Adat Shalom
•
I
written large, as is the last
letter of the last world, ehad,
one. These two letters spell
the Hebrew word ed, meaning
witness. The implication of
this commentary is that in
reciting the Sh'ma, the Jew
bears witness that he believes
in the one God, a God of
righteousness, mercy and
truth. What a glory and
privilege it is that we have
been called upon to be such
witnesses.
But the Jew who recites the
Sh'ma does more than make
a statement about belief. He
also makes a commitment to
live by the teachings of his
faith. In the words of our
sages, he thereby "accepts the
yoke of the Kingdom of
Heaven." It is not enough to
profess God in words. He also
must be loved through deeds.
Hence the verse of the Sh'ma
is followed by the next
passage, which declares "You
shall love the Lord, your God
with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your
might." Subsequent verses
define how this love is to be
expressed — through the
observance of command-
ments, through the discipline
of daily conduct, through the
fulillment of sacred acts.
Thus, these verses set forth
the method by which we may
Synagogue
A Conservative
Congregation
realize the recognition of the
divine unity, as well as our
obligation to love God and
obey His commandments. For
this very passage of the Torah
is to be written as a sign
bound to man's hand, on
frontlets worn before his eyes
(tefillin) and on the doorposts
of his house (mezuzah).
Finally, these command-
ments are not only to be
obeyed by the adult communi-
ty but must be transmitted to
future generations. For this,
the intensive education of the
young is required. "And you
shall teach them diligently
unto your children." At the
very heart of Judaism is this
concern for the systematic
education of the young, first
in the family and then on a
communal basis. Judaism
emphasizes teaching situa-
tions outside the classroom.
No school can teach the love
of God better than the home
in which it is practiced at the
table at mealtimes, at work
and at play, at bedtime and at
the hour of rising.
Where
Your Family
Comes First
Rabbi Efry Spectre
Rabbi Elliot Pachter
Cantor Larry Vieder
Thus, the Sh'ma is the way
of faith, love, commitment
and education. The Sh'ma is
our vision and our hope that
someday all mankind will
recognize one God and will
become one humanity. ❑
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I SYNAGOGUES I
Rabbi Silberberg
Plans Talks
►
Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg
of Bais Chabad Torah Center
will deliver a lecture on "The
World of Prayer," 8 p.m. Sun-
day at the Ann Arbor Chabad
House. For information, call
the Chabad House,
99-LEARN.
Rabbi Silberberg will speak
on "The Holiday of The Fif-
teenth of Av" 8:15 p.m. Mon-
day at the Torah Center. The
lecture is part of the Monday
night lecture series on basic
Judaism.
For information, call the
Torah Center, 855-6170.
Beth El Gives
Mazon Grant
Rabbi Julian I. Cook,
associate rabbi of Temple
Beth El, will present a $5,000
grant from Mazon to Noreen
Keating, director of the
Lighthouse in Pontiac, during
services 8 p.m. Aug. 18. The
Lighthouse will use the grant
to purchase fruits and
vegetables for those in need.
Mazon is the nation's
second-largest private fun-
ding agency devoted to
eliminating hunger. Since its
founding in 1985, Mazon has
distributed grants totalling
$1,422,000. This grant is part
of Mazon's most recent
distribution totalling
$370,000.
Ibmple Beth El encourages
its members to support
Mazon by donating a portion
of the cost of family life cycle
celebrations to the
foundation.
Beth Achim
Hears Liebhaber
Rabbi Marc Liebhaber will
deliver an address at Con-
gregation Beth Achim during
services Saturday.
Rabbi Liebhaber is pub-
lisher and senior editor of
American Jewish World and
president of World Council
of Conservative Synagogues.
The public is invited.
For
Appt.
Call
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
43