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he ApplaTtee is looking for grandparents and their grandchildren who reside
in the metro Detroit area. We want to know all about what grandma and
grandpa enjoyed playing as children, and what their grandchildren enjoy
doing the days. We will take Q photograph of both grandparents and grandchil-

T

Have I Heard
My Sermons?

dren to accompany gout comments.

If interested, ple.ase call The AppleTree (248) 254-6080, ext. 208. Slowly

and clearly leave your name and phone number. Calls will be accepted through
Thursday, Sept. 24 4 If we are able to use your services, we wilt call you back no
later than Friday, Sept. 25. Because of space reasons we will be able to feature

-

rabbi, though, many of my own internal
ne of the greatest challenges of
words become external. This is truly a
being a rabbi is that my whole
humbling experience. The congregation
life — personal and profes-
is listening to me. How do I respond? I
sional — runs on a Jewish
see this as an opportunity to share a
cycle. The days, weeks and years follow
piece of myself, some of my own per-
the ebb and flow of the Jewish calendar.
spective and experience. At the same
This is most clearly evident to me as the
time, perhaps even more
Yamim Noraim, the Days of
importantly, I have the privi-
Awe, approach.
lege to share what I have been
I speak to you from the per-
fortunate to learn from our
spective of the month of Elul-
tradition from all the rabbis,
preparation time. The name
scholars and sensitive souls
-Elul is said to be an acronym
who came before me.
for the famous verse of Song of
The Days of Atonement
1/clodi li — I
Songs: Ani
become a time of even more
am my beloved's and my
intense introspection. For
beloved is mine. Throughout
transgressions between me
the centuries, the rabbis have
RABBI SHEILA and God, I know that Yom
interpreted the Song of Songs
B. GO LOBOY
Kippur will atone; but for
as a love story between God
Spec ial to
transgressions between me
and the people of Israel. I
The Jew ish News and another human soul, it is
-believe it is important for me,
up to me to make amends. I
personally, to remember this
frequently say that it is an honor and a
lesson as the Days of Awe approach.
privilege to be welcomed into some of
It is my love for God, as well as my
the more intimate circles of congregants
commitment to the Jewish community,
and their families. At the same time, I
that recently brought me to Temple
take this responsibility very seriously.
Beth El and metro Detroit. I have taken
Have my words or actions in those
on many responsibilities professionally,
moments been appropriate?
both within and beyond, my wonderful
Comforting? Has my work as a rabbi, as
congregation. As worthwhile and heart-
a Jew, and as a fellow hurl-Ian being been
felt as these obligations are, I am quick
Vtzelem Elohim — in the image of God?
to remind myself that they do not
It is to this goal that I must always
absolve me from personal reflection and
aspire.
soul-searching during this time.
At the Ne'ilah service of Yom Kippur,
Moving through Elul, past Selichot
we mark the closing of the gates. The
and into the Days of Awe affords an
Sabbath of Sabbaths has come to an
opportunity for transition from mun-
end. Professionally, I feel a sense of
dane to holy. The sermons are written,
relief. One of the most intense times of
the details of service, music, pulpit
the year has come to an end. Sukkot
guests and honors are in place, and I
and Simhat Torah, which follow so
may both lead and join with the congre-
closely, do not carry the same kind of
gation. As I don the white robes and
rabbinical pressure that the Days of Awe
garb of these holy days, my hope is that
seem to impose.
the sense of awe that I personally feel
Personally, I know that I always face a
will permeate my presence on the bimah
harsh reckoning. Have I found the time
as well.
for my own Yamim Noraim? Have I
Rosh Hashanah, before it was known
repented, made amends? Have I assessed
as the New Year, was called Yom Teruah:
myself, my faults and my strengths as
The Day of Hearing the Shofar. It was — much as those seated before me in ser-
and still is — a day for all to listen. We
vices? Others may have heard my ser-
listen to the sound of the Shofar, to the
mons, but have I? It is always my inten-
liturgy, to the timeless music — as well
tion and my hope to be as conscientious
as to our "still, small voice," the internal
as a person, as a member of nal Yisrael,
messages we give only to ourselves. As a
as I have tried to be as a rabbi.
This is my sincerest prayer as the
Sheila Goloboy is the newest rabbi at
Days of Awe approach.

0

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Detroit Jewish News

9/18
1998

53