Summer Concert Series
At
In one of the most hotly challenged
/ sections of the original draft, Levy took
direct aim at the cult of modernity: "We
proclaim that the Torah is our center,
and Judaism is the scale by which we
shall judge the modern world."
Levy thereby rejected the classical
Reform habit of judging Judaism by the
standards of modernity. This rejection of
modernity as the ultimate arbiter of val-
` ues as well as positive references to the
laws of kashrut and mikvah were all
deleted from the final platform. Yet their
mere mention reflects a change in prac-
tice and attitude among younger mem-
bers of the Reform rabbinate and the
most committed laity.
With its reference to mitzvot
between man and God, as well as
• those between man and man, the new
platform reflects a growing intuition
that stressing "social justice" by itself
cannot sustain any particular Jewish
identity, nor provide a defense against
the scourge of intermarriage.
It is because Reform has traditionally
insisted that kashrut is irrelevant and
that Judaism is nothing more than what
all right-thinking modern men believe,
• that it has proven incapable of providing
a reason not to intermarry. For example,
when Temple Emanuel in New York
City, the flagship of New York Reform
and a hotbed of criticism of the new
platform, celebrated its centenary some
years back, it could not locate a single
living descendant of its founding mem-
bers.
The platform's emphasis on the
mitzvot as a means of introducing
kedusha (holiness) into Jewish lives
reflects a radical turn from the classical
Reform "religion of reason." By recog-
nizing a transcendental realm of
Being, of which we become aware
through the performance of mitzvot,
human reason ceases to be the mea-
sure of all things.
An acquaintance of mine recently
was in the largest Jewish bookstore in
Brooklyn when two busloads of Reform
Jews entered the store and proceeded to
empty it of volumes of the ArtScroll Tal-
mud and Chumash, as well as a wide
variety of ritual items.
There is clearly a thirst among
many Reform Jews to reconnect to the
'sources of their Judaism. The most
recent platform is but one manifesta-
tion. It is a trend that we must do
everything possible to encourage.
Jonathan Rosenblum, who writes
from Jerusalem, is a biographer who
often comments on the Haredi (fer-
vently Orthodox) perspective.
The Trowbridge
24111 Civic Center Drive, Southfield, MI 48034
248-352-0208
-"!
TUESDAY, JULY 6TH
Sam Barnett and Orchestra
TUESDAY, ULY 13TH
Tony Russo and his Band
TUESDAY, JULY 20TH
Phil Cole and Orchestra
TUESDAY, JULY 27TH
Phil Gram and his Band
e
ir
All Concerts will be held from 1:00-3:00 PM
Forest City Management Inc. Apartment Division does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped
status in the admission or access to or treatment, or employment in its programs or activities.
Equal Housing Opportunity/Equal Opportunity Employer
.... ....
•
`
,4<tabb
jf
44'
14'
. • '
••
ANIL
WE ARE
ALWAYS
BUYING
ANTIQUE JEWELRY
SILVER COINS
POCKET WATCHES
GOLD COINS
COIN COLLECTIONS
TIFFANY
FRANKLIN MINT
ROLEX WATCHES
STICK PINS
STERLING SILVER
SILVER DOLLARS
BROACHES
HUMMELS
ANTIQUE SILVER
SILVER BARS
FLATWARE SETS
DIAMONDS
CANDLESTICKS
GEMSTONES
PAPER MONEY
SCRAP GOLD
PATEK PHILLIPE
OBJECTS D'ART
VACHERON
BOWLS & TRAYS
TEA SERVICES
COIN WATCHES
CARTIER
RINGS
VAN CLEEF
PIAGET
POSTCARDS
10-24 KARAT GOLD
PENDANTS
ROYAL DOB LION
CHAINS
EARRINGS
We are interested in serving you or your died
in the appraisal or liquidation of your coins,
jewelry, collectables or an entire estate.
PLEASE CALL OR STOP IN!
DONALD R. BLITZ, M.D., P.C.
LESLIE GAYLE LAFER, D.O., P.C.
ROBIN ALAN BLUMER, M.D.
GYNECOLOGY • OBSTETRICS
Are pleased to announce
the newest
Member of our
Physician staff:
Dr. Renee Horowitz
(beginning July 6th)
Women's Health Professionals
25865 West Twelve Mile Road
Suite A-101
Southfield, Michigan 48034
(248) 948-1990
Affiliated with William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
THE DAVID SYME BAND
CONCERTS • WEDDINGS • CORPORATE AFFAIRS
(248) 681.2417
33700 WOODWEIRD AVENUE
BIRMINGHAM. MI 48009
248-644-8565
Mon,.-Fri. 9-6 • Saturday 9-4
Metro pager Since 1956
Hear David's radio show on
WYUR 1 3 1 0 am
Mon-Fri from 6: I 5-7pm
For information on recordings please visit our website at www.symepiano.com
Detroit Jewish News
7/2
1999
39