C
An Open Letter
To Our Communities .
Dear Friends,
We, as people who each have a deep commitment to our
communities, ask you to re-elect 48th District Court Judge
Thomas Brookover.
We have worked closely with Judge Brookover over the years
and have personally observed the Judge's professionalism and
no-nonsense attitude towards his job and his concern for the
welfare of our communities.
Judge Brookover hands out tough sentences to repeat of-
fenders and puts drunk drivers in jail. He's been deeply involved
in programs to help women who have been victims of abuse
and works to rehabilitate young first offenders.
Judge Brookover has also used his administrative skills as
Chief Judge to benefit our communities.
Please vote for Judge Brookover on the Non-Partisan Ballot
on Tuesday, November 5.
Maxine Berman
State Representative
L. Brooks Patterson
Oakland County Executive
Fred Korzon, Supervisor
Bloomfield lbwnship
David R. Piche, Chief of Police
Bloomfield Hills
Jeddy Hood, Supervisor
West Bloomfield Thwnship
CoCo Siewert, Mayor
Birmingham
David King, Chief of Police
Orchard Lake
Jack Beach, Chief of Police
Keego Harbor
Marvin D. McTavish, Chief of Police
Sylvan Lake
Laurence B. Deitch
U of MRegent
Gilda Jacobs
County Commissioner
Linda Finkel, President
Bloomfield Hills Board of Education
Hedy Nuriel
Robert Naftaly
Community Leader
DE Seymour Gretchko, Superintendent
Women's and Children's advocate
West Bloomfield Schools
Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Judge Thomas Brookover
6735 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 330
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
26
1:351-3137
Renewed Enthusiasm:
A Rebirth Of Tradition
•
Shabbat Vayera: Genesis 18:1-22:24;
II Kings 4:1-37.
D
RABBI IRWIN GRONER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
wring the course of these
weeks, we read stories
dealing with Abraham and
Sarah and their family.
What distinction has earned
them the designation of the first
Jewish family? Why were they
designated as models of that
greatness which the Jewish peo-
ple was to seek in all subsequent
generations?
It is difficult to define "great-
ness" and it would be hazardous
to reduce it to one trait. But de-
spite this risk, I believe that the
guiding principle in the lives of
Abraham and Sarah that made
them unique was a fierce and un-
wavering enthusiasm for virtue.
It is not correct to say that Abra-
ham had an interest in justice;
he had a passion for justice. He
demanded it with forcefulness,
vehemence and daring. He loved
righteousness with an intense
and pervasive enthusiasm.
Hospitality was a practice in
many families in the ancient
Near East. But Abraham ran to
receive strange visitors. He has-
tened to prepare food for them.
According to tradition, Abra-
ham's home was constructed
with four separate entrances, one
on each side, so that weary wan-
derers of the desert would have
immediate access to his abode.
Abraham's passion for justice
held such fervor and zeal that he
was willing to enter into a con-
frontation with the Almighty.
When God was about to bring de-
struction upon the cities of Sodom
and Gomorrah, Abraham argued
with Him. It is hard to find an-
other figure in the Bible who was
daring and courageous enough to
challenge God and declare, "Shall
the judge of the whole world not
do justly?"
The sheer forcefulness of Abra-
ham's and Sarah's spirits at-
tracted the loyalty and devotion
of their contemporaries. The
Bible intimates that they at-
tracted converts to their way of
life, not necessarily because of
their convincing arguments, but
rather by the power of their con-
victions.
In the physical world, illness
is contagious; but good health
cannot be transferred. If we as-
sociate with people of good
health, their physical fitness is
not thereby transferred to us. But
in the spiritual realm, ethical ex-
.
Irwin Groner is rabbi of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
cellence and moral idealism are
contagious and infectious, if they
are maintained with sufficient
fervor and enthusiasm. Emerson
once wrote, "Every great and
commanding movement in the
annals of the world is the tri-
umph of enthusiasm — nothing
great was ever accomplished
without it." That explains the
achievement of Abraham.
Rabbi Irwin Groner
A glance at the world around
us reveals the paradoxical dis-
tribution of the quality of enthu-
siasm. It is disturbingly absent
in the righteous endeavors of
mankind. It is present in its most
wayward and illicit enterprises.
The forces of progress are often
lacking in fervor while the caus-
es of evil are associated with thrill
and excitement.
Righteousness has lost its at-
tractiveness, while immorality
has captured it.
Were Abraham alive today, I
believe he would not be glorified _
as a "celebrity"; he would not be
sought after by TV talk shows or
make the headlines of newspa-
pers. Such dubious honors would
more likely be extended to the
leading citizens of Sodom and Go-
morrah because their daring ex-
ploits in criminality, degeneracy,
sexual perversion and depravity
would make them folk heroes of
popular culture. c:\
Were Abraham with us, he
might notice that his spirit is not
in great evidence among his de-
scendants. American Jews are fa-
vorably disposed toward their
tradition, but enthusiasm is not
the identifying quality of this re-
lationship. The spirit of our time
was captured very well by the lit-
tle boy who recounted his expe-
riences in religious school to his
parents declaring, "I don't mind
going to Sunday school; I just
don't want to get involved."