The Rabbinic Scene

Whirlyball and dinner with the young
adult group of Temple Beth El (ages
21-35). 7-9 p.m. At Whirlyball West
in West Bloomfield. Cost: $10. Call
Stacey, (248) 669-5085. •

Saturday, Nov. 8

Ruach annual hay ride and bonfire.
7:15 p.m. At the Maybury Riding
Stables, 20303 Beck Rd., Northville.
Cost: $8. S'mores and hot chocolate
provided, b.y.o.b. Call Michele
Chapnick, (810) 258-0145 or Karen
Davis (313) 455-2502.

Relationship lessons om religious sources.

STEVEN AND YAEL WEIL
Special to The Jewish News

T

philosophies attempting to resolve
this conflict. On the one extreme, we
can examine the Catholic notion that
man's instinctual side is sinful and
detrimental. In order to ascend the
greatest spiritual heights, one must
deny the drives — i.e. by taking vows
of poverty and abstinence.
On the other extreme there is the
Greek/Roman hedonistic approach,
where one is encouraged, and expect-
ed, to completely indulge in his dri-
ves and instincts. This was expressed
in the unbridled orgies so characteris-
tic of the culture (and to some extent
ours).

he account of the creation
of man in the book of
Genesis is of tremendous
significance to us, but not
simply from a historical perspective.
Our sages teach us that Adam and
Eve are not merely the first man and
Havdalah program with Jewish
woman to be created; they serve as
Professional Singles. 7:30 p.m. At
the paradigmatic man and the para-
Dorian Gluckman's home, 1111
digmatic
woman. This implies that
Dorchester St., Birmingham. Cost:
Adam is "every man" and Eve is
$8. Call Dorian, (248) 646-9196.
"every woman." Therefore there are
insightful lessons to be learned about
Sunday, Nov. 9
human nature and
Brunch, gallery tour with Second
psychology based
Sunday Schmoozers and Jewish
upon our knowl-
Professional Singles. 11:30 a.m. Meet
edge of these two
at Zanzibar Restaurant on State Street
biblical figures
in Ann Arbor. Call Susan, (248) 626-
and the manner in
7246. Followed by an anthropological
which they were
tour of the Sepphoris of Galilee exhib-
created.
it, Kelsey Museum and Ann Arbor Art
One such
Museum. No charge. Tour begins at
insight relates
1:30 p.m. Call Sandy Maurer, (313)
back to the dual
449-7246 or Joel Dorf (248) 398-
nature of man's
3987.
existence. In
Chapter 2, verse
Prepare and serve lunch at COTS
7, it says that man
Shelter with the B'nai B'rith
became a nefesh
Leadership Network. Meet at the Oak
chaya, a living
Park JCC at 8:45 a.m. Call Michelle
creature.
Hubert, (248) 661-7815 or (248)
The terminolo-
788-NEWS.
gy nefesh chaya is
also used to
Steven and Yael Weil
Monday, Nov. 10
describe other life
forms — fish,
Author Brad Meltzer discusses his book
birds, insects and animals. We are
Judaism blatantly rejects both
The Tenth Justice, sponsored by
taught
that this is indicative of man's
philosophies. To deny our nefesh
Jewish Professional Singles, at the
instinctual nature — his emotions
chaya is to deny our humanity. God
Jewish bookfair at the Jewish
and
his
drives.
forbid
that anything God created is
Community Center Maple/Drake. 8
In
Chapter
1,
verse
27,
man
is
inherently
bad. The physical nature
p.m. RSVP by Nov. 9 to Jackie,
described
as
being
created
betzelem
of
the
world
is very positive, and in
(248) 399-2283.
Elokim, in the image of God. This is
fact we are enjoined to partake of
a reference to man's spiritual nature
physical pleasures.
Wednesday, Nov. 12
— his intellect and his ability to
But there is a difference between
Dinner at Max 6- Erma's, Orchard
think abstractly. Man was endowed
"partaking of" and "indulging in."
Lake Road, with the B'nai B'rith
with two opposing forces .— intellect
Living as a totally instinctual creature
Leadership Network. 7 p.m. Call
vs. instinct. — and thus, an eternal
equates us with animals and also
(248) 788-NEWS.
conflict rages within him.
denies the crowning aspect of
Our society has been primarily
humanity — our intellect.
Coffee night, Jewish Professional
influenced by the two different
The Torah provides us with the
Singles. 7:30 p.m. At Muddee Waters,
ultimate resolution of this age-old
12 Mile Road west of Coolidge. Call
Steven and Yael Well are rabbi and
conflict by teaching us to channel
David, (248) 398-9370. ❑
rebbetzin of Young Israel Oak Park.
our instincts and to keep them bri-

-

dled by our intellect. In other words,
whatever physical pleasure we are to
experience, it must be elevated and
used for a higher purpose, to achieve
a goal more lofty than giving in to
an urge.
For example, we don't eat only to
satisfy our appetite, but we honor the
Shabbat.and holidays with delicacies.
We use the table as a means of devel-
oping interpersonal bonds and as a
vehicle to stimulate ideas and learn-
ing.
We don't drink wine to become
intoxicated; rather we use it to per-
form the Kiddush, the Havdalah and
a wedding cere-
mony.
It goes with-
P. out saying that
the strongest
§ drive in mankind
is the sexual
drive. True to our
philosophy, a
physical relation-
ship between a
husband and a
wife is positive
— in fact it is
commanded —
as long as it is
elevated and used
to achieve a high-
er purpose. That
purpose: to
enhance the intel-
lectual, psycho-
logical and emo-
tional relationship that a married
couple already shares.
When the Torah tells us, "And
Adam had known Eve, his wife"
(Genesis 4:1) the word yada —
know — is a euphemism for marital
relations. The word knowledge
was chosen to convey to us the defi-
nition of the ideal male/female rela-
tionship. Only a couple that truly
knows each other on all planes can
"know" each other physically as well.
Such a level of commitment, of sen-
sitivity, of sharing and of giving
allows a couple to develop the
strongest bond possible — a bond
that makes each of them feel com-
plete. ❑

10/31

1997

79

