F.3? - (U.( fh 11 i 44 Friday, October 25,1985 • F.1 :-:-..,11)1 - 1(1 3Lir THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS MIS CAN BE THE BEST YEAR YOURCHILD EVER HAD IN SCHOOL. WISSIPIED,1 A TUST 2 HOURS A WEEK AT SYLVAN CAN BRING OUT • THE CLASSROOM WHIZ THAT'S HIDING IN YOUR CHILD. BY RABBI IRWIN GRONER Special to The Jewish News Call 643-READ (7323) For Information 3250 West Big Beaver Rd., Suite 101 Troy, Michigan 48084 Charlotte Terry, Director Linda Hoagland, Director Leaning Center AL'S SAVES YOU MONEY! CUSTOM WALL MIRROR SPECIALISTS Al's Stocks It All! 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Every year, when I meet with tion, and I will bless thee and, make thy name great, and be the confirmation class, I ask them to react to the term "Cho- thou 'a blessing. A great and unique destiny sen People." Inevitably, the vast was conferred on Abraham and majority of 15-year-olds state his descendanti by these words. their strong dislike for the term There have been times in the and what they think it means. life of the Jew when it was dif- They want no part of "Chosen- ficult to believe in this promise ness," because it offends their — ages of suffering and misery, sense of democratic equality. tragic oppression and humilia- "We are all human beings, none better and none worse." tion. Our young reflect the attitude There were eras when the world's low opinion of the Jew of their elders. To the majority was so perirasive that it entered of ,flews, the idea of chosenness the folk-images of the Western is, at best, irksome. Towards the world: Shylock, with his pound outside world, they would like to of flesh; Fagin, the corruptor of youth; Judas Iscariot, the deity-killer of the Passion Play. Lech Lechah: But the world's opinion of the Genesis 12:1-17:27. Jew and the external circum- stances of his life did not affect Isaiah 40:27-41:16. his mind and spirit, for the Jew had his own self-image, one fashioned by his tradition and turn the tender cheek of equal- the discipline of his way of life. ity, hoping to be accepted'as That tradition taught him, from equals because they themselves his youth, that he was sprung eschew all pretense of separate- from a people who had been ness. •We, were kept apart be- chosen by God to play an cause you forced us to live unique, saving role in the his- apart. Now we want to be tory of mankind. He knew that partners in the whole pattern of when he saw hate rampant, social life. when he experienced the blind The modern Jew is free to live struggle of nations his task was a Jewish life and he strives to to bear a vision of that day avoid it. He fights for free reli- when "peace would be unto gious expression and when he those who are near and far off obtains it, he forgoes its bene- fits. When he saw oppression and We need to re-affirm the basic injustice, it was his mission to principle. The,Jewish story be- cry out for truth and freedom. gins with Abiaham. Abraham, "Justice, justice shalt thou pur- tradition declares, stood alone, sue." One of the factors that ex- not because he sought be a dis- plains the quality of Jewish life senter or deviate, because he has been the high conception of was set apart to realize great itself and its character that Is- ideals. In his uniqueness, he rael has always held. .. discovered a blessing that would We can derive great satisfac- endure for all generations. We, tion from the knowledge that his descendants, have been cho- the Jew is perceived differently sen 'to live with a consciousness in the modern world, and his of purpose, to puisue the high achievements are widely recog- standards that the Torah sets nized. It is significant to note before us. the extent and degree to which The word that came to Ab- Jewish themes, terms, and per- raham was never forgotten by sonalities have become popular his descendants. Let it be re- in American culture. Novels, membered by us and let us movies, even television prod- teach it-to our children. uctions portray Jewish types and characters. We are well- represented in the media. We School Named take pride in the number of Jewish candidates elected to For Anne Frank positions of public office. Bergen-Belsen, Germany — A And yet, in the midst of this months-old discussion within dramatically improved society, city government regarding the where the Jew is recognized for choice of an appropriate memo- his contribution and respected rial to Anne Frank ended Sept. 18, with the renaming of a for his accomplishments, we are not at ease. The world has im- school in honor of the-Jewish proved its understanding of the girl who was taken from Jew, but the Jew has lost some- Amsterdam during World War thing of his high conception of II to the Bergen-Belsen concen- tration camp, where she died. himself. The original proposal, by local The story of the Jewish people Social Democrats, was to name begins with Abraham, who was a major thoroughfare after the addressed by God to assume a young Holocaust victim, but the special responsibility — to de- idea met with Objections from lare lare the truth of one humanity the local population, fearing it d one morality to all the would unfairly single out their oples of the earth. This task town for blame because the s to be fulfilled in a special notorious camp had happened to way by his • descendants who be built nearby. . . . O O eon Nov. 3rd 2:00 p.m. Adler Hall Congregation Shaarey Zedek Tickets: $3.00 at door or call 357-5544 Family Entertainment Sponsored by Congregation Shaarey Zedek Seniors =le /7 . .