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unrelated events.
Why do rabbis compare synagogues
to tents? Because the Book of Num-
bers' Mah Tovu tells us: "How goodly
are your tents, 0 Jacob; your dwellings
0 Israel." The Talmud defines these
tents as synagogues. Much like tents,
synagogues historically have provided
refuge. Much like tents, they've proven
portable. And much like tents, they're
open to cruel and gentle winds.
Orthodox Rabbi Avi Shafran of
Agudath Israel of America writes:
"Incurable Jewish optimists like me
have hope in the ability of large num-
bers of American Jews to candidly and
openmindedly confront classical Jewish
belief and to embrace the study of
basic Jewish texts in a traditional learn-
ing environment."
The synagogue, no doubt, is that
"traditional learning environment."
Reform Rabbi Eric Yoffie of the
Union of American Hebrew Congrega-
tions underscores how Judaism in the

stant in the lives of Reform, Conserva-
tive, Orthodox, Reconstructionist,
Humanistic, Traditional, Sephardic
and secular Jews. It's there to inspire
and guide us, if we so choose.
Whatever differences there are
among Jews, I'd venture to say there's
little disagreement about the syna-
gogue's potential to stimulate our
mind, engage our spirit, preserve our r->
heritage and nourish our neshama, or
soul.
There's no commandment to attend
synagogue. Still, it should be revered in
the collective sense as a point for Jews
to gather to build on the similarities
that bind us, not dwell on the differ-
ences that divide us.
Ken yehi ratzon. So may it be. ❑

Diaspora is synagogue-based: "The
energy for Zionist and Jewish continu-
ity will either come from the syna-
gogue or not at all."
Following the destruction of the
Second Temple in 70 C.E., the syna-
gogue became the center of Jewish reli-
gious and communal life. Wherever
Jews settled, they built a Bet Knesset —
a place to worship and study.
During the Middle Ages, the syna-
gogue was the hub for which the reli-
gious, educational, social and charita-
ble spokes of community life radiated.
In turn-of-the-century Detroit, poor
Jews immigrating from Eastern
Europe found ties to their homeland
in the shtiblach, or homemade syna-
gogues, that sprung up in the shtetl on
the lower east side, around Hastings
Street.
Today — as debate grows over plu-
ralism, assimilation, intermarriage, rit-
ual and study from a Jewish perspec-
tive — the synagogue is the one con-

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Robert Sklar, please dial (248)

354-6060, Ext. 258.

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DETROIT
JEWISH NEWS

4/3

1998

30

activities will be offered, drawing upon
new institution that could
the excellent facilities of our Jewish
transform the lives of
Community Center, from its pool to
Detroit's teens has recently
the
art rooms. Over the next year, our
become possible.
educators
and school committee will
Known provisionally as the Jewish
labor
intensively
to prepare a rich and
Academy of Metropolitan Detroit, it is
challenging
environment
for our ninth
expected to welcome its first students in
grade.
just 18 months. For the past
As we prepare a vigorous
few years, a committee led by
college
preparatory curricu-
Jeff Garden has struggled to
lum,
we
are equally driven to
shepherd this vision from
design
an
intensive course of
dream to reality. Thanks to a
Judaic
studies.
We believe that
remarkable show of support
serious
study
of
the classics of
from the Jewish Federation of
Judaism
in
their
original lan-
Metropolitan Detroit, we are
guages
is
itself
a
great
prepara-
prepared to take the next cru-
tion
for
college
and
beyond.
cial steps. For this, we will
To become an educated
need input and assistance
RABB I DANIEL and articulate Jew in the
from the entire Jewish com-
N EVINS
modern world is no simple
munity.
Sp ecial to
challenge. Knowledge of vari-
The first test of the new
The Je wish News ous languages and disciplines
high school will be the
Must be combined with ana-
demonstration of its academic
lytical
skills
and creative expression. Our
credibility. Experts in secondary educa-
students
will
be prepared in a holistic
tion and university professors have
fashion
to
meet
this challenge.
already been assembled to help design a
Every
school
develops a culture in
stellar college preparatory curriculum in
addition
to
its
formal
curriculum. We
the humanities and sciences. A diverse
hope
that
ours
will
reflect
the stren gths
and exciting selection of extra-curricular
and diversity of the Jewish people. It
Daniel Nevins is a rabbi at Adat
must be admitted that no school can
Shalom Synagogue.
meet the needs of the entire Jewish

A

community, from Humanist to Haredi.
The Jewish Academy will seek to
accommodate a centrist swath, focusing
on the needs of the students most likely
to use it.
There is a special relationship with
Hillel Day School, whose leadership has
strongly supported the creation of this
school. Yet the Jewish Academy will be
an independent organization with its
own campus, board and administration.
Moreover, we expect to attract gradu-
ates of other day schools in the region,
from Toledo to Ann Arbor, as well as
welcoming students whose prior Jewish (-- 3
education has been in the synagogue
and temple schools. A special mechinah
(beginner) track will help students new
to day school catch up to the skill level
of their peers.
All students will be invited to study
Judaism in an open and respectful fash-
ion. We anticipate that our students will
ask critical questions, and we hope that
they will come to love the Torah and
incorporate its teachings into their lives.
Beyond the intellectual skills fostered
by the curriculum and the physical and
creative prowess developed in its clubs,
our school seeks to address the spiritual
growth of its students. Daily prayer will
be a collective and regular feature of the

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