Donate to Adat Shalom Synagogue  Adat Shalom Synagogue Calendar

About Adat Shalom Synagogue

HISTORY

Adat Shalom Synagogue began modestly in 1943 to serve the religious needs of the Jewish community in Northwest Detroit. Some 52 members formed the nucleus of a small, neighborhood congregation and applied to the State of Michigan for a charter under the name “Northwest Hebrew Congregation.” High Holy Day Services were conducted in 1944 in a building on Livernois near Seven Mile Road. A traditional service was led by a guest rabbi and cantor. Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the first election of officers took place, and by resolution of the new Board of Trustees and a decision of the general membership, the congregation joined United Synagogue of America in February 1945, thus officially identifying with the Conservative Movement.

Rabbi Jacob E. Segal

Membership grew dramatically, and the need for permanent quarters became evident. In the fall of 1945, under a huge tent, a ground-breaking ceremony was held on Curtis Avenue for the initial wing of the synagogue. By September 1946, we had 400 member families and had decidedly outgrown our school facilities and private service quarters of preceding months. Plans were made to establish a branch of The United Hebrew Schools within the new building, the first such union of a communal Hebrew School and a synagogue in Michigan. That same year the Synagogue purchased a 25-acre cemetery on Six Mile Road near Middlebelt, now called Adat Shalom Memorial Park.

In August 1946, Rabbi Jacob E. Segal was engaged as the synagogue’s first spiritual leader. As the congregation grew further, attention focused on the beauty of the worship service and the cultural expression of the Jewish People. Pavel Slavensky became our first permanent cantor, succeeded in 1949 by Cantor Nicholas Fenakel, who served as our cantor for 26 years. Along with a now active Sisterhood and Men’s Club, an Institute of Jewish Studies was formed. The Religious School blossomed, and the first Confirmation took place in 1948.

Adat Shalom Synagogue

In June of 1951, after much study and research, a general meeting was held to select a new name for the congregation, more in keeping with a spiritual institution. Adas Shalom, ” Congregation of Peace,” was the popular choice. A brand new sanctuary was dedicated with ceremony and reverence in the spring of 1952. Adat Shalom now truly anchored a Jewish neighborhood, while, at the same time, the synagogue became a leader among congregations in the support of Israel.

Our youth movement intensified, and Rabbi Segal tirelessly pursued another dream: to afford Jewish children the opportunity for a deep, informed Jewish day school education. In 1958, Hillel Day School came into being. With the aid of equally compelled and dedicated congregants, Adas Shalom and Hillel began a relationship that would grow ever closer and productive in the following decades.

cantor-larry-vieder

Cantor Larry Vieder

Cantor Larry Vieder arrived on the scene early in 1960 and undertook a unique program of youth involvement in the adult worship services. In those years the groundwork was laid within the congregation for many future Jewish communal leaders.

Synagogue membership had reached its capacity at the Curtis building, which was now “bursting at the seams.” Most of the congregation’s families were relocating farther northwest into the suburbs, and the time had come to move. A bold proposal to build a new synagogue complex at Middlebelt and 13 Mile Roads in Farmington Hills was accepted. At the same time, in keeping with the Sephardic pronunciation of Hebrew in Israel and the new modern Hebrew used during services, Adas Shalom became Adat Shalom.

A magnificent new edifice was planned and constructed at the Farmington Hills site, incorporating echoes of the then-new Israel Museum in Jerusalem, with its indoor-outdoor ambiance. After impressive ceremonies leaving the Curtis building and bringing the Torah Scrolls to the new location, the campaign was on to re-attract former members and to become a known and visible address in a social context vastly different from the closeness and warmth of the original neighborhood. The first High Holiday services in the new Farmington Hills synagogue building were held in 1973.

Rabbi Seymour Rosenbloom, who joined the synagogue as our Assistant Rabbi in 1972, came to the aid of Rabbi Segal during the illness before his death in 1975. Rabbi Rosenbloom was named Rabbi of the Congregation in 1975 and guided the congregation with detailed concern and firm decision through the growing pains of new life in the suburbs until he departed for Philadelphia three years later. Creative energy resulted in many impressive accomplishments in all areas.

Rabbi Efry Spectre

Rabbi Efry Spectre

Rabbi Efry Spectre assumed his duties as Rabbi of Adat Shalom on Sukkot of 1978. A dramatic Ner Tamid Campaign successfully ended crippling bank obligations, and the synagogue was poised to grow dramatically. Executive Director Alan Yost headed the administrative department as membership totals climbed and many exciting new programs were developed. Rabbi Elliot Pachter was hired as Assistant Rabbi in 1987 and served the synagogue for five years. In the summer of 1991 we welcomed Cantor Howard Glantz, who succeeded Cantor Vieder in 1993. The following fall Rabbi Daniel Nevins joined our Clergy. Rabbi Nevins is now the Pearl Resnick Dean of the Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

rabbi-daniel-nevins

Rabbi Daniel Nevins

Having celebrated our 50th anniversary in 1995, the congregation continues to play a vital role in the lives of more than 1200 member families, in the Detroit-metropolitan Jewish Community, and in the Conservative Movement. Our Early Childhood Center and Education and Youth Department offer educational and social programming from Mother-Toddler classes through 12th grade. Family and adult education programs, social action opportunities, Chavurot, affiliates comprised of our Sisterhood, Men’s Club and Social Action Committee, and Young Adult Group all combine to make Adat Shalom stronger than ever. In June, 1998, members of Congregation Beth Achim overwhelmingly approved a merger with Adat Shalom Synagogue, along with the sale of its building to the United Jewish Foundation. Following months of merger negotiations, the Beth Achim congregational vote was the last in a series of official steps leading to the two congregations worshiping together in Farmington Hills by the 5759 High Holy Days.

Rabbi Aaron Bergman - Adat Shalom Synagogue - Detroit, MichiganRabbi Herbert Yoskowitz joined the Adat Shalom clergy in July of 1998, becoming Rabbi Emeritus in 2018. Rabbi Rachel Shere was a member of our clergy 2004 to 2021, when she announced her retirement. Cantor Frank Lanzkron-Tamarazo served as cantor from 2007 to 2009. Rabbi Aaron Bergman joined the Adat Shalom clergy as its Mara d’Atra, July 1, 2008. Hazzan Daniel Gross joined our clergy in July of 2009. Rabbi Daniel S. Horwitz was part of the clergy team from July 2021 – July 2023. Also in July 2021, Rabbi Blair Nosanwisch joined our staff in the position of Director of Spiritual Care, transitioning into a full-time clergy member in July 2022.