ANRivorptimmprimposompompipowiabliw THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 22 Friday, December 17, 1982 ******* t ♦ Grave Still Stands of Rabbi Who Banned Polygamy 4, FOR YOUR • By ALLAN BLUSTEIN Chaplain, Sinai Hospital 1983 : Seldom, if ever, do Ameri- can Jews who have studied Talmud with the Rashi and CADILLAC • Tosaphot Commentaries, the precious oppor- 1 SEE ME t obtain tunity to visit the final rest- ing place of the tzaddik without whose efforts, those brilliant additions to Torah 10 Sales & Leasing learning, would never have been compiled or preserved for us. • at AUDETTE CADILLAC He is the great luminary .7100 Orchard Lake Rd.. of his people (Meor-ha-Gola) Rabeinu Gershom ben at Northwestern, Judah, founder of the ♦ west Bloomfield ♦ French and German schools rabbinic learning and • (3 13) 851-7200 * of authority for some of the most lasting and far- reaching enactments • PERSONALIZED SERVICE (takanot) in the realm of Jewish tradition. GUARANTEED Born in Metz, France *TIM AUDETTE ♦ • +******4 FRANK'S TUXEDO RENTAL 26121 SOUTHFIELD RD., 1 Blk. S. of 11 Mile Rd. Lathrup Village 557-8846 • ALL SIZES WITH THE FINEST FIT • LARGE SELECTION OF THE LATEST COLORS & STYLES - FREE GROOM'S TUXEDO WITH WEDDING PARTY OF 6 OR MORE near the German border in the year 960, Rabeinu Gershom lived through some of the most terrible persecutions ever to befall his people, even at that comparatively early period in European history. These afflictions as well as some personal tragedies failed to deter this man from instil- ling into the hearts and minds of his vast as- semblage of students a love for Torah Judaism which succeeded in assuring an unbroken 'development of all aspects of Jewish life down through the ages. His famous prohibition of polygamy among European Jewry was but one example of the inci- sive and all- encompassing range of his abilities. His ap- proach was a sacred and pious one to the critical needs of his people but it remained at all times a pertinent and practical one as well. The monument over the grave of Rabeinu Gershom stands to this day in the an- cient Jewish cemetery of Mainz, Germany where he was buried in 1040. In that same year was born in the small town of Troyes, the incomparable IA watch doesn't only tell time, but tells who you are. DISTINCT DESIGNS MAKE T.H. GRANT UNIQUE Jewelry Designers & Manufacturers of Original and Unusual Creations • Authorized Appraisers • Estate Liquidators 31313 Norti hwestern . . Farmington Hills Inc_ HOURS Mon. - Sot. 9:30 - 5:00 Sunday, December '12 and December 19 851-7333 11-4 ° C&1644 PHOTOGRAPHERS 14000 WEST LINCOLN BLVD. — OAK PARK, MICHIGAN 48237 COMPLETE PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICE • FULL LINE OF INVITATIONS • WEDDINGS • BAR MITZVAHS WE NOW CAPTURE • BAT MITZVAHS BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES ON VIDEO — PHOTOGRAPHIC SPECIALIST — ; 398-4700 ---- , 41f 104 2 7 .=-. '' jewel of Torah learning, Rashi ha-Kodesh. Uncannily, for reasons not wholly understood as known, the Nazi barbarians did not demolish this cemetery completely during the short-lived "Thousand Year Reich," and therefore the old and hallowed monument over the grave still stands, bearing witness to the undying spirit that inspires all who come there to pay homage. The student discovers the humility of Gershom in one of his responsa. He credits all the knowledge he has been privileged to amass to his instruction at the feet of the great Rabbi Judah ben Meir-ha-Kohen: Also, the student finds that a disciple of Rabeinu Gershom and teacher of Rashi, Rabbi Jacob ben Yakar, is also interred in this same cemetery on the hillside at 85 Mombacherstrasse in Mainz. Many other greats of the Jewish People are buried here, including the prolific poet and liturgist, Rabbi Meshul- lam ben Kolonymus, whose works can be found in abundance in the High Holy Day prayer book. After the terrible pog- roms following the Black Death in 1348, the cemetery was desecrated by the ig- norant mobs seeking en- geance on the Jews for l av- ing "poisoned the we' ls." The headstones of 200 graves dating back to the 11th Century were -over- turned and strewn about. Not until after World War II did the Germans o the Mainz City Council feel any shame over this 600-year- old stain on their •pity's honor. With some prodding by the local German-Jewish Gemeinde and the West German Landesfarband, the cemetery was restored and rededicated. About the year 1000, Rabeinu Gershom ben Judah called into being a synod of noted scholars from all over Europe. Chief among this council's achievements were: the banning of polygamy among Jews in Europe; the need to obtain consent of both parties to a divorce; modification of the rules concerning those who undergo Baptism under compulsion; and the prohib- ition of opening corre- spondence addressed to somebody else. Gershom was a forgiv- ing soul as well as a com- passionate one. Although he mourned and sat shiva for his own apostate son during the persecutions of 1012 in Mainz, he nevertheless preached tolerance of these pitiful persons and he forbade any public rebuke of them by the Jewish community. He even allowed them to pro- nounce the benediction in the synagogues. In addition to his literary responsa, Rabeinu Gershom wrote selihot (penitential prayers) which tried to soothe the wounds of his people during times of Jewish blood-letting. He also produced commen- taries on the Mishna and Talmud which became the forerunners for Rashi and the Tosaphists in France and Germany. He served as the example par excellence for a mul- titude of rabbis and teachers who came after and tried to follow in his footsteps. Readers Forum) Materials submitted to the Readers Forum must be brief. The writer's name will be withheld from publication upon request. No unsigned letters will be published. Materials will not be returned unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is enclosed. Women's Role in Judaism Editor, The Jewish News: The Dec. 10 article writ- ten by Dr. David Geffen was misleading and inaccurate pertaining to women's role in Hanuka. Dr. Geffen states: "Whereas on other holidays during the Jewish calendar year the role of women can be circumscribed and oft- times is virtually non- existent, at Hanuka the very opposite is the case." The following excerpts from "A Guide for the Jewish Woman and Girl" by Dov Eisenberg, approved by Ray Moshe Feinstein and many other prominent rab- binic authorities, will ex- plain. "Every girl and woman must either recite Kidush (on Shabbos and Yom Toy) for herself, or lis- ten while an adult man or woman recites it." "Hanuka — The mitzva (menora) may be fulfilled by either man or woman, since the obligation rests on both equally. How- ever women customarily do not, light if any male family member resides in the house (although it appears that in some families single girls do light. Note: it does not say women can't) "Purim — Both men and women are obligated to hear the Megilla . . . If there is no one to read the Megilla for her, she should read it for herself (from a kosher Megilla). In that case she may read it for other girls and women . . . The mitzvos of sending gifts to friends and money to at least two poor individuals apply to women as well as men." "Passover — The laws and customs of the Seder night apply to both men and women equally . . . The day before Pesach is a fast- day for male firstborns. While the first-born male is small, the obligation rests on the father. If the father is a first-born, the obligation rests on the mother." "Rosh Hashana — Al- though women are not re- quired to hear the sounding of the shofar since it is a pos- itive mitzva that applies only at specified certain times, they traditionally do observe this mitzva." (Women are exempt, not prohibited, from many pos- itive mitzvas.) "Yom Kippur — As in the case with Shabbos, a woman ushers in Yom . , • • ''• '• Kippur by lighting the candles." (This is true of every Yom Tov.) "It is an old custom for fathers and according to some for the. mother, too, to bless the children before the onset of Yom Kippur . . . Women as well as men are required to say Viduy (Confessional) on Yom Kippur." "Sukkot — Women are not required to eat and sleep in the sukka because it is a positive mitzva that applies only at specified certain times though many do eat in the sukka as a matter of course . . . Women are not required to Bensch Lulav (for the above reason). However most girls and women do observe the mitzva and recite the blessings." Besides the above, it should also be mentioned that on Purim the Book of Esther is read. On Shavout the Book of Ruth is read. On Rosh Hashana (first day) the Haftorah concerning Hanna is read. The most elevated prayer in Jewish liturgy, the Amida, is mod- elled after Hanna's prayer. It is important that the myth of Judaism being a patriarchal religion be ended. Only through proper education can Jewish women assume their right- ful role. As is stated in Mid- rash Zutah, Ruth, "Each generation is redeemed be- cause of the righteous women of that generation." Mrs. Rus Krieger 50% OF BABIES BORN MENTALLY RETARDED DON'T HAVE TO BE. You can help. Support Jewish Association for Retarded Citizens 24525 Smithfield, Rd., Suite 107 Southfield, Mi. 48075 557-7650 A Public Service Contribution