„,•:5„., , , „.„

__,...___,......_

e•

Time to
Inspect

•

,

t i

,'

•-•

Replace Old)
Cracked &
Foggy
Windowpanes
10% Discount

3..
--„..,,,,.

,.„.

■

/-w

,

:

1

'4., •

l

•

.11

......._

.
.--.

, i ,

Nlention 'Ilis Ad

See Spring and Summer
Through Clear Windows

Complete Window & Doorwall Repair Service

For Your Free Estimate or Consultation

MTIO

at :
Call Our Custom Experts at-

810353 - 5770

GLASS

And Visit Our Southfield Showroom at:

A Clear Reflection of Quality
Since 1964

22223 Telegraph Road • Southfield

(South of 9 Mile Road)

'"SFW. , ,„ v

Not valid on alcohol or tobacco products. Expires 12/1/97

6525 Commerce Rd. (at Green Lake Rd.)
W Bloomfield • (248) 363-7666

Pa YOUR

THE D E TRO IT J E WISH N E W S

PRECIOUS

04

Srovs
P A

BFAUITFUL
SETE%

Modern . . . Compared To What?

Summer Hours

Closed Mondays for
June, July & August
Open Tues. - Sat 10-5

Anybody Can Sell Jewelry...
But Nobody Provides Services And Discounts Like
Weintraub. There Is A DO-erence.

WEINTRAUB JEWELERS

In Store Specials Everyday
Sunset Strip • 29536 Northwestern Hwy.
Southfield • (810) 357-4000

ness) ... those issues which divide us —
Centrist posture is "passionate, dynamic,
serious as they are — are not as great
but not an easy path,” Rabbi Well says.
as that which unites us."
"To be a master, both legally and
Professor Schnall agrees. "The
philosophically, of Torah Judaism,
lines
of demarkation are not
and to be someone who has a pro-
nearly as sharp very often as we
ficient understanding of the sci-
make them out to be. Notwith-
ences and arts, is an extremely
standing ideology and
difficult accomplishment."
rhetoric, there is strong feel-
Part of the stigma against
ing about Israel in the yeshi-
modem ideology comes from a
va world."
perception that a modem Or-
Over time, the terminolo-
thodox Jew-was one who "cut
gy
demarking different
corners, had a watered-down
strands of Orthodox has be-
commitment" to Jewish law,
come more problematic than
Rabbi Well says. The term "cen-
anything else. Most congre-
trist distinguishes between ap-
gants express discomfort at la-
athetic, dry, stale Orthodox
beling themselves in one
Judaism and the passionate, well-
Orthodox camp or another; many
thought-out searching Jew who is
insisted that a Jew is a Jew. Peri-
willing to see God in all forms of sci-
od.
ence and knowledge."
Rabbi Meltzer in Atlanta is "completely
Over the past decade, "Modem Ortho-
against all of these labels because to me la-
doxy has lost a sense of clarity in regard to its
ideological positions and in regard to its general bels are divisive. The basic difference among the
relationship to modernity," says Rabbi Berman of various people who practice Judaism is level of ob-
Stern College. For that reason, Rabbi Berman cre- servance. One who observes observes, and one who
ated an organization called EDAH; to "re-energize doesn't, doesn't."
"To do an article on modem Orthodoxy is in a
modern Orthodoxy." Through a fellowship pro-
gram, Orthodox rabbinical students study with in- sense misleading because the names have become
dividuals "who are really at the cutting edge of so politically charged," Rabbi Tessler, of Potomac,
Md., says. 'There are many differ-
thinking and working on a set of ap-
ent views and slight variations in
proximately eight issues, which we
how
Orthodox Jews understand Ha-
consider to be at the core of the dis-
Above: Rabbi Irving (Yitz)
lachah and its flexibility."
tinctiveness of modem Orthodoxy:
Green berg.
"Should we define the labels of Or-
pluralism; the religious meaning of
thodoxy depending on how we
Below Left: Dr. Norman
the State of Israel; the relationship
dress?"
Lamm.
between Jews and gentiles; the at-
He quotes a mishnah (commen-
titude toward rabbinic authority in
Below
right:
Dr.
Jeffrey
tary)
from Pirkei Avot, Ethics of Our
non-legal matters; toward general
Gurock.
Fathers: "Al tistakel bikankan ella
knowledge; toward severity in re-
bima sheyeshbo," which means, don't
ligious practice; women; outreach;
focus on the outside of a person, but
and activism."
Differences aside, Orthodox Jews share many what is inside.
"And yet so many of us decide what kind of a Jew
things in common, says Rabbi Michael J. Broyde,
of Young Israel of Toco Hills in Atlanta. Atlanta someone is, and whether he is in or out, based on
has one of the most rapidly growing Jewish pop- how he dresses. What one looks like should not de-
ulations in the country, says Rabbi Larry Meltzer, fine whether someone is halachic or not," Rabbi
incoming president of YI-Toco Hills. A quarter cen- Tessler says.
"Every Jew thinks he is a centrist Jew and that
tury ago, the city had one Orthodox shul; today,
all those to the left are the goyim and all those to
there are eight, he says.
Rabbi Broyde says all Orthodox Jews "share a the right are [fanatics]," says Rabbi Landau of Bal-
commitment to detailed shimerat harnitzvot, dai- timore. "And we're all saying 'If only there were a
ly Torah learning, gemelut chasadim (acts of kind- few more normal Jews around..."'

