The Judaism Of Celebration

Our heritage calls for rejoicing whenever possible.

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udaism is all about knowing how to
celebrate! But too many of us missed
that point when we learned about the
laws and legends of the Jews. Most of us take
ourselves too seriously. Our entire faith and
future is not about how heavy we can make
our practices but how wonderful believing in
our religion and our culture really can be.
From the earliest days of life, Jews are
supposed to be taught how to celebrate.
Celebrations are our memory-triggers through
life. Jews have been through so much as a
people, it is only right that we celebrate not
just our successes and our struggles but our
very survival.
Shabbat candles, the wine, the Kiddush cup,
the braided challa, even the white tablecloth
and traditional chicken dinner symbolize the
celebration of rest and Yi ddishkeit (Judaism)
that remind us not just about the best day of
the week but of times gone by and times yet to
be.
Every holiday and any holy day involve a
string of customs and traditions that can be
reminders of our childhood and become links
to and for the generations to come.
Celebration is what being the Jewish people
is all about. It is about the joy of being alive,
the joy of knowing how to live and, most of all,
it is about the joy that Judaism can be.
Celebrations are supposed to remind us that

we Jews love our Judaism
not because we necessarily
accept all of its postulates
or positions, not because
we agree with every
mitzvah, but because it is
ours. The celebration of a
holy event, a life-cycle
Rabbi Dannel I.
happening, a holiday, or
Schwartz
even a meal, constantly
serves to tell us that Jewish life is about
community, and celebration is the way we
learn how to view and live life with the people
who mean the most to us.
The world as we know it doesn't give us
enough opportunities to celebrate. We are too
busy working or escaping or working to escape.
There is an old saying that goes, "The work
will wait for you to show your child the
rainbow... the rainbow won't wait for the work
to get done." After all is said and done, the very
essence of Judaism is centered around the
celebration that we can find in life, if we take
the time to just do it.
Judaism is about celebrating, belonging; it is
about celebrating community and celebrating
a relationship with an extended family. In the
end though, if a celebration really hits home, it
is celebrating our uniqueness and our
relationship with God.

PARTY NEEDS

a

et Hall

Andiamo West

6676 Telegraph Road
Bloomfield Twp., MI 48301
(248) 865-9300

One of a six-restaurant group: Andiamo Italia,
Andiamo Lakefront Bistro, Andiamo Trattoria,
Andiamo West, Andiamo Osteria of Royal Oak and
Andiamo Osteria of Rochester. Italian favorites
featured.

Butzel Conference Center

3599 Perryville Road
Ortonville, MI 48462
(248) 627-3200
(248) 647-1100 city office
Fax: (248) 647-1493
Email: tamarack@ix.network.com
Contact Person: Rick Goren

Offers kosher meals in conference center and three
cottages, each with eight rooms for overnight
rental. Programs include family camps, Bubbie and
Zayde weekend retreats, corporate retreats and
bar/bat mitzvah parties. Groups may use the ropes
course and other Tamarack Camp activities.

DoubleTree Hotel

2700 Sheraton Drive
Novi, MI 48377
(248) 348-5000
(800) 713-3513

Elegant ballroom for all occasions. Spacious three-
story atrium ideal for cocktail receptions. Complete
catering services and professional staff. Full-
service hotel featuring 217 luxurious guest rooms
and suites.

Catere,.,

Bloom's Kitchen

Rabbi Dannel I. Schwartz is a spiritual leader of Temple Shir Shalom in West

Bloomfield.

32418 Northwestern Hwy.
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
(248)855-9463
Fax: (248) 626-8468
Email: shirleebloom@hotmail.com

JN • SOURCEBOOK 2000 •

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