May I Be Worthy
By Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav
(1772-1811)
translated by Shamai Kanter
Ruler of the Universe
Grant me the ability to be alone; may it be my custom to go
outdoors each day among the trees and grass, among all growing
things,
And there may I be alone, and enter into prayer,
To talk with the One that I belong to. May I express there
everything in my heart, and may all the foliage of the field (all
grasses, trees and plants) may they awaken at my coming.
To send the power of their life into the words of my prayer,
So that my prayer and speech are made whole, through the life
and spirit of growing things, which are made as one by their
transcendent Source.
May they all be gathered into my prayer,
And thus may I be worthy to open my heart fully
In prayer, supplication and holy speech, that I pour out the words
of my heart before Your Presence like water, Adoshem and lift up my
hands to You in worship, on behalf of my own soul, and the souls of
my children.
1004 Live Animals
At 'Noah Fest'
Oolave
Jewish National Fund Helps
Protect The Environment
Sunday, Oct. 18
Sunday, Oct. 25
Cong. Beth Abraham Hillel Moses will
have a "Noah Festival" featuring story-telling
with Joyce Epstein and a presentation of live
animals by the Living Science Foundation at
10 a.m. at the synagogue. Pre-schoolers,
kindergarteners and their families are invited.
The main Jewish Community Center will
have an event entitled, "A Bissel of This and
a Bissel of That," at 2 p.m. at Camp Ruth II.
The afternoon will include magic by Harvey
Allen at 2 p.m., followed by art and games.
Weather permitting, all activities will be
outdoors.
Participants should bring a t-shirt or
school bag to decorate. There is a fee.
The Jewish Community Center will
present Julie Austin of the Song Sisters
performing music for infants at the Bagels
and Babies brunch at 11 a.m. at the main
Jewish Center, room 331 (Family Spot). For
reservations, call Jo Greene, 661-1000, ext.
344; or Harlene Appleman, 661-0600.
Temple Emanu-EI will have a program,
"A Taste of Tradition, " for fourth through
sixth graders and their families at II a.m. at
the temple. The program will feature area
culinary experts, the history of favorite Jewish
dishes and cooking demonstrations.
The Jewish Parents Institute will have a
bus tour of Jewish Detroit at I p.m., leaving
from the Jimmy Prentis Morris Branch of the
Jewish Community Center, 15110 W. 10 Mile,
Oak Park. Refreshments are included. Fees
are as follows: JPI students, $5; JPI adult
members and associates, $8; adult non-
members, $9.50; non-member children, $6.50;
senior citizens, $8.50. For details and
reservations, call the JPI office, 661-1000, ext.
333.
The Fresh Air Society and Jewish
Experiences for Families in cooperation with
The Jewish News and L'Chayim family
section will present "Teva-Thon" (Naturefest
'87) at 2:30 p.m. at Camp Maas, Ortonville.
The day will include hikes, nature crafts,
refreshments and more. Free bus
transportation will leave at 1:30 p.m. from the
main Jewish Community Center, from the
Jimmy Prentis Morris Branch of the Center
and from the main United Hebrew Schools
building. Families have the option of driving
themselves as well. Reservation deadline is
Oct. 21. In case of rain, call the Fresh Air
Society, 661-0600.
The main Jewish Community Center will
have an event entitled, "Tumbala, Tumbala,
Tumbalaika," at 2 p.m. in the main gym of
the Center. There will be an afternoon of
music and movement for the whole family.
Participants must wear tennis shoes.
Admission is free.
The Jewish National Fund, the
agency responsible for afforestation
and reclamation in Israel, plays a
major role in protecting the
environment.
Forests planted by JNF purify
polluted air by trapping harmful
particles and gaseous fumes. Forest
soil also filters and purifies polluted
water, while afforested land helps to
curb soil erosion.
Israel's forests are primarily
pine woodlands covering an area of
some 175,000 acres of former rocky
hillslopes across the Judean Hills
and Galilee mountains, coastal
plains and sandy Negev wastes
north of Beersheba. Another
100,000 acres of natural oak
woodlands, located primarily in the
Carmel region near Haifa and the
upper Galilee, also have been
reclaimed. Since 1901, about
180,000,000 trees have been planted
in Israel.
In reclaiming and reafforesting
the land, JNF has laid the way for
the creation of recreational areas to
benefit families. A system of
municipal forest recreational parks
has been created. These facilities
are located right on the suburban
doorsteps of Israel's cities and
towns, in outlying woodlands and
scenic valleys.
The recreational parks are a
response to certain demographic
and environmental trends occurring
over the past decade. Cities in
Israel have been growing at a rapid
rate, with more than half of all
Israeli urban dwellers living in cities
with more than 50,000 inhabitants.
Saturday, Oct. 24
Cong. Shaarey Zedek will have its Beth
Hayeled induction and family luncheon at
10:30 a.m. in the chapel. There will be a
Saturday worship service for nursery school
children and their families. It is designed as
an introduction to the synagogue.
Next Month
The great American
holiday — Thanksgiving — and
its importance for Jews will be
the theme of next month's
L'Chayim. Rabbi Irwin Groner
of Cong. Shaarey Zedek will
write the overview. Additionally,
there will be special features,
including a new Safer Safari
story, fresh columns and other
learning experiences for the
entire family!
Tuesday, Oct. 27
The Jewish Community Center will begin
its holiday workshop series at 9 a.m. at the
main Jewish Center complex. Co-sponsored
by the Center and Temple Emanu-El, the
series will teach adult students how to create
a Jewish home for the holidays. Fees are as
follows: $55 materials fee; $195 per couple
Continued on next page
In Tel Aviv, Park HaDarom is being
established to meet the recreational
needs of large families residing near
the city's Hatikva quarter. Municipal
forest parks are also planned in
cooperation with local authorities,
for built-up areas on Israel's coast
and the Golan Height's, and in the
Galilee and the northern Negev.
American families visiting Israel
can participate in volunteer work
programs in JNF forests.
Participants undertake hands-on
tasks and contribute in a personal
way to the greening of Israel.
For information about volunteer
work programs in Israel, call the
Israel Aliyah Center, 661-1000, ext.
336.
Family Events Due
At Book Fair
Two events at this year's annua l
Jewish Community Center book fair
will be of interest to families. At 2
p.m. Nov. 8, recording artist, teacher
and author Penninah Schram will
tell stories.
She has made three recordings,
written a children's book, The Big
Succah and has written articles on
the art of storytelling. Currently, she
is an associate professor of speech
and drama at Stern College and
director of the Jewish Story Telling
Center.
At 2 p.m. Nov. 15, Elaine
Serling will present a sing-along
with songs from her new book, Sin•
and Celebrate. Mrs. Serling is a
local music teacher.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS