SIN page 22 SPI:„=C11AIL 1FO IR. S J BSC R.11 1[3 1 _,- .<1P-4 Discover - Tbe Jewisb News ano a(( 17 ~- \›. it bas to offer to Nou anb Nom/. famitN. Subscribee Now 1. See what you've been missing. For only $46.00 - that's just 88 a week - save more than 36% over the regular newsstand price. • 52 big issues of The Jewish News. 12 issues of The AppleTree, our new, exciting monthly magazine for families. • Special seasonal pull-out supplements including Celebrate, Summer Pleasures, our popular Gift Guide and more. ) • 5 Issues of Style Magazine, Oakland County's premier lifestyle publication. ' • DU TI • N SU BSCRIPT! I N iRt THE DETRO IT J EWISH NEWS • Free AppleTree Gift. 1 ❑ YES! Receive 52. issues of T h e Jewi‘ News plus five issues of Stie magazine for onIN $46 ($63 out-of-state). Pius 12 issues of AppleTree, anca with Nom' paib subscription, a FREE AppleTree Gift. ❑ Please Bill Me. ❑ Payment Enclosed. Charge my: ❑ VISA ❑ MasterCard Card # Giftcard Message: Exp. Date pi e z ree r- AMIUIS GROW Zip Phone My Address L State City My Name Phone Name Address Signature (required) City ❑ I'd like to send a subscription as a gift to: Gift Card Message: State Zip Send AppleTree Gift to ❑ Me New subscribers ontN Please send all payments with this coupon to: The Jewish News • P.O. Box 2267 • Southfield, MI 48037-2267. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. ❑ Recipient DATI THE JEWISH NEWS pacity with me, and that any rab- The second violated principle bi who would, might even be is derech eretz, common, human "beaten up." decency. Proper behavior So, my congregants were Find ing a that takes into consideration brokenhearted because they mee ting basic human fairness — is of the wanted representation from equal to the entire Torah. mi nds their shul, and the bride's Finally, my speaking un- family members were angry der the chuppah has no sig- that the joy of the simchah had nificance under Halachah, or been diminished, an outcome that Jewish law. I would not be writ- does not conform with any Jew- ing the ketubah (marriage con- ish value of which I am aware. tract) or signing it as an ayd This behavior reflects the on- (witness). I would not be the going Orthodox attacks against mesader kiddushin, responsible Conservative and Reform rabbis for the actual betrothal. I would in America and Israel. Legitimate have removed myself from any differences have always existed aspect of the wedding that might in our tradition, those between compromise the "integrity" of the schools of Shammai and Hil- these rabbis' beliefs. I would have lel being only the most well- — and in other circumstances known of many examples; the have — done that to avoid any unnecessary turmoil for the wed- ding parties. But to deny a rabbi the right to speak is an act of sheer mal- ice. It is malignant to deny a family representation from its own synagogue, when such rep- resentation would not interfere with what these rabbis consider Jewish law. Their actions vio- lated the prohibition of sinat hi- nam (causeless hatred), which, may I remind these sages, is what brought down the Second current attacks represent a ma- Temple. licious exercise in power, a At a time when Jewish life is defamation of the tradition the being attacked, when Jewish peo- Orthodox so often claim to be plehood is savaged by ignorance "Torah true." and indifference, to have our di- These Orthodox rabbis also verse communities turn on one have violated three cardinal rules another, forcing families to make of Jewish law. choices that are destructive to the The first is shaming people in general unity of the Jewish peo- public: Those who refused my ple, is the worst sin I can imag- presence under the chuppah hu- ine. miliated the families who asked I can no longer hold back my me to participate. Shaming peo- contempt for such behavior and ple in public is tantamount to my criticism of the interpretation murder. Hiding behind "Torah of such "Torah law." This isn't law," questionable in its inter- "Torah law." It is an excuse for pretation and application, is no bad behavior, bad manners, dis- excuse. torted values and worse. ❑ The current attacks are a defamation of the tradition the Orthodox so often claim to be "Torah true."