EDITOR'S NOTEBOOE

Photo by Krista Husa

The Synagogue: A Bridge To Understanding
In A Religion Blessed With Diverse Views

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existential question immortalized by
o matter what direction our
Peggie Lee: Is that all there is? So we
lives go in the rhythm of
search for spirituality in just about
the week, no matter if we're
every place but the synagogue."
affiliated or even observant,
Maybe, he writes, we're not search-
the synagogue is always there for us.
ing hard enough there.
It's a house of worship, a school
And maybe he's right.
building, a study hall, a banquet site, a
A 1990 National Jewish Population
meeting spot, a social action
Study found less than half of
center, a comfort zone, a
all Jewish households (Jews
>
communal square — and
from birth who maintain a
more.
Jewish identity) belong to a
Ultimately, the synagogue
synagogue. That's a warning
should be the great equalizer,
signal those of us with a
a common ground. Social
closeness to the synagogue
standing should not be a pre-
experience cannot ignore.
requisite to enter. Nor should
So how do we "do syna-
degree of Judaic commit-
gogue" differently, to boost
ment.
attendance if not member-
ROB ERT A.
First and foremost, the
ship?
SKL AR
synagogue should be a place
"Rekindling Shabbat," a
Ed itor
"to learn and to teach"
joint program of the Jewish
(lilmod urlameyd). Inconsis-
Federation of Metropolitan
tent attendance is a continu-
Detroit and the United Jewish Foun-
ing concern, however.
dation of .Metropolitan Detroit, has
Rabbi Ron Wolfson of the United
boosted Shabbat attendance at some
Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
synagogues but has had marginal effect
calls the synagogue in North America
at others.
"a kind of Jewish shopping mall." He
If Shabbat can't fill the sanctuary, a
< writes: "It's where Jews come when
deeper problem is at play. For what is
they need something — a High Holi-
Shabbat anyway? The Bible tells us
day seat, a religious school for the kids,
that "the Lord blessed the Sabbath day
a rabbi on call. Or when they are invit- and made it holy." Shabbat is a time
ed — to a simcha or, God forbid, a
for introspection — to take a break
funeral."
from business affairs, activities and
Baby-boomers especially, he writes,
frustrations. It's a time to renew body
are looking for something more:
and mind, and enjoy mishpachah, or
"We've made it materially — we've got
family, and chevrot, or friends. It's a
our beepers, and cell phones and Land
time to pray for healing, to observe
Cruisers. But we're left with that great
yahrtzeit and to daven. It's a time when

N

20 issue ("Contrition Is Key To Pol-
lard's Cell") of Jonathan Pollard is
flawed with such descriptive words as:
paranoid Zionist, vehemently pro-
Israel, Mafia-like code, turncoats and
others. He concludes by suggesting
that our defense of Pollard may not be
justified.
Jonathan Pollard was charged with
only one count of violating the espi-
onage act. If he had harmed the Unit-
ed States, committed treason or bro-
ken any other laws, one can be sure he
would have been charged accordingly.
His violation calls for a jail sentence of
two to four years — not life.
Pollard agreed to plead guilty with
a plea agreement, which the govern-
ment broke.
Caspar Weinbeger wrongly gave
written testimony to the federal judge,
which was kept secret. He also referred

to Pollard's act as treason.
Pollard appealed his conviction,
which was heard by three judges. Only
Judge Williams agreed. In a lengthy
minority opinion, which should be
read in its entirety, he concluded by
saying that Pollard's trial was fraught
with errors and he should be granted
another trial under a different judge.
The other two judges, both Jewish,
denied, saying he asked too late.
I believe that Jonathan Pollard
remains in jail because he was a whis-
tle blower. He blew the whistle on
Caspar Weinberger's secret, even-play-
ing-field plans, which were to arm
each Arab nation equal to Israel. How
else could Iraq have become so power-
ful? Then, when Weinberger was
indicted, he was given a presidential
pardon.
A Pollard trial would make Water-

Dennis Frank of Temple Beth El pours wine and grape juice at the Passover model
synagogue seder co-sponsored by Temple Beth El and the Ecumenical Institute for
Jewish-Christian Studies on March 17. Also shown are Craig Slowinski, Bette
Slowinski and Jacqui Smylie, all members of North Congregational Church of Farm-
ington Hills.

Jews leave their wealth or poverty, joys
or misfortunes, at the sanctuary door
and resolve to share a day of rest, wor-
ship and reflection. Just like the
human spirit, Shabbat's reach is
boundless.
Studying Torah and Talmud togeth-
er is certainly a way to unite us as a
people and build Jewish pride — per-
haps the most meaningful way. But as
Rabbi Wolfson puts it, many parents
drop their kids off for Hebrew school,
a bar/bat mitzvah or confirmation

class, then drive off because there's
nothing inside the synagogue drawing
them.
If they're ever going to develop torat
chayim (a living knowledge), Jewishly
ignorant adults must resolve to study,
to their comfort level, our most sacred
texts. What better place to do that
than the synagogue? For their part,
clergy and lay leaders must talk up the
synagogue as a life experience, dis-
pelling the notion it's a backdrop for
SYNAGOGUE on page 30

gate, and all other gates, look like a
summer breeze compared to a tempest

graduate programs, Hebrew
Union/USC and Hornstein, were
designed to train such professionals."
In fact, at least nine programs existed
when project STaR came to fruition in
1990.
As a Detroit native and a significant
recipient of Federation services
through the JCC, Tamarack, BBYO,
U-M Hillel and other organizations, I
thought seriously about Project STaR
when I made a decision to become a
Jewish communal professional. Project
STaR is an excellent program that
offers its students the chance to learn
from national leaders in the Jewish
community and to study at one of the
best schools of social work in the
country.
However, as I considered the
strengths of all programs, I eventually
PROGRAMS on page 34

SWIM.

Dr. Sidney Leitson

West Bloomfield

Training Programs
Far From Scarce

The article titled "Rising STaR"
(Feb.6) well portrayed many of the
challenges that graduate students in
Jewish communal service, and the
entire Jewish community, face in pro-
fessionalizing the field. However, the
article depicted only one such training
program and actually did a disservice
to the community in suggesting a
scarcity of such programs.
The article specifically comments
that "nine years ago ... only two such

4/3
1998

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