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BOrtz
Health Care
Call 363 4121 for our limousine
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of Green Lake
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6470 Alden Drive, Orchard Lake
(Less than 20 minutes from Maple & Orchard Lake Roads)
APPLEGATE SQUARE
RELIGIOUS PEOPLE page 7
replied that since he does not
keep kosher, it would be hyp-
ocritical for him to pray in
synagogue. As a result, Rab-
bi Riskin says he has become
a fervent advocate of
hypocrisy — it is better to per-
form some mitzvot than none
at all.
Indeed, Jewish tradition
does not demand perfection of
us, but only to strive contin-
ually to improve ourselves.
One mitzvah leads to anoth-
er, the tradition teaches us,
just as one sin leads to an-
other. In my own constant
struggle to elevate myself
through the observance of
mitzvot, I take comfort in
knowing I am following the
path of tradition that my par-
ents and grandparents and
countless generations fol-
lowed before me. But I am
also mindful of the dangers of
observing laws mechanically
and without understanding.
The metaphysical aspect of
performing mitzvot is in the
belief that each command-
ment observed brings us all
closer to divine perfection. So
we may never be fully aware
of the ramifications of our in-
dividual acts, but they may be
part of some higher design or
notion of tikun olam, the re-
pairing of the world.
True, we may never know
"the point" of our actions, but
if we follow the guidelines laid
out for us — what to do an
what not to do — we are bring-
ing tradition and order to our
lives. In our society, where
anything and everything goes,
it is highly unfashionable to
speak of eternal truths. But
does that make our obligatio
any less to follow the laws our
tradition teaches were hand-
ed down to us, from genera-
tion to generation, since
Moses?
In fact, isn't that the
point? 1:1
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"COPING WITH THE PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSIS"
THE DE TRO IT J EWIS H N EWS
Guest Speaker
8
LINDA DIAZ, A.C.S.W.
COORDINATOR CANCER COUNSELING — SINAI HOSPITAL
Thursday, January 14th, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
MICHAEL D. LUTZ, M.D., Coordinator
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER • WEST BLOOMFIELD CAMPUS
6600 WEST MAPLE ROAD
PLEASE CALL LISA AT 353-3060 FOR MORE INFORMATION
Kohl Urges End
To Racist Attacks
Bonn (JTA) — Showing
heightened visibility in con-
demning neo-Nazi violence,
German Chancellor Helmut
Kohl has urged his coun-
trymen to support efforts by
authorities to put an end to
xenophobia and racist at-
tacks.
In a New Year's Eve mes-
sage carried widely in the
national media, Mr. Kohl
promised the government
would do its utmost to pro-
tect non-Germans who have
been the target of neo-Nazi
assault.
Mr. Kohl came under
earlier criticism for failing
to respond firmly to attacks
on foreigners seeking
asylum.
Meanwhile, Bonn is mov-
ing to enact a constitutional
amendment to curb the in-
flow of asylum-seekers,
whose number this year
neared half a million.
Interior Minister Rudolf
Seiters has readied govern-
ment legislation that will
limit the right to political
asylum, in a change that has
been formally approved by
the main opposition party,
the Social Democrats, whose
support is indispensable for
parliamentary passage.
The move cost the Social
Democrats one of its most
prominent members, the
writer Gunther Grass, who
resigned in protest.
Both the ruling Christia
Democratic Union and the
Social Democrats say the
change is needed to handle
the misuse of asylum, which
has taken on enormous pro-
portions.
They believe most of th
asylum-seekers do not meet
the test of admission to refu-
gees persecuted for political
beliefs but rather are people
seeking to improve their
economic and social status.
The Jewish community it
Germany has criticized the
move to change the constitu-
tion because it creates the
impression of surrender to
neo-Nazi violence.
Germans turned out in
large numbers over the
weekend to protest
xenophobia and neo-Nazi
violence.
In Essen, in the heavy
populated state of North
Rhine- Westphalia, 300,000
people joined in a candle an
torchlight vigil stretching
almost four miles.
The demonstrators formed
circles around hostels for
foreigners and other
buildings that were recent
targets of violence agains
refugees, homeless people
and the handicapped.