Synagogue President, Samantha Woll, Stabbed to Death in Her Home

Samantha Woll, Board President of Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue image from https://latestbollyholly.com/samantha-woll-religion-jewish-muslim/

Detroit Tragedy: Synagogue Board President Pronounced Dead on the Scene

40-year-old President of Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, Samantha Woll, was pronounced dead on the scene by Detroit Police Department (DPD).  On Saturday at 6:30 a.m. in Lafayette Park, Michigan, Woll was reportedly stabbed to death, as stated in People.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the police released an afternoon statement that they investigated after finding a body stabbed many times in the 1300 block of Joliet Place. Following a trail of blood that led to the victim’s home, police concluded it was where the crime occurred. Further, Detroit Police Chief James White assured that “the DPD has mobilized many of its resources” and “has been leveraging every law enforcement and community resource it has.” The motive for the crime is still unclear.

Woll’s death left many in mourning. Her colleagues at Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue released a statement on Facebook, saying, “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Samantha Woll, our board president.”

The Detroit Free Press also stated that Woll was a previous co-worker of Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on her reelection campaign. That was before she served on the board of the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue. Both released statements on X (previously known as Twitter) regarding Woll’s death.

Slotkin wrote, “I and all of Team Slotkin is heartbroken at this news. Sam worked for me from nearly the moment I became a Congresswoman, helping us set up the office & helping to lead it for my full first term.”

Meanwhile, Nessel posted a photo of Woll and herself together, along with the caption, “I am shocked, saddened and horrified to learn of Sam’s brutal murder. Sam was as kind a person as I’ve ever known. She was driven by her sincere love of her community, state and country.”

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan also shared his sympathies, stating in X, “I was devastated today to learn of the loss of one of Detroit’s great young leaders – Samantha Woll. Just weeks ago, I shared a day of joy with Sam at the dedication of the newly renovated Downtown Synagogue. It was a project she successfully led with great pride and enthusiasm.”

It is everyone’s hope that the crime will be resolved soon.

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib Under Fiery Criticisms After Synagogue Board President’s Death

The reported death of Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue sent a wave of fiery critics towards Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who is already under scrutiny after blaming Israel for a deadly strike on a Gaza hospital, according to Newsweek.

Synagogue board president Samantha Woll was found dead by the Detroit Police Department (DPD) and pronounced dead on the scene after seeing multiple stab wounds, as stated by the Detroit Free Press. Woll was found dead outside her home in Michigan on a Saturday morning.

Although the motive was not clear, the crime still sent a wave of backlash towards Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat. Tlaib was already under scrutiny due to the very controversial post sent on X (previously Twitter). In this post, Tlaib attributed the devastating explosion at the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday, which killed close to 500 people, to Israel.

“Israel just bombed the Baptist Hospital killing 500 Palestinians (doctors, children, patients) just like that.” Tlaib said, “@POTUS this is what happens when you refuse to facilitate a ceasefire & help de-escalate. Your war and destruction only approach has opened my eyes and many Palestinian Americans and Muslims Americans like me. We will remember where you stood.”

However, extremist Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and Israel have all denied being behind the catastrophic attack.

Until now, it has been unclear if Synagogue Board President Woll’s homicide is linked with the conflict in the Middle East. However, people in social media have all been blaming Tlaib for promoting conflict.

Tlaib was accused of “spreading a blood libel” by Ellie Cohanim, a former deputy special envoy to combat antisemitism. In a post on X (formerly twitter), Ellie stated, “I point my finger at @RepRashida Tlaib for spreading a blood libel against Israel & Jews. I told @FoxFriendsFirst. Now, Jewish member of Tlaib’s district—the board president of a synagogue—Samantha Woll was found stabbed to death.”

Aside from Ellie, Avraham Berkowitz, who was an assistant to the president and special representative for international negotiations, also posted on X, pointing to Tlaib. In the post, Avraham mentioned, “If Samantha was Muslim @RashidaTlaib @RepRashida would have already accused and blamed Jews of her murder. Samantha was also the founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum of Detroit, a grassroots organization aimed to build relationships between young adults of both faiths.”

Since Hamas’ unexpected attack on Israel on October 7, Tlaib has been under fire, with demands that she denounce the militant group’s activities. Tlaib earlier issued a statement in which she expressed her condolences for the deaths on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides, but she did not express her outright condemnation of the attack by Hamas. Despite all these backlashes, Tlaib responded on her own with regards to the board president’s death. On a post in Facebook, Tlaib stated, “My friend, and a member of our organizing community, Sam Woll, was murdered. I have no words. She always had a sweet smile to offer and the warmest eyes to greet you. Our community is devastated, and we are shocked.”