FEET about this exodus, and one of the more moving tales was told to me by a Karlin-Stoli- ner Chasid who, when he'd been asked to officiate as rab- bi in the city of Lvov during the High Holy Days, had no idea how many people would show up in this Ukraine city where public prayer had been forbidden for dozens of years. Wildly optimistic, he brought with him 200 prayer books with Russian translations. But to his complete amaze- ment, he found the syna- gogue packed, at least 2,500 people clinging to every available space. Determined not to lose this opportunity, the visiting rab- bi decided to tell the story of Reb Levi Yitzhak Berdit- chiver, how one Rosh Hashanah in his synagogue the shofar's blasts wouldn't ascend to heaven. In the meantime, a Polish-looking peasant entered the shul. Ac- tually he was Jewish, and this New Year he had felt a yearning to pray, but orphan- ed at an early age, he was em- barrassed because all he knew was the aleph-bais. The rabbi suggested that he recite the letters he knew and at the same time ask God to weave them into the right words. The peasant began to chant and cry and pray with all his strength, and before long Reb Levi Yitzchak could sense a shaking in the synagogue, the earth-bound shofar blasts were being lifted on the wings of the man's aleph-bais. A woman screamed out to the Perestroika rabbi. "But we don't even know the aleph- bais." And so the rabbi said he would teach it to them. Plac- ing the tallit over his head, he yelled out the letter aleph and a chorus of voices responded with a loud aleph. With each letter, more and more people joined in, and by the time he got to tof, the final letter, 2,500 roaring voices had turned the repeti- tion of the aleph-bais into one of the most moving prayers he'd ever been part of. His own spirit had soared to such heights he was convinced that the aleph-bais of these simple worshippers was as profound as any service he'd ever attended. The Holocaust was a de- structive invention. And then the destruction ended. Our fear is that although the machine may have been brok- en, somewhere the patent still exists. Tragically, it is not a baseless fear. But no matter what happens, our covenant with God is eternal. Doesn't Exodus always follow Gene- sis? ❑ HURT: Don't walk in pain! We take care of painful corns, bunions, callouses, diabetic foot, arthritis and hammer toes. House calls, transportation available at no extra charge. REDUCTIONS ON ALL FURS AND LEATHERS OGgRizn dl/ FREE GIFT on First Visit DR. CRAIG BROD SAVE UP TO FOOT SPECIALIST 5755 W. Maple, Suite 111 West Bloomfield We accept most insurance as full payment. No out of pocket expense to you. Call for an appointment. 855-FEET (855-3338) 1111•1111ENV Half of Your New Kitchen is Already Finished Doors & Drawers will custom build new door and drawer fronts and reface your existing cabinets giving the look of all new. We also design and build: • Conan counter tops • Laminate counter tops • Custom built cabinets Oak Monday - Saturday 10-6 Thursday 10-8 Sunday 1-5 6335 Orchard Lake Rd. • Orchard Mall • W. Bloomfield, MI 855-9200 Ash Cherry Laminate Call today for a free in-home Consultation. oorsi,Drawers,„ 11/4... )■■••=1 Cabinet refacing in quality hardwoods and premium laminates. Ann Arbor 3751 Varsity Dr. 971 0800 Royal Oak 4609 N. Woodward Ave. • - 549-1161 All furs labeled to show country of origin. All Prior Sales Excluded. I desire to service your Luxury Car needs! Barb Coury 4, 25-4300 Registration Open For All Classes! irected by International Da gt,-C Barry Douglas cams In Bcillef, Tap, Ja zt Creative4mov.rn .7 oncin Prey-School ponl'09651.„W„ d Lam litkidof CLASSES OFFERED FOR \ ALL AGES* ALL LEVELS'' CALLNOV„ -681-4101 3080 Orchard Lake Road, Keego Harbor Stu Evans #1 Salesperson Garden City STU EVANS LINCOLN-MERCURY AL MAWS West Bloomfield On The Boardwalk Orchard Lake Road South Maple 626-3362 Birmingham NEW LOCATION! 136 N. Woodward North of Maple 647-0550 SPORT CONNECTION 6895 Orchard Lk. Rd. South of Maple 626-2117 Southfield The Original" New Orleans Mall 10 Mile & Greenfield 559-7818 SPORT CONNECTION New Orleans Mall 10 Mile & Greenfield 559-7150 Dearborn 15219 Mich. Ave. One Block East of Greenfield 584-3820 SPORT CONNECTION 15219 Mich. Ave. 1 Bk. E. of Greenfield 5M-3820 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 49