The Irwin I. Cohn Memorial Lectures in Talmudic Law Series "bah NU presents Does Jewish Law Require Us To Be Democrats or Republicans? Holocaust Tragedy Illustrates Strength RABBI YOSIL ROSENZWEIG SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS with Professor William Helmreich Professor Helmreich is Department of Sociology Chairman and Professor of Jewish Studies at City University of New York. Viewed as the authority on Jewish trends in America, Professor Helmreich has authored 12 books and appeared on "Oprah," "Donahue," Morton Downey," and "CBS Morning News". His feature arti- cles appear in the New York Times and New York Newsday. Noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, 1993 Max M. Fisher Building 6735 Telegraph Road Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Couvert: $12.00 Includes Kosher Lunch For Information and Reiervations call 737-7000 A Project of Lubavitch Foundation of Michigan Temple Israel cordially invites you to join us for the following musical entertainment The first Harry Laker Mem- "1"-•°%e A MUSICAI 0 this hist.:4 0 et rt .ic ap p ...edicated .,tuitions of the 1.1 0 ' 0•1 ..sn and Muslim religions Cr) w ..SAY, APRIL 18 at 7:30 p.m. L1.1 C:11 CC LLJ C:1 32 celebrating Israel's 45th anniversary AVI ALBRECHT noted Israeli entertainer sponsored by the Arlene J. Gottlieb Music Appreciation Fund SUNDAY, MAY 9 at 7:30 p.m. RAIMI, RAIMI, HAWKINS AND MUES chamber music played by members of the Raimi Family C/3 offered by the Schmier Chapel Chamber series er, nn .PJ SUNDAY, MAY 23 at 7:30 p.m. 5725 Walnut Lake Road West Bloomfield for complimentary tickets, call 661-5700 ran f I his week's Torah por- tion describes the eight days of dedication of the Mishkan — the por- table Tabernacle — by Moses, Aaron and his four sons. Chapter 10 contains the tragic scene of the death of Nadav and Avihu, the two oldest sons of Aaron the High Priest. The Torah states: "Aaron's sons, Nadav and Avihu, each took a fire-pan . . . they of- fered an unauthorized fire before Hashem, which was not commanded unto them." The Torah continues and ex- plains that: "a fire came forth from before Hashem and con- sumed them." At the very height of their service to God, this sudden tragedy was their terrible fate. What I find very interesting is the way that Aaron was instructed by Moses to react to this tragedy. Moses informed Aaron (the father) as well as Elazar and Itamar (the brothers) that they could not show the con- ventional signs of mourning. They could not let their hair grow nor were they allowed to tear their garments, lest they also die. They were to con- tinue their sacrificial service in the Mishkan and were forc- ed to allow "the family of Israel" to mourn for those consumed by fire. The Jewish world will mark Yom Hashoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day - April 18. On this day in cemeteries and synagogues the world over, Jewish communities will be memorializing the deaths of 6 million victims of fire. The term holocaust — death by fire, was not coined haphazardly. Regardless of the actual form of death which took each individual victim, the decimation of our 6 million brethren was at- tributed to the fires of the crematorium. Following the Holocaust, the Sha'arit Haplaytah — the surviving remnant, were not allowed the luxury of mourn- ing. They were forced by necessity to begin immedi- ately rebuilding their lives and world — surely a form of service to Hashem. How tragic was their lot. How sor- rowful their circumstances. Mourning was left to the Yosil Rosenzweig is rabbi of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, Windsor vestige of "the family of Israel" to mourn for those consumed by fire. It has occurred to me that this aspect of the post- Holocaust era was in fact a strength of heroic propor- tions. While the pain and anguish of their existence permeated every living cell of the survivors, it very well might have encouraged decay, mental instability or even despair. Being forced to begin anew to find surviving family members, start new families, settle in new lands and learn new languages, find and ply new trades, all soothed wounds that were so very raw. These heroes of so few years ago were forced to place the past behind them and empha- Shabbat Shemini: Leviticus 9:1-11:47 II Samuel 6:1-7:17 size the future and only the future. Now, 48 years after the Holocaust, we and the world are coming to grips with the horrors of the past. Definitive works of the Holocaust have become a phenomenon of the past few years. The personal sagas, the spiritual and moral dilemmas that bear witness are being shared more and more. Our participation in local Holocaust memorial services is a sign of respect to those who perished in the terrible fires of the Holocaust and a source of strength to those who could not mourn. ❑ Yom Ha'atzmaut At Adat Shalom Adat Shalom members will celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut April 23 with a Kabbalat Shabbat service and dinner. The service will begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner., Synagogue clergy will lead Birkat Hamazon, songs and special prayers for the occa- sion. Israeli dancing will corn- plete the festivities. For reservations by April 19, call the synagogue office, 851-5100.