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Located on Northwestern Highway
at 12 Mile Rd.
onday, Jan. 16, was
highlighted by a very
moving, emotional ex-
perience for me. I rep-
resented our community at the
Martin Luther King Jr. com-
memoration held in the South-
field Civic Center.
On the dais, surrounded by fel-
low Detroiters of all denomina-
tions and ethnic origins, I felt the
strength of Martin Luther King
Jr.'s message. I was caught up in
the power of the words of his an-
them and of the anthem of the
movement as all of us joined
hands and sang "We Shall Over-
come." It was a rare moment of
brotherhood, unity and hope.
That mood, so strong, was quick-
ly shattered when I arrived home
and listened to the messages on
the answering machine.
Suddenly I was moved from
euphoric optimism to shock and
sadness as I heard a message
from our dear friend and fellow
colleague in Houston with whom
we stayed less than two months
ago and shared a simcha togeth-
er. Our friend told us that his
home had been struck by light-
ning and had burned to the
ground. In my dismay, I was
thankful to God that our friend's
and his family's lives had been
spared. Though their material
possessions had in the main been
destroyed, they had been able to
escape with those most precious
of all gifts, their lives and their
health. Silently, I uttered
prayer of thanksgiving for him
and his family.
Even at this moment, I am con-
fident that my friend is applying
what he has learned from his most
recent test to strengthen his fam-
ily and to teach his congregation
what he is learning from this ex-
perience. In speaking with my
friend the other day, I sensed thal—'
this test, as others in his life, hai -`
made him not bitter but better.
How many of can say that we
have emerged from our tests bet-
ter for the experience? A major
factor that can help us to emerge
victorious from our tests is our
strong faith in God and in our de-
votion to Torah. As the Psalmists
teach us, "Even if my father and
mother forsook me, the Lorc_ --/ \
would take me under His care,"
and "the Torah of the Lord is per-
fect and restores the soul."
When we feel abandoned, will
we feel God's presence at our
side? Will we have the strength
to utter a prayer of thanks for
having emerged intact and ready
to face the next trial?
Rabbi Herbert A. Yoskowitz is
[/
spiritual leader of Congregation'
Beth Achirn in Southfield.