to pay the full cost of the meal, costs will be subsidized by the Jewish Federation and our generous donors.
Please call 1-833-445-4357 to register for this program.
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.
2-1-1 United Way: Please visit United Way's website to learn about local support resources being provided to community members.
Umbrella: Umbrella is coordinating free grocery delivery and medication pick up for Detroit seniors. People 60 and over can either fill out the form here or call them at 844-402-2480 (M-F 9am-6pm) to place an order.
As demand for deliveries increases, they are also seeking volunteers to do the shopping. Volunteers can sign up here. There is no minimum commitment to volunteer - even doing one grocery shop makes a big difference. All deliveries are contactless and hyperlocal.
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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.
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