EDITOR'S WATCH

us fulfill the mitzvah of helping those
who can't help themselves.
Through our generosity, Matan
B'Seter of Metropolitan Detroit, Yad
Ezra, Mazon: A Jewish Response To
Hunger, the Moeis Chitim Organiza-
ews like to eat. We're obsessed
tion of Detroit, the Michi-
not only with how
gan Jewish AIDS Coalition
food tastes but also
and other humanitarian
how it's prepared and
agencies help the needy
presented.
enjoy the harvest season's
Beyond sustenance, food is
bounty with greater peace
one of Judaism's great unify-
of mind and self-worth.
ing forces. We depend on it
But how do we know .
to spark conversation, stir
their
efforts are legitimate? -
spirituality and shape friend-
How
do we track the
ships. And we share it with
money
they disperse? How
the hungry as tzedaka.
do
we
satisfy
our suspicions?
ROBERT
A.
So it's not surprising
For
starters,
we
must require
SKLAR
Passover is so popular among
accountability. The agencies
Editor
the Jewish holidays. It's a
should welcome our ques-
holiday whose history is
tions and be glad we care.
steeped in the splendor and
We
also
can check annual reports to
simplicity of food. From matzah to
get
a
big-picture
look, query govern-
maror to charoset, Pesach brims with
ing
board
members
to learn how deci-
fare that tests our taste buds.
are
made
and
solicit
general
sions
We celebrate the holiday to com-
community feelings.
memorate the Exodus from Egypt.
Further, we should try to talk to
But it also ushers in Hag Ha-Aviv, the
clients — the recipients of all the
Festival of Spring. That's the first of
goodwill. Their assessments may be
three holidays commemorating the
the most insightful.
Israelites' pilgrimage to the Holy Tem-
No matter how closely I study
ple with an offering of barley in
annual
reports, what ultimately drives
thanks for the spring harvest.
me
to
give
is my faith in the cause —
matanot
l'evy-
Just as Purim inspires
something
easily
shattered by even a
maot
so
does
Passover
inspire
onim,
hint
of
leadership
impropriety.
both
opportunities
to
help
chitim —
During our seder prayers this
the less fortunate.
Passover, let us recall the chesed, the
And just like we do on Purim, we
loving kindness, vdtich virtuous agen-
open our hearts and checkbooks to
cies extend to the impoverished. Let
I Jewish communal agencies that help

Pho to by Bill Hansen

Fighting Hunger With Our Bounty

"Blessed is our God through whose good-
ness we have been brought to the privi-
lege of sharing our bread."
— Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger

/-

Women's Guild and later in the gift
shop, learning much about helping
others during my formative years. I
will always remember the warmth of
those long corridors and the grand
building that stood in the majestic
neighborhood of northwest Detroit.
Sinai Hospital will be sorely missed
but not forgotten by all of us who
were fortunate enough to have grown
with, and been educated by, this
memorable institution.
Reva Bakst Rivlin
Oak Park

Enjoying A
Meatless Seder

Thank you for including the article by
Eileen Golitz ("Have A Seder Without
Any Meat" March 19). You can put
together a festive, colorful, tasty and

nutritious vegetarian seder feast.
The recipes listed are automatically
kosher, without much extra thought
involved. In fact, many Jews have
switched over to a vegetarian diet as a
simpler way to keep kashrut.
The timing of the article was excel-
lent. It came out just in time for "The
Great American Meatout," a yearly
spring event that occurred on March
20th this year.
For anyone interested in learning
more about being Jewish and vegetari-
an, go to www.orbyss.com and click
on the vegetarian link, or look up arti-
cles by Richard Schwartz (author of
Judaism and Vegetarianism) in the
"Rebbes" section of www.rasheit.org
Maida Genser

Yad Ezra Vice President And Zack of Congregation Beth Shalom weighs food gifts to
the Oak Park-based kosher food pantry.

us also recall their resourcefulness in
rousing our soul, our neshama.
Let us remember, too, the resolve of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek's Libby
and Andy Beider to find every Jewish
Detroiter who's alone a seat at a seder
in the home of a local host family. The
Beiders were inspired by the custom of
hachnaset orchim, of inviting special
guests to the seder table.
This Passover, may each of us, in
our own way, ease the hunger pangs of

at least one fellow Jew as part of the
righteous deeds that have bound us as
a people for 4,000 years.
Ken yehi ratzon. May this be God's
will. ❑

To leave a voice mail message for
Robert Sklar, please call (248) 354-
6060, ext. 258. Or you may e-mail
rsidar@thejewishnews.com

Letters Policy

The Jewish News welcomes letters to the editor on topics of interest to the
Jewish community.
We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. They should be limited to
approximately 350 words. Deadline for consideration is 10 a.m. Tuesday for
Friday's edition.
Letters should be typewritten and double spaced. They must contain
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Letters can be mailed or brought to The Jewish News at 27676
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Letters to the Editor are posted regularly on our JN Online website at
www.detroitjewishnews.com

Jewish Vegetarians of North America
Royal Oak

3/26
1999

Detroit Jewish News

29