TORAH PORTION Hebrew University of Jerusalem presents After the Storm: Israel and the Changing New World Order "ISRAELS RELATIONS WITH ITS ARAB NEIGHBORS" "ISRAELS DOMESTIC AGENDA AFTER THE GULF CRISIS" on An Inner Silence Is More Than Words RABBI IRWIN GRONER Special to The Jewish News Israel's Independence Day I WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17 7:30 P.M. Congregation Shaarey Zedek 27375 BELL ROAD SOUTHFIELD RAYMOND TANTER Professor of Political Science University of Michigan EDITH FRANKEL President: Jack Liwazer Executive Director: Shayna Silverman Co-Chairmen: Harold Berry, Allan Nachman Program Chairman: Esther Liwazer REFRESHMENTS FOLLOWING Director of the Center of Soviet & Eastern European Studies Hebrew University of Jerusalem NO SOLICITATION OF FUNDS — PUBLIC INVITED — To R.S.V.P. or for further information, call Shayna Silverman 357-0510 B.H. Dais Chabad Torah Center and the Ehrmann Community Mikva invite all Jewish Women to a 2-Part Lecture Series on TAHARAT HAMISHPACHA A comprehensive review on the Laws of Family Purity and Mikva given by Bed shown $199_95 AMISCO On SALE Special Order CHAYA SARA SILBERBERG Wednesday April 17th and Wednesday April 24th — 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. — ot BAIS CHABAD TORAH CENTER 52 Delivery Available BrenT FURNITURE 1914 Telegraph 5595 W. Maple Rd., W. Bloomfield north of Square Lake Rd. just past Carl's Golfland For further information toll, Bloomfield Hills 855-4872 or 626-1807 338-7716 FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1991 n the course of bringing a sacrifice before the Lord, two of Aaron's sons, Nadav and Avihu, desecrate the altar by bringing a "strange" fire, and the holiness that is there destroys them. Aaron, the High Priest, is stunned by this double tragedy. He is no longer a supremely sacred figure but rather a father, bereft of his children. Moses tries to console him, but no words of consolation are adequate. The Torah states Aaron's reaction: Va- yedom Aharon, "and Aaron remained silent," the most eloquent silence in the entire Bible. • One would have expected from Aaron an outcry, protest, lamentation. But Aaron did not say anything. Indeed, in the next chapter, Aaron resumes his duties as the high priest, sharing with Moses in the task of teaching Israel how to distinguish bet- ween the pure and the impure. We are puzzled. What does the text mean? Aaron had every reason to be aggrieved, to scream against Heaven. He had served God loyally, he had been the spokesman of Moses before Pharaoh and now this test. His was not an irrational faith, declaring that in the midst of tragedy we are not meant to understand, and we are forbidden to ask ques- tions. The text emphasizes Aaron's silence, I believe, as an act of reverence for an overwhelming sorrow. An awesome burden had been placed upon Aaron for which no words were adequate. Nor is this the only place where man responds to God with silence. The Psalms are filled with words of joy and gratitude that recount the wonders of the Almighty. But at the end of one of the psalms, we find a remarkable phrase "To Thee, 0 Lord, silence is praise." When we have exhausted the language of praise, our silence becomes the final, ultimate declaration of awe that we offer the Sovereign of the Universe. The pslamist helps us understand the essence of worship. Prayer is experienc- ed in the words and melodies offered by the congregation, chanted and interpreted by the cantor. Prayer is defined by the rhythms and cadences of language and music. But prayer in its highest and greatest mode is our ef- fort to discover what the Pro- phet Elijah heard after the storm — a still, small voice. In the end, prayer means withdrawal from the market- place, from the noises that distract us, from the tumult and cacophony of our time. Prayer is a reverential response to the stillness of the Commanding voice, and the voice within us. Thus, the synagogue becomes a place where we are enabled to hear this sacred silence. Abraham Joshua Heschel once wrote, "Many are the op- Shemini: Leviticus 9:1-11:47. I Samuel 20:18-42. portunities for public speech; where are the occasions for inner silence? . . . It is easy to find people who will teach us to be eloquent. But who will teach us to be still?" In Chasidic lore is found the story of a disciple who went to see his teacher, a sage known as a man of few words. Upon his return to the village, the followers of the rabbi inquired of the disciple, "What did the rabbi do?" After all, the rab- bi's action conveyed a lesson for those in whose presence they were performed. The Chasid answered, "The rabbi was silent and we all listened to him very careful- ly." Silence is an important aspect of human life. There are moments when silence bespeaks reverence, when it enables us to face life's mysteries with courage, and stand in awe before the unknown. ❑ SYNAGOGUES f""•' Temple Emanu-El Hosts Reservist Mike Levin, Israeli reser- vist and spokesperson for Yesh Gvul, will speak at Shabbat morning services April 13 at Temple Emanu- El. Yesh Gvul is an organiza- tion of reserve officers who refuse to serve in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as in detention camps holding Palestinian detainees. Mike Levin was jailed for his refusal to serve in Lebanon and has been a member of Yesh Gvul ever since.