16 Friday, May 18, 1984 TH2E' DETROli- JEWIS H NEWS JINGLES Wedding, Rehearsal and Ceremony Assistance Sharon Padzensky CLOSE-UP THE MAGIC CLOWN Available for Children's Parties 559-4757 544-4196 o pt IMSE '43 SINTTIERS Continued from preceding page es / 81 84x84 1W '•7x04 1W I," 1W 87x84 8W I 114u11111111n1 t e 80.00 WOO *LC: 7200 8200 1oZ0o 04.00 8200 75.00 FREE HOME ESTIMATES PLUS FREE INSTALLATION CUSTOM WOOD SHUTTERS SWIM MOVABLE •F FMK • 21 /1. 31, 4Y2 • nITICAL LOUVER ests, the force that truly motivates him is love and concern for the Jewish people. "That's what makes me run," he says. "My work on the Talmud is not for me to show off but to make that wisdom available to our people. I try to build as many bridges as I can because it's a matter of survi- val. "Much of what I do is hardship. I once vowed never to give talks in public because I don't do them well. So here I am on a lecture tour. And no one thought I would be a good teacher because I have no patience; I don't tolerate fools. So here I am a teacher. I'd like to be an engineer, or an inven- tor, or to work with my hands as a stonecutter. But I am part of a mis- sion and I must help in areas that are difficult for others." Steinsaltz plans to open a new yeshivah this fall which will seek to create a corps of bright leaders, not just scholars. "I hope to inspire in them a feeling of duty to their people, a sense of service and servitude. Other yeshivahs excel at pure Torah study; I want to work with those who can inspire others, who can reach out and transmit this notion of commit- ment to the Jewish people." But bringing Jews back Judaism, he recognizes, hinges on that first step of commitment. "I don't - say to someone, 'First you must be- lieve.' In fact, theologically speaking, I would say that to speak about belief is either unnecessary or hopeless. Like trying to describe, say, a watermelon. I say, 'Taste and see if it is good. Take a bite.' "I cannot describe a taste. I can only say, 'it was good for me. Have a bite. Get involved. See for yourself.' " Fighting with the angels SOUTHFIELD 29215 Southfield Rd. (N. of 12 Mlle) 559-4668 LIVONIA 33710 Plymouth Rd. (W. of Farm. Rd.) M-S 104, Sun...12-4 N.D.signewor WEST BLOOMFIELD 31205 Orchard Lake Rd. 261-6530 In Farrell's Shop Center: M-W 104, Th. 10-8, F/S 10-6; Sun. 12-4 855-6972 (in Hunters Square) MON., TUES., THURS., SAT. 10-5:30, WED., FRI., 10-9, SUN. 12-4 411 STERUNG:NEIOWS APPOINTMENT 011L) 979_4545 Ilk . FOR $2999! MONTH NO MONEY DOWN? with." F ollowing is a sampling of that a strong identity only comes Steinsaltz's observations, from wrestling with the existential culled from his writings, talks and question, Who am I? If someone isn't past interviews: challenged by his environment to On Jewish education: The one, wrestle with this question, then he positive, clear-cut result of the Sun- can safely depend on that environ- day school system is that kids come ment for the external shell that out of it knowing that the path of passes for an identity. And with ex- Judaism is worthless. But even so, I ternal enemies, the temptation am for it. At least they still have the grows to define oneself through the connection. And that is the most pos- struggle against anti-Semitism or itive thing one can say about most anti-Zionism. But the cultural or- Jewish organizations. Its members ganism which then develops is like belong to the Jewish family.— be- an invertebrate animal, with no long even though I don't know how or backbone of its own. It has only an why. I may hate it. But it's mine.' " outer shell, toughened by the On pulpit rabbis: "The rabbi environment. Meaningful Jewish doesn't teach and the congregation survival requires the strengthening doesn't learn. It's a kind of colossal of an inner backbone that is uniquely trick. The community knows it has to Jewish, without having to rely on ex- have a rabbi. But it doesn't feel it ternal factors. needs a rabbi in the sense that a man "I maintain that the Talmud, as needs a doctor when he is ill or a the central pillar of Jewish culture drink when he is thirsty." through the centuries, is still the On stimulating American Jews: main source of spiritual calcium for "An American professor told me that our collective backbone." what American Jews need is a good On the religious inner struggle: dose of anti-Semitism. But it's not the "An affair with heaven is compli- best remedy. You can be pushed into cated. It never goes smoothly — at doing some things, but the best re- least if it is in any way worthwhile. medy is from within." Judaism is a matter of questions, of On Jewish survival: "A great fighting with God. None of the Bibli- irony of the Zinoist achievement is cal heroes are restful. They are all that Israel provides the most fertile struggling. That is what makes them ground for assimilation in the world great. today. People think that if they speak "I'll go on fighting with the Hebrew, serve in the Israel army, angels — good ones and bad ones — and give their children Biblical for another couple of decades. Trying names, they are ensuring the survi- not to do the old sins, but probably val of Jewish culture. The reality is doing a few new ones." Romania will halt publication of hate articles 851-7200 7100 Orchard Lake Road West Bloomfield, MI 48033 New York (JTA) — President Nicolai Ceausescu of Romania has promised the country's chief rabbi, Moses Rosen, that he will personally see to it that the publication of virulently anti-Semitic articles in a number of Communist Party papers and in a book of poetry is stopped. Ceausescu and Rabbi Rosen met in Paris last week. The chief rabbi said the president also told him that the author of the poetry, Corneliu Valerian Tudor, was reprimanded "within the (Communist) Party framework as the editor in charge of the book's publica- tion." He said his meeting with Ceausescu had been "very friendly" and that the I President had shown full understanding. Rabbi Rosen said Ceausescu had not tried to deny the anti-Semitic na- ture of the attacks, as some of the lower echelon officials had done, and he assured the rabbi that from now on he will personally see to it that such incidents do not recur.