Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue

What Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue does

Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue (IADS), founded in 1921, is an independent egalitarian Jewish congregation and the only free-standing synagogue in downtown Detroit. It operates from a historic four-story building at 1457 Griswold Street (owned since 1964), which underwent a $7.5 million comprehensive renovation completed in August 2023 and was rededicated in August 2024 as the Samantha Woll Center for Jewish Detroit. The congregation serves the Jewish community of Metropolitan Detroit — including downtown workers, unaffiliated Jews, visitors, families with children, and LGBTQ and interfaith households — through a pluralistic, no-mandatory-dues model with free High Holiday services open to all.

Core offerings include weekly Shabbat services (Friday Kabbalat Shabbat at 6pm, Saturday at 10:30am), High Holiday services, lifecycle officiation (weddings, baby namings, conversions, bar/bat mitzvahs), the Dor Hadash religious school for children (directed by Nicole Ellefson), community programming, and a curated library. Following the renovation, IADS has expanded into a multi-purpose Jewish community hub: "The Sam" is a third-floor coworking space hosting partner organizations including Federation, JCC, Hazon, Repair the World, JCRC/AJC, Jewish Family Services, and the Reconstructionist Congregation of Detroit (RCD). The organization also rents its event space, rooftop deck, and conference rooms.

The business model is a nonprofit donation-and-grant model with no mandatory membership dues. Revenue streams include monthly Sustainer contributions ($180/household/month suggested, fully voluntary), one-time and tribute donations, foundation grants (William Davidson, Max and Marjorie Fisher, Gilbert Family, Mandell L. Berman, Applebaum, Norman and Esther Allan, D. Dan and Betty Kahn, The Jewish Fund, Donald R. and Esther Simon, Ben Teitel), and ancillary rental income from coworking and event space. GTM is community-led via Shabbat services, High Holidays, block parties, educational programming, and word-of-mouth. Staff totals 8 employees, including Rabbi Ariana Silverman (since 2016) and Executive Director Rachel Rudman (since January 2022).

Name

Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue

Legal name

Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue

Website

https://downtownsynagogue.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue is a 1921-founded egalitarian, pluralistic Jewish congregation in downtown Detroit that operates without mandatory dues, offering Shabbat and free High Holiday services, religious education, and a coworking hub for regional Jewish organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Jewish religious services
• Religious education
• Community programming
• Jewish coworking space
• Nonprofit synagogue

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sustainer Program: Primary revenue comes from voluntary donations through the Downtown Synagogue Sustainer program where members contribute monthly amounts ($180/household/month suggested). No mandatory membership dues are required.
2. Foundation Grants: The synagogue receives support from multiple foundations including Norman and Esther Allan Foundation, Applebaum Family Foundation, Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman Foundation, William Davidson Foundation, Max and Marjorie Fisher Foundation, Gilbert Family Foundation, The Jewish Fund, D. Dan and Betty Kahn Foundation, Donald R. and Esther Simon Family Foundation, and Ben Teitel Fund.
3. Downtown Synagogue Sustainers: Monthly giving program where members commit to recurring donations at levels meaningful to them. Also includes one-time donation options and tribute gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue operates an egalitarian, pluralistic Jewish congregation offering weekly Shabbat and High Holiday religious services, lifecycle event officiation, a children's religious school (Dor Hadash), community programming, a Jewish coworking space (The Sam), a curated library, and event space rental. The organization operates as a dues-optional nonprofit funded by voluntary Sustainer donations and foundation grants, serving as a hub for Jewish life in downtown Detroit.

Product overview

Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue (IADS) is a single-facility religious organization offering a portfolio of Jewish community services centered around its historic downtown Detroit building. Core offerings include weekly and holiday religious services, children's religious education, and a Jewish coworking space called 'The Sam.' The synagogue also provides community programming, a library, and space rental for events. The organization operates the Samantha Woll Center for Jewish Detroit, which extends programming, learning, and gathering capabilities. The building serves as a hub for both IADS programming and partner Jewish organizations including Federation, JCC, Hazon, and Repair the World.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Samantha Woll Center for Jewish Detroit: A dedicated space within the building for programming, learning, and gathering that extends the synagogue's reach and deepens its impact. The building was dedicated in memory of Samantha Woll in August 2024.

Products and services

• Religious Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 415 member households with over 100 children
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Reconstructionist Congregation of Detroit (RCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCD is located within the Downtown Synagogue where its historic objects are housed. The two congregations conduct joint Shabbat services once every other month. RCD celebrated its 25th anniversary with a Partnership Shabbat at IADS.
• Bethel Community Transformation CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPastor Aramis Hinds leads partnership efforts. The Bethel Community Transformation Center welcomes High Holiday services at their historic site, making celebration possible in partnership with IADS.
• FederationmajorOthersPartner organization with dedicated desk or staff presence in the renovated building's shared workspace on the third floor.
• JCCmajorOthersJewish Community Center with presence in the building's shared workspace hub for Jewish organizations.
• HazonminorOthersJewish environmental organization with programming space in the synagogue building.
• Repair the WorldminorOthersJewish service organization with presence in the building's shared workspace.
• JCRC/AJCminorOthersJewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee with programming space in the building.
• Jewish Family ServicesminorOthersJewish social services organization utilizing space in the building.
• Shalom Hartman InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading center of Jewish thought and education serving Israel and North America. Rabbi Silverman is a fellow in the Rabbinic Leadership Initiative. The institute curates a library shelf and provides educational programming.
• Cohn Haddow Center for Judaic Studies at Wayne State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner curating a library shelf with books on Jewish history and culture.
• Jewish Historical Society of MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner curating books on Detroit Jewish history including topics like Piquette Avenue Plant, Black Bottom, and urban history.
• RebootminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish arts and culture non-profit helping curate the Jewish Arts shelf in the library.
• PJ LibraryminorOthersJewish children's book program with shelf dedicated in the library and programming for families.
• Architectural Salvage Warehouse of DetroitminorOthersLocal non-profit that donated reclaimed oak wood from Congregation Shaarey Zedek for building the library shelves.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Congregation B'nai Moshe: Conservative synagogue in West Bloomfield. Comparable to IADS as a full-service Jewish congregation serving the Detroit metro Jewish population with religious education, lifecycle events, and community programming.
• Congregation Shaarey Zedek: Historic Conservative synagogue in Southfield. Donated reclaimed oak wood was used by IADS for library shelving during the renovation, signaling direct cultural and community ties. Competes for the same Metro Detroit Jewish household base.
• Adat Shalom Synagogue: Conservative synagogue in Farmington Hills serving the Metro Detroit Jewish community. Another suburban alternative to IADS's downtown positioning, with comparable programming and lifecycle services.
• Beth Israel Congregation (Ann Arbor): Reform Jewish congregation in nearby Ann Arbor. IADS Director of Operations Heather Gale previously served there as Director of Youth Education, demonstrating direct operational overlap and leadership cross-pollination.
• Temple Israel (West Bloomfield): One of the largest Reform congregations in Metro Detroit. Competes with IADS for the same broad Jewish community across the Detroit metro area, though it serves a different geographic catchment.
• Temple Beth El (Bloomfield Hills): Large Reform Jewish congregation in Metro Detroit. IADS Executive Director Rachel Rudman previously worked there for six years, indicating direct operating model familiarity. Functions as a primary suburban alternative to IADS for Jewish families in the region.

Emerging players

• Lab/Shul (New York): Experimental, pluralistic Jewish community in NYC focused on creativity, inclusion, and reimagining Jewish spiritual practice. Shares IADS's egalitarian, no-mandatory-dues ethos and serves as a comparable model for urban Jewish congregation innovation.

Broad incumbents

• IKAR (Los Angeles): Pioneering pluralistic, egalit-led Jewish congregation in Los Angeles known for its non-dues-based accessibility model and community innovation. Conceptually a leader in the same space IADS occupies — modern, urban, inclusive Jewish community.
• Congregation Emanu-El (New York): Large historic Reform synagogue in NYC known for operating as a major cultural and community hub. Comparable to IADS in its commitment to using synagogue facilities as broader civic and cultural venues.

Others

• Bethel Community Transformation Center: Faith-based community organization in Detroit led by Pastor Aramis Hinds that partners with IADS for High Holiday services. Demonstrates the kind of interfaith urban revitalization collaboration that IADS is built around.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isaac-agree-downtown-synagogue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue