A CHILDREN'S DANCE WORKSHOP Kindergarten - Grade 8 Co-sponsored by the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies and Congregation Beth Ahm Sunday, April 9 • 9:30 - 11 a.m. CONGREGATION BETH AHM 5075 West Maple Rd. • West Bloomfield such power over us is found in Shemini. In this parsha (Torah por- tion) and others, the biblical text associates the dietary laws with holi- ness: "For I the Lord am your God; you shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not Controlling our appetites and keeping the faith. make yourselves unclean through any swarmina thing that moves upon the earth. b For I the Lord brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; you shall be holy, for I am holy." (Leviticus 11:44-45). Writer and scholar Rabbi Sidney Greenberg puts it this way: "The truth is that in urging upon us the observance of kashrut, the Torah links it not to healthiness but to holiness." Without an underlying rationale, those who keep kosher must do so not because it is logical, but because it is commanded. Whether or not we understand it, our tradition teaches that to be holy, to be in the Divine image, we must not eat certain things. This belief, this faith, has defined our communi- ty throughout our history." There are some who would go even further than the biblical tradi- tion and declare all meat unholy and thus, not kosher. Rav Kook, the first chief rabbi of Jerusalem, held this belief and encouraged vegetarianism as an expression of a messianic desire to return to the state of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. A new movement referred to as "Eco- Kosher" has begun recently, which holds that foods that are grown in a way that damages the environment or undermines communal health are unholy and should be declared a vio- lation of our dietary laws. If the food we put into our mouths can make us holy and bring us closer to the Divine, then all Jews — secular and traditional — should consider (or reconsider) what we eat, even beyond that which is com- manded. After all, "we are what we eat!" ❑ DANCE RECITAL: REVISITING JUDAISM THROUGH THE ART OF DANCE A dance performance inspired by feminism and Jewish liturgy, history and ritual Sunday, April 9 • 2:30 - 4 p.m. CONGREGATION BETH AHM 5075 West Maple Rd. • West Bloomfield Co-sponsored by the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies and Congregation Beth Ahm Both events are free and open to the public. For further information and reservations, please call, (313) 577-2679 or (248) 851-6880 ° s , A DANCE WORKSHOP FEATURING JOANNE TUCKER Co-sponsored by the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies and the Dance Department at Wayne State University Monday, April 10 • 2 p.m. MAGGIE ALLESEE DANCE STUDIO 3317 Old Main/4842 Cass Ave., Wayne State University This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited, and reservations are required in advance. For further information and to make a reservation, please call (313) 577-2679 or (313) 577-4273 Funded by the DeRoy Testamentary Foundation and the Menasche and Sara Haar Charitable Trust 9;iencis am relatives will 'rive or ,'ours to see you in if Alvin's Bride is moving to St. Clair Shores. Our new location, a beautiful 9000 square-foot Victorian Mansion, is just a 20-minute drive from our former location in Birmingham. And worth every minute. Now we have more room to serve you even better. More room for more stunning designer gowns than ever before. More room for parking. Even a quiet place to just sit and relax with a cup of tea to ponder your important decision with family and friends. All with Alvin's 21-year reputation for unparalleled customer service and the finest custom alterations intact. lou and your family will remember your wedding day for a lifetime. Take the time to de it perfect. Come to Alvin's Bride. For your wedding day to remember. 810.498.7200 • www.alvinsbride.qpg.com 26717 Little Mack Avenue (just off 1-696, 11 Mile Rd. exit) • St. Clair Shores andj t aal S. Advertise in our JN Entertainment Section. V AZ .10Nt 3/31 2000