The timing of the Jewish New Year always made more sense to me than the Gregorian new year. It coincides with new beginnings and matches our hopeful and optimistic mood. The weather is more tolerable. School has begun. Kids are excited to reunite with their friends. With their children at school, parents – who have been hanging on for dear life over the summer – finally have a semblance of order and normalcy in their lives. Football is back; fans can cling to the hope that this is the year the Lions are a playoff team or that Michigan wins the Big Ten. And those of us who play fantasy football are optimistic, probably overly-optimistic, about their recent draft. 

Rosh Hashanah, too, is a time for hope and optimism. Optimism about being written in the book of life. Optimism that this year we’ll better understand our patterns of individual and societal transgressions and actually do something to curtail them! 

As President of our board, I have to tell you – there is a lot to be optimistic about with the Downtown Synagogue in 5782. 

• You’ve likely heard we’re in the midst of a campaign for a renovation that allows our historic building to meet our current needs and align more closely with our values. We’ve raised over $4.2M and hope to begin construction in December. The renovation will feature a redesign of each floor, a new elevator, office spaces for our growing staff, and for other organizations wanting a presence in Detroit. 

• Throughout 5782, we’ll be blending in-person and virtual offerings to meet our community’s spiritual and community needs while considering the community’s health.  As you can see on our website, we’ll have in-person services and tot shabbats at least twice a month.  

• And, this December will mark Dowtown Synagogue’s 100th anniversary! We’ll kick-off the milestone with a gala event on Saturday night December 4th at the Velodrome in Midtown. We’re also working on a documentary – to be released in 2022 – that captures our incredible story. In between, we’re collecting your testimonials and inviting those who’ve been involved over the decades to be honored with an Aliyah during Shabbat services. 

And while we may believe all of this is certain to occur, Jewish tradition tells us not to mistake optimism with a false-certainty about the future. As I recently learned from my friend and NEXTGen Detroit President George Roberts, Jewish tradition does not believe in fate or a certain future. The Torah describes Jacob’s last hours as he summons his children. He wants to bless them before he dies. Jacob says: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come. Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.” (Gen. 49:1-2) Rashi comments however that “Jacob wished to reveal what would happen in the future, but the Divine presence was removed from him.” He tried to foresee the future but found he could not. The late Rabbi Jonathan Sachs explains that: “This is no minor detail. It is a fundamental feature of Jewish spirituality. We believe that we cannot predict the future when it comes to human beings. We make the future by our choices. The script has not yet been written. The future is radically open.” 

My optimism, the board and staff’s optimism, is contingent on your willingness to deliver on our collective future.   

• We need you to step up and help raise the last $275,000 for the renovation. We need you to literally answer the call when we reach out. Or, better yet, support the renovation even without an individual reach-out. Just tap me or the staff on the shoulder after services or message us on the Zoom stream. 

• We need you to attend our weekly Shabbat services and holiday programs. Bring your kids or grandkids to Tot Shabbat. Sign into the Torah study with Rabbi Silverman. Come to our renowned annual Simchat Torah celebration.  

• We need you to hold December 4th on your calendar, attend the centennial gala, provide anecdotes for our documentary, and tell those who were involved in the past to reengage and share in the yearlong centennial simcha. 

Rosh Hashanah is a time for hope. The Downtown Synagogue is on the cusp of an exciting period in our history. With your choices and actions, you – and only you – can bring our hopes to fruition.  

Shana Tova le’kehila shelanu. May it be a good year for our community.