Community Views Editor's Notebook Growing Congregation Expands Community A Troubling Incident On Simchat Torah ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR ARNIE SLEUTELBERG SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS One never knows what will come out of a dream. Sometimes op- portunity comes knocking, but too seldom do we open the door. Thirteen years ago, Pam Spitzer and Phyllis Wenig had a vision in the parking lot of United He- brew Schools. They planned a meeting and the Wenigs opened their door to the Jews who reside east of Woodward to see if there were enough who would walk through their open door to cre- ate a k'hilah k'dushah, a holy congregation. The rest is history. One step at a time, with incremental evo- lution, Conngregation Shir Tik- vah now stands at the cusp of building a permanent home. This is a most exciting time for all who are associated with Con- gregation Shir Tikvah and for the many supporters who have asssisted our growth and devel- opment over the years. So many generous philanthropists and Jewish professionals have in- spired and encouraged us along the way. Our success in enhancing Jew- Arnie Sleutelberg is rabbi at Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy. ish continuity is due in large mea- sure to the nurturing guidance and financial assistance of those who understand the importance of the work we do. To them we are most grateful. The entire metropolitan Jew- ish community can be gratified that our People is growing, healthy, and vibrant, expanding into yet another community. As Shir Tikvah's rabbi, I am proud of the dedication of each of our members. Creating a con- gregation from a handfull of fam- ilies to our current 240 is a milestone. It comes only after tenacious hard work and com- mitment of spirit. Expanding through an ingathering. Being Jewish has been a foun- dational way of life for so many in nurturing this congregation along. What has emerged is a caring community, reaching out with open arms to all who would be embraced by warm fellow- ship. Shir Tikvah has proven that integrating people from every con- ceivable background brings a richness that enhances congre- gational life for all. Services re- flect this diverse membership; they are an innovative blend of Chassidic, Orthodox, Conserva- tive, Reconstructionist, Renewal and Reform traditions – bringing warmth, free of any barriers to spirituality. As the Jewish community of metropolitan Detroit has mi- grated north and west for decades, creating what is termed the "Jewish Corridor," another phenomenon is occurring. The corridor is spreading. It actual- ly looks more like the bell of a wind instrument. The further north and west we migrate, the wider becomes the bell. In actuality, Troy is not out- side the Jewish corridor, for Woodward is only an avenue, not a fence. Demographic patterns show Troy and Rochester Hills to be well inside the evolving Jewish community. As might be expected, most of those who live in the newer Jewish areas are young families with small chil- dren, Shir Tikvah's primary membership. As we break ground, the en- tire Jewish community can be justifiably proud of the expan- sion it represents and the health and vibrancy of Judaism well into the next millennium. We look forward to welcoming you into our congregational home as it is scheduled for com- pletion next fall. ❑ Comment Hired Guns? Israel's prime minister has new expectations for American Jews. LEONARD FEIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS ow would you like to be "ac- tivated"? That's what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has in mind for you, for me, for all America's Jews. My brother, who is older and quite possibly wiser than I, has suggested to me that I ought not call attention to Mr. Netanyahu's recent remarks on Israel Radio. H But I find them so utterly fasci- nating that I cannot resist shar- ing them. It will come as no surprise that slowly, slowly, the Netanyahu government is walking in the foot- steps of its Likud predecessors, of the Begin and Shamir govern- ments. Among other things, this means that it is engaging in ac- tions that provoke its neighbors, that threaten the peace process, and that will, in due course, sour its relationship with the United States. We've been there before, and it now appears we're headed there again. Recently, as a kind of answer to Netanyahu's insistence on "rec- GUNS page 22 6355360 @MCIMAIL . COM . 11 What Do You Think?" Did you have more of a reac- tion to Roberto Alamor spitting on the umpire or to the results of the presidential debate? To respond: "So, What Do You Think?" 27676 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI 48034 I don't like to lovingkindness," the Talmud shame anyone teaches. How especially true this in public, but is for the most helpless and vul- there's someone nerable members of the world, in our communi- our children. The issue is not discipline. I do ty who deserves not believe children should be al- to be shamed. I don't even lowed to run, unsupervised and know her name, screaming down the halls, any- though she be- where, much less a synagogue. longs to my synagogue, which The issue is the way in which we makes this matter even more un- choose to guide those children— settling. I know she was there on through harsh language and Simchat Torah. I know she was spanking (to which I am pro- foundly opposed), or with gentle, sitting not far behind me. This is the story of one indi- wise direction — much as the vidual and one incident, though way we hope God might deal sadly, I doubt anything about with us. this story is isolated. It was last Sunday morning, about 11 a.m. A pretty little girl was standing on a chair, watch- ing all the excitement. And there was a great deal to delight a child: singing and dancing and general merriment. Boys and girls brought flags they had made and decorated with glitter and shiny-blue paper. The night before, the children had received "Excuse me, but could I trou- apples and bags of candy with Laffy Taffy and Lemon Heads. ble you to move to another Apparently, the girl was on a chair?" the woman might have chair that an older woman had said, if sitting in that spot was been occupying. When she re- so very critical (though plenty turned, the woman began to yell: of other seats were available). "Get your feet off and get out of And then, "Thank you very here! I'm sitting here and you're much." I'm convinced this is how most getting my chair all dirty! What's people in my synagogue would the matter with you?" The girl, who was about 5, im- have handled it; or perhaps, mediately jumped down and ran more accurately, they simply to her mother. She clung to her would have let the little girl stay. parents for the rest of the morn- And in fact they would have ing. She cried for the longest watched, smiling, as she bounced time. Then she would not come along with the music of the up at all, holding her tiny head singing and waved her flag. Certainly Mr. Katz, the "Can- deep in her father's chest. I have thought, time and dy Man," whom my children again, about this incident. What can't wait to see when they come kind of human being is this to shul, would have done that. woman, someone who screams Certainly Mr. Koenigsberg, who at a child on a holy day in a place brings books for children and where she supposedly has come never worries whether they'll get to worship God. Especially at a fingerprints all over the covers, time like this, Simchat Torah, would have done that. Certain- ly Mrs. Ungar, who seems to find when everyone is celebrating. I have come to see that a man something nice to say about my can be measured, in large part, children no matter what they are by the way he speaks to children. doing — "Your boy is running It tells me a lot about our friend around like a maniac? That and neighbor, Rabbi Eliezer Co- shows he's strong and has plen- hen, when both my children can't ty of energy!" —would have done wait to cross the street and shake that. This is because each of these his hand on Shabbat. So, too, have I been able to glean a great people doesn't just come to make deal about our synagogue rabbi, a perfunctory appearance at syn- Rabbi Steven Weil, by the way agogue. They live every day what he makes a point of coming over the Torah teaches, and because to my children to wish them a of this they understand what "Good Shabbos," or offers them that selfish, irritable woman did a candy treat at his home. not: that Judaism stresses the There's a whole bagful in front of innate importance of each and them but he never warns, "Just every human being (despite his pick one and take the first one or her young age), and that a you touch!" Instead, he says, dress, no matter how glorious, no matter how ornate, cannot begin "Take whatever you like." "The beginning and the end to compare in value to the feel- (of Torah) is the performance of ings of a single little girl. ❑ A man can be measured, in large part, by the way he speaks to children.