The Block Party will feature a dedication ceremony, live music, food, building tours, activities for kids and more.

At last year’s Downtown Synagogue Block Party, Samantha Woll stood at the podium in front of family, friends, colleagues and community, as proud as can be.

The event celebrated the grand reopening of the reimagined synagogue after five years of fundraising and a year of construction for phase one of its comprehensive building renovation.

Woll, who served as president of the synagogue, played a major role in leading the synagogue’s fundraising campaign, grand reopening and overall revitalization of the congregation in the heart of Detroit.

This year’s Block Party will be another celebration — of the completion of phase two of the synagogue’s renovation, and a celebration of Samantha Woll’s life and memory.

Specifically, the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue’s (IADS) third annual Block Party on Sunday, Aug. 25, will celebrate the completion of its long-awaited roof deck and the naming of the building in honor of Woll.

The Block Party will feature a dedication ceremony, live music, food, building tours, activities for kids and more. The event is free and open to the Metro Detroit Jewish community. Registration is requested at downtownsynagogue.org/blockparty. Online registration ends Aug. 23. Walk-in registration will be available on the day of the event.

The building itself will be named after Samantha Woll. The synagogue will still be named after Isaac Agree.

The story behind it is simple — it was a true mutual fit. The synagogue board wanted to do something to honor Woll, to remember her and recognize her importance in the community. The Woll family knew the synagogue was looking for someone to whom they could dedicate the building. When the family came forward with a generous gift, it was unanimously approved by the board.

The family and synagogue board worked together to come up with a specific name that will be on a new exterior sign placed on the building. The sign and name they chose will be unveiled during the dedication ceremony. There will also be an interior plaque with Samantha’s picture and story.

It’s been less than a year since Woll’s death. This gesture, while bittersweet, is beyond meaningful to everyone she touched.

“It’s still very hard. I miss her,” said IADS Rabbi Arianna Silverman. “I’m looking forward to seeing her name when I walk into the building and being able to honor the values she cherished. It’s both inspiring and exciting to be able to do this, and it’s also going to be very painful and difficult.”

Rachel Rudman, IADS executive director, added, “She poured so much of her heart and soul into this place and into the people that value this place so much. It’s so special and meaningful to be able to have her name permanently associated with the building, and to have her legacy and memory live on here through that.”

When Samantha moved back to Detroit about 10 years ago, she wanted a place where she could daven and observe her religion and its rituals and traditions. She found a home in the Downtown Synagogue.

“She fell in love with the synagogue, the people and the service,” said Margo Woll, Samantha’s mother.

Samantha loved that the Downtown Synagogue was accepting of all people. She had friends there who were 5 years old and 85 years old. She truly enjoyed the community aspect of the synagogue.

“Samantha was extremely involved in the synagogue for the last decade. It became an enormous part of her life, and she gave a lot to it,” said Monica Woll Rosen, Samantha’s sister. “We felt a fitting way to recognize her dedication and her memory would be to always have her connected in some way to this space.”

Phase 2 Completion

Phase two of the renovation is completed, highlighted by the completion of the roof deck.

The roof deck will be multipurpose. It will be used as a regular work and hangout space during the workweek for Downtown Synagogue staff and shared workspace partners. On evenings and weekends, it will be available for programs and events like small happy hours, rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions (the capacity is about 50 people).

The synagogue is especially excited to use the roof deck as a space to put a sukkah outside. Those interested in booking the space are encouraged to reach out to the synagogue.

The synagogue community has been beyond excited for the completed project.

“People have asked to go up and see it, so we’ve taken small groups to see the construction as it’s moved along,” Rabbi Silverman said. “There’s something about being up there that makes you smile — to see the city, to feel the sunshine, to know you’re downtown in the city of Detroit, it feels very much like we’re in the place we belong.”

The completed roof deck is also linked to the legacy of Samantha Woll.

“She was actually the one leading the charge on the fundraising for the roof deck build-out, so having that be complete is a nice tribute to her, too,” Rudman said.

Woll took great pride in how far the synagogue had come since she got involved a decade ago.

“She was very proud to show how it came from this very old building that needed help to this beautiful modern structure,” Margo said. “It was especially important to her to have a working elevator for people who couldn’t climb the steps to go to services. Getting a functional elevator to the second-floor sanctuary was a big focus of hers.”

Monica recalls how deeply her sister believed in the revival of the Jewish community in Detroit, wanting so badly for it to once again be a vibrant place for Jewish people to live happily.

“And she dedicated the last years of her life to make that dream a reality,” Monica said.

Rudman and Rabbi Silverman hope this year’s Block Party succeeds in doing what synagogues so often do best — bring

people together.

“And that was Sam. She was the person that greeted you when you walked in, made sure you had somebody to talk to and introduced people who didn’t know each other,” Rudman said. “She was the best at building community that way.”

The Downtown Synagogue Block Party on Aug. 25 will be a day to celebrate, remember and continue the legacy of a Jewish leader gone too soon.

“We’re hopeful that when people see this building, they remember all the good she did in the world, how tirelessly she fought for social justice and inclusion, and how she was a bridge builder for all walks of life,” Monica said. “We’re hopeful people are inspired by her legacy when they see her name on the building, and to be kind and generous.”

“And,” Margo added. “To carry on the way she would have.”

By: Danny Schwartz
 Aug 6, 2024