Lost Synagogues of Detroit - Home Page

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Quietly nestled on a small side street, the former B'nai Jacob Synagogue on King Street in Detroit continues its religious role as the Sharon Community Church. This humble shul was one of several that comprised the spiritual backbone of an eastside shtetlhood where Jewish Detroit was centered in the early twentieth century.

^{Welcome to the}THE LOST SYNAGOGUES OF DETROIT ^Project

Beautiful, poignant and largely forgotten, the former synagogues of Detroit outline once closely knit neighborhoods from the days when Detroit was a conglomerate of vibrant immigrant and ethnic communities, of a time when families walked to their places of worship which stood in the midst of their neighborhoods.

Today almost all the synagogues of Detroit are Christian houses of worship for Detroit's Afro American community. This is a story of two communities and two faiths, told by those who worshipped and continue to worship in these houses of prayer.

Life moves on but the Lost Synagogues of Detroit live on and continue to serve their community and shelter its faith. Come with me as I explore this intriguing facet of Detroit history and help me to uncover and recover their story. I am an outsider to their history, I know little about them. Do you? Share them.

This is an audience authored story. The words you read and the stories you will hear are yours and those. Join the others who are contributing their memories and knowledge. Many thanks to those of you who have contributed your stories to this project.

This art site has been created by Lowell Boileau, author of the Fabulous Ruins of Detroit website.

MISHKAN YISROEL
FALLS INTO RUINS

Welcome to Shtetlhood.com, a voyage of discovery of the former Jewish Synagogues and institutions in the City of Detroit, as told by you the reader. Add your memories.

Enjoy, Lowell

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Got stories of facts about any of these synagogues / churches? You are invited to share them with the world.

On each page you will see a SHARE MEMORIES link. Simply click that link and follow the easy instructions to post your memories and pictures for all to enjoy.

This is an audience authored art work and you are the artists.

The Lost Synagogues of Detroit is a dedicated to the shuls that are today mostly African American Baptist Churches.Includes information about Detroit, synagogue, synagogues, shul, jewish, jew, synagog, temple, Beth El, menorah, Shaarey Zedek, torah, mogen david, Temple Israel, Sinai Hospital, B'nai David, Beth Olem, Avas Achim, Beth Aaron, reform, conservative, rabbi, Adat Shalom, Israel, beth emmanual, schvitz, Albert Kahn and Butzel.