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Shabbat's Glow:
Truly Stronger?

How successful have we, the Detroit Jewish
community, been in rekindling Shabbat? That's
a question we invite you to help us answer by
re writing a letter to the editor.
With fanfare and promise
last fall, the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit and
the United Jewish Foundation
of Metropolitan Detroit
teamed up to usher in a very
special project, "Rekindling
Shabbat — Ignite Your Jewish
Soul." The celebration,
brought back to Detroit from
Houston by Oakland County
podiatrist Arnold Gross, was
created to connect the margin-
ally involved to the ritual,
spirit and beauty of Shabbat.
The hope was that it would
inspire a feeling of unity
among Jews, no matter what
OR, their level of affiliation, partic-
ipation or expectation.
Many synagogues and shuls
responded by offering congregational or home-
based family dinners. Others introduced alter-
native, less-traditional services. Some hosted
guest speakers or Israeli dancing.
The Bible tells us that "the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day and made it holy." Shabbat is a
time to take a break from business affairs and
w life's frustrations. It's a time to renew body and

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mind, and enjoy mishpachah (family) and
chevrot (friends). It's a time to pray for healing
and to observe yahrtzeit.
A day of rest, worship and reflection,
Shabbat truly represents the
spiritual lifeblood of
Judaism. The ArtScroll
Siddur teaches that Shabbat
"reaches its pinnacle when
all Jews not only perform
God's will, but rejoice in it."
Are more Jews "making
Shabbos" because of the
inspired groundwork laid by
Federation and the UJF? If
you or your family are again
lighting Shabbat candles
and reciting the Kiddush
after a hiatus, please let us
know. Write: "Rekindling
Shabbat" in do The Detroit
Jewish News, 27676
Franklin Road, Southfield
48034. Fax us at (248) 354-
6069. Or send e-mail to:
thedjn@aol.com . We'll publish as many
responses as possible.
The key question we'd like you to address in
your comments of 350 words or less: What
was it about the "Rekindling Shabbat" experi-
ence that touched your neshama (soul) — and
turned your flicker for Judaism into the start
of a lasting glow?

❑

Have Faith
In America

At another time in American-Jewish history,
the fact that _Monica Lewinsky — the former
White House intern whose relationship with
President Clinton has sparked a controversy
that is rocking the White House
to its foundations — is Jewish
would be a pertinent piece of
information to the public. After
all, the claim held by virtually
every card-carrying anti-Semite is
that you'll find a Jew lurking
beneath every nefarious action or
happening in history.
We Jews do seem to have a
knack for getting — usually
unintentionally — into the thick
of things. But it's a statement
about the current status of Jews in America,
and American society in general, that Ms.
Lewinsky's religion has not been brought up in
the media, save for a ridiculous statement

issued by a Hamas leader that what's being
called "Monica-gate" is part of a Zionist con-
spiracy cooked up to derail the Middle East
peace process. Imagine that — a-Hamas leader
accusing Zionists of thwarting
efforts to pursue peaceful
endeavors in the Middle East!
Let's hope this omission of
Ms. Lewinsky's religion indicates
a new level of tolerance achieved
in American society. And let's
hope the next time someone of a
particular race or ethnic group
gets into a well-publicized jack-
pot, it doesn't ever become. an
issue in public discourse.
That would be one major
step in achieving the true American dream —
creating a place where what one is is complete-
ly irrelevant, and not fodder for the cannons of
the soldiers of hate. [I

A new level
of tolerance
in American
society.

Former Israeli Premier Shimon Peres receives bread and salt dur-
ing a visit to Volozhin, Belarus.

LETTERS

What It Is
To .Be A Mentsh

Recently I visited Sante Fe,
N.M., and I would like to
share my experience with all
Jews. These people are proof
positive that a Jew is a Jew is
a Jew.
There are approximately
600 Jewish families there —
50 percent Conservative, 30
percent Reform and 20 per-
cent secular. There is one syn-
agogue, built about 15 years
ago, one rabbi and one can-
tor. The Friday night and
Saturday services are conduct-
ed in Hebrew, followed by an
English translation — defi-
nitely a Conservative service
— and everyone present par-
ticipated. The cantor accom-
panied himself on an old
upright piano.
The secular Jews support
and attend the services for two
reasons: for their own social
benefit and to show the gener-
al community that Sante Fe
Jews are one brotherhood.
In my many travels around
the world, I have never felt so
much sincerity and unity in
any other congregation. I
asked if there are any
Orthodox Jews in Sante Fe
and was told, "There are some.
We understand that they do
their own thing and there is
no animosity among us."

These people are what are
known as mentschen.

Elizabeth Shepherd
West Bloomfield

A JCC
To Be Proud Of

Sunday, Jan. 25, was the
1998 Kids Fair, sponsored,
coordinated and produced by
the Jewish Community
Center.
To be there was the see
smiles on the faces of chil-
dren from Detroit to Pontiac.
Families were enjoying the
day — another event that
only your JCC could pro-
duce. For some less fortunate
children, this event is a yearly
venture to see the Palace of
Auburn Hills and enjoy a day
for free.
A special thanks to the
youth of the BBYO who
spent their Sunday volunteer-
ing in every aspect of Kids
Fair. They are a group we
should be proud of.
We read about the prob-
lems of the JCC and some are
quick to criticize the opera-
tion. One look at the com-
munity response to this event
should silence the critics.
Our executive staff led by
Mort Plotnik and David
Sorkin were present with
many staff and dedicated
board members.
As we approach the year

JCC on page 31