I TORAH PORTION 00000 Q 000 000Q0QQQ©©©Og Qa Q Q Our Religion Requires Active Participation Q 0 g 0 0 0 CD 5 011HIA THE MOST EXCITING MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR LINDEN ACTOR • SINGER • MUSICIAN Monday Evening November 2, 1992 7:30 PM Q g CD g HAL LINDEN, presently star of the ABC Network television series "JACK'S PLACE" and already known for his role in the "BARNEY MILLER" series. You've seen him on Broadway in the "Bells are Ringing," "The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N," as well as the "Pajama Game," "I'm Not Rappaport," and "The Rothschilds" that won a Tony Award. His TV movies include "I Do! I Do!" and "The Best of Everything." ANNE GONTE SILVER, President Metro Detroit District MACK P111 musical conductor 0 BALFOUR CONCERT CHAIRPERSONS Sherman Shapiro Johanna Gordon Irving Laker Sidney Silverman Philip Slomovitz Rabbi M. Robert Syme HONORARY CHAIRS © O Menachem Glaser Dr. Jerome Kaufman Marion Leib Ezekiel Leikin Max Sosin Dr. Lester Zeff EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Anne Brand Marge Kaufman Billie Kramer WOMEN'S COMMITTEE CHAIRS Eleanor Hack Pauline Klein Mary Shapiro WOMEN'S COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS FOR RESERVATIONS PHONE 569-1515 or write to the ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA Zionist Cultural Center 18451 W. 10 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075 0 0 000QQQ©gg gQ© 0 ©©©0©©©©/00 46 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1992 RABBI IRWIN GRONER Special to The Jewish News T his week's Torah por- tion describes the beautiful and im- pressive ritual of bikurim, the bringing of the first fruits in the spring of the year at the festival of Shavout. Pilgrims who came from all parts of the land to the city of Jerusalem would ascend Mt. Zion, and they would recite there a statement of thanksgiving to the Almighty. The Mishnah describes in detail the manner in which the bringing of the first fruits took place. Entire com- munities went up in splendid procession. Accompanied by musical instruments, the pilgrims sang with exultation as they entered Jerusalem joyfully, often carrying their fruits on beasts of burden. When they reached the Tem- ple Mount, every pilgrim placed the basket on his own shoulders. Even the King of Israel, in all of his royal ma- jesty, did the same and presented his first fruits before the Lord, as he joined in the procession. This ritual contains a great lesson. A monarch does not perform menial labor nor does he march in a procession with commoners. The king could have watched the ceremony, as an observer of the pageantry. But the king was required to be a partici- pant. All of Israel brought their first fruits and the king himself was obligated to join in this entourage. The tradi- tion thus emphasized the mitzvah of being a partici- pant rather than a spectator. This truth merits renewed emphasis in our time when so many people are engaged in passive watching. We observe athletes exercising their talents; we are entranced by television personalities per- forming on the screen; we listen to brilliant lecturers ex- hibiting their intellectual prowess in public forums. We are entertained, stimulated and enlightened; but a vital component is missing. Only involvement and par- ticipation make possible the process of growth and per- sonal development. This value is most acutely needed in the realm of the spirit. We can be satisfied if others play, Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of Congregation Shaarey Zedek. • think or entertain for us. But should we expect others to be religious in our place, to undertake our own exercise of - - the spirit, to carry our first fruits into the sanctuary? The participant is inspired by the very act of his self-expression, but the bystander does not truly share in the depth of religious encounter. The genius of Judaism has been that our religion, unlike others, belongs to the people. A Yiddish expression declares, "Nine rabbis don't make a minyan, but 10 cob- blers do." The great growth and development of Judaism was not a product of an ec- clesiastical structure because we had none. It was not due to a professional class of rab- bis because such did not exist Shabbat Ki Teze: Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19 Isaiah 54:1-10. until the 15th century. Jewish continuity was assured by the personal corn- mitment of every Jew to the fulfillment of the command- ments and observances which gave meaning to his life. Our" tradition bears witness to the unwavering emphasis on the responsibility of every Jew, — not just the chosen few, to shoulder his responsibility to his people, faith and God. Judaism gives us all oppor- tunities and occasions to become participants rather than spectators. As we gather daily with our families, parents and children have op- portunities to recite a bless- ing, invoke the name of God '- and make of the family table an altar. Words of Torah may be studied and discussed. The Sabbath offers a weekly occa- sion for the family to share in sacred observance with the lighting of candles, the recital - of blessings, the singing of songs and prayers. Each holy day with its distinctive prac- tices enables us to become participants in sacred moments. The High Holy Days are rapidly approaching. Large numbers of people will gather in synagogues everywhere. The service is not a theatrical performance, but rather a spiritual exercise to be undergone by each worship- per. As each Jew engages in that Divine — human dialogue which is prayer, as each individual offers the first fruits of his hope, love and