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MOVING SALE:

SHABBAT SERVICE

from page 91

bears a striking resemblance to that
actor who plays Dr. Carter on the
television show "ER."
I have a little problem with com-
mitment. I can't commit to a relation-
ship, but I take it a step further. I can't
commit to not having a relationship.
This accounts for the stable of pseu-
do-boyfriend-type guy friends I culti-
vate, not wanting to rule anyone out
but not able to let anyone in.
I notice a couple holding hands,
standing against the back wall because
they couldn't get seats. For a second,
I'm jealous of them. They seem so
happy together, sharing the experi-
ence, standing close, having that thing
most of us want.
Everyone is singing, and the music
is beautiful. I want to join in, but I'm
tone deaf and embarrassed to sing in
public. Lremembet when I first
learned these songs, when I'd belt
them out in services, before I knew I
couldn't sing.
When did I start singing in my
head instead of out loud?
As the group sings, Rabbi David
Wolpe makes his rounds up and down
the aisles. His smile is warm and wel-
coming. I like that he does this — it
makes even us back-row people feel
like we are part of things.
A cellular phone rings. The rabbi
takes the opportunity to tell us that
Shabbat is a time for inner peace, that
if we can't take a couple of hours away
from our cell phones and pagers to
connect to ourselves, we really need to
come to services more often. The syn-
agogue, he says, should be a haven.
I stop taking notes.
The rabbi's sermon is about
courage. He tells us to be ourselves,
honor our souls and become whom
we were meant to be if fear didn't
stand in our way.

Abraham, Moses and other Jewish
heroes had the strength to argue with
God, he adds. As Jews, we have the
responsibility to live courageously.
Wolpe's words are moving, his
delivery dramatic and full of humor.
This is the stuff, I think to myself.
This is the stuff that keeps people
coming back to "Friday Night Live."
And as for the "mingling" factor in
this equation, I suppose it beats an
open to new experiences and relation-
ships" dance or hike or other Jewish
open to new experiences and relation-
ships" event. After all, we're all just
here to pray, right?
The service ends and it's time to
socialize. I don't Israeli dance for
much the same reason I don't sing.
I do eat, though. I fill my plate
with some salad and cookies and
attempt to maneuver through the

"

crowd, using the paper plate as my
crowd-parting device. The warm feel-
ing I had during the service dissipates
as I pretend I'm looking for someone
again. -
The mingling begins to take on a
sinister tone. There are a thousand lit-
tle rejections to be had at such affairs.
Someone looks at you and looks away.
You try not to take it personally.
Someone stops to talk to you and
immediately begins to scan the room,
his eyes darting around for someone
better. You position yourself in prox-
imity to the "ER" guy, but he doesn't
notice you and it's very likely you have
food in your teeth. You try to be dis-
creet getting the Altoids out of your
purse, but you can't get the tin open.
You run into a guy you know who
offers to open the tin for you and you
Friday, Nov. 13
suck on a mint while sticking to him
Light Up Detroit! Benefit concert
like anti-social glue.
for the Michigan parade
Courage is one thing. "Open to
Foundation, sponsored by Young
new experiences and relationships"
Friends of Woodward and featur-
events are another thing entirely. I
ing Duncan Sheik. 8 p.m. at the
gulp down another plastic cup full
State Theatre. Order tickets
of sickly sweet wine and head
through Ticketmaster or the State
for the door. El
Theatre Ticket Office.

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"The service
ends and it's time
to socialize."

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We'd Rather Sell it
than Move it!! it

if
Up to 50% Off*
** ALL MERCHANDISE

*All previous sales excluded.

•

ORCHARD MALL
(248) 855-8818

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-*e AC—AA

--*- e

- 111

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11/ 1 3

1998

Detroit Jewish News

.93

