The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
This space contributed
as a public service.
Encore Concert Series
Presents...
"YES,THERE IS
'LIFE AFTER
BREAST CANCER.
AND THAT'S THE
WHOLE POINT:'
"Much of what you do as a rabbi
has little to do with what you study in
school," she says. She explains that she
doesn't think the range of personal
crises she encountered was unique to
her synagogue. "If you scratch the sur-
face of any gathering of human
beings, on a train or at a movie or in
any given family, you'll find suffering."
To Begin Again offers theological
and spiritual discussion as well as
practical advice for facing the chal-
lenges of daily life after experiencing a
tragedy. Rabbi Levy writes about
returning to God, facing solitude and
silence, dealing with guilt and envy,
the power of prayer and ritual, com-
munity, memory and more; she con-
cludes most sections with original
prayers, also drawn from her sermons.
The book also provides a view of
the texture of the life of a rabbi, whose
daily life is tied in with the pains and
joys of her congregants' lives. After
seven years and "months of soul
searching," she stepped down from
her position as pulpit rabbi in order to
spend more time with her two young
children, who are now 2 and 5.
This is the kind of uplifting book
of comfort one might give to a friend
going through touall.times. But it also
has more general appeal as a thought-
ful book about a Jewish outlook on
life, full of hope and the potential of
new beginnings. I
—Ann Jillian
A lot of women are so afraid of
breast cancer they don't want to
hear about it.
And that's what frightens me.
Because those women won't
practice breast self-examination
regularly.
Those women, particularly
those over 35. won't ask their doc-
tor about a mammogram.
Yet that's what's required for
breast cancer to be detected
early. When the cure rate is 90"6.
And when there's a good chance
it won't involve the loss of a
breast.
But no matter what it involves.
take it from someone who's been
through it all.
Life is just too wonderful to
give up on. And. as I found out.
you don't have to give up on any
of it. Not work, not play. not even
romance.
Oh. there is one thing, though.
You do have to give up being
afraid to take care of yourself.
An Excerpt
Within each of us, I believe,
there lies a space that is as inde-
structible as a sacred scroll. A
space that is holy and eternal,
unalterable and untarnishable. A
space of purity and wisdom. It is
this space that enables us to find
the strength to rebuild our lives
after tragedy. Not even death can
have dominion over it. When we
die, it soars upward back to God
just like the letters of the Torah.
Call it the soul, the life breath,
the spirit. We all have access to
it. It is the seat of God within
each of us. Not the God of my
childhood fantasies who comes
to our rescue like Superman. Not
the God who can prevent evil or
cure disease. But the God who
can heal us by being beside us in
our suffering. The God who
gives us strength to dream once
more. The God who assures each
every one of us, You are not
alone, I am with you.
Saturday, March 6,1999 • 8:00 p.m.
West Bloomfield High School Auditorium
Members: $25 / Non-Members: $35
19th
YEAR
Carl Reiner is the creator of the famous sitcom,
The Dick Van Dyke Show, and one of the best
known comedians of all time. He has directed
such films as The Jerk and Oh Cod. He will
share funny stories about his life, the business
and what he's working on now. He will sign his
book, The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000,
co-authored with Mel Brooks, after the show.
Get your tickets now!
MICHIGAN'S
FAVORITE ANTIQUES SHOW
SOUTHFIELD PAVILION
MIQUES EXPOSITION
FEBRUARY 26, 27 & 28
SOUTHFIELD CIVIC CENTER
SOUTHFIELD, MI
on Evergreen Rd at Civic Center Dr (10'4 Mile)
Fri 2.9 e Sat 12.8 • Sun 12.5
$5.00 with ad - Good for all Three Days
DOUBLETREE
GUEST SUITES'
011,01T iOUTM11110
BIGGER THAN EVER I
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*Exit Evergreen Rd South from 1.696
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Funded in part by: Manny & Natalie Charach Endowment Fund, Haddow
Endowment for the Arts, DeRoy Testamentary Foundation, Boaz Siegel Culture
Fund, Benard L. Maas Foundation, Hiram Dorfman and David Engelbert
Trustees, and the Ray and Atara Zimmerman Philanthropic Fund.
More Info: www.antionet.comIM&M
2/26
1999
Detroit Jewish News
79