The Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue (IADS) was established in 1921, at a time when there were many synagogues located in Detroit.

Its principal mission was to address the unmet needs of the Jewish community, particularly for those who worked downtown, were unaffiliated with another synagogue, or were visiting the city, by providing an egalitarian Jewish presence, rooted in tradition, in the heart of Detroit. Membership dues were optional and continue to be minimal. The basic cost of maintaining the Synagogue was underwritten by a Memorial Society established in memory of Isaac Agree.

In addition to providing daily, Sabbath, and holiday services – principally but not exclusively for those saying kaddish or observing Yahrzeit, IADS offered High Holiday Services, free and without obligation, for the entire Jewish community of metropolitan Detroit. These services were and continue to be attended by many hundreds seeking a place to worship on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In short, one of IADS’s principal missions has always been to provide an accessible and open space of worship and celebration for everyone.

As much of the Jewish community migrated to suburban Detroit, IADS, like the city itself, has suffered from a shrinking population and a depletion of resources. In recent years, daily services have, of necessity, been eliminated. However, the Downtown Synagogue proudly continues to offer weekly Sabbath services, as well as High Holiday services, the latter of which attracts hundreds of worshipers.

The Synagogue is housed in a historic four-story building, a building that it has occupied and owned since the early 1960s. Located at 1457 Griswold Street, the unique triangular design creates an incomparable, interesting space. In 2020, we launched a comprehensive campaign to Reimagine the Downtown Synagogue and renovate our building to become the hub for Jewish life in Detroit. We raised $5.75 million and our building is currently under construction. We are reopening in fall 2023. To read more about our Reimagining the Downtown Synagogue comprehensive campaign, click here.

We hired professional staff, starting in 2012, with generous grants from the Berman Foundation, The Jewish Fund, and the William Davidson Foundation, including an Executive Director, Program Coordinator, office staff and in 2016, our first Rabbi in more than 16 years. Detroiters, suburbanites, tourists–Jews and non-Jews of all ages, particularly a high percentage of young adults–have visited IADS since 2012 for worship services, holiday celebrations, concerts, Lunch & Learns, dance parties, Rosh Chodesh groups, book clubs, educational programs, and community service projects.

Additionally, we have been successful in engaging unaffiliated young Jewish adults, a group that has been underserved in Metro Detroit: Approximately 50% of our Board members and committee chairs are under the age of 40 and many live in the City of Detroit.