SPECIAL
COMMENTARY

ber what unites us, and have an open
heart for understanding the places
where we experience conflict.
So in this spirit, I came up with a
few reminders of the things Jews
share. They are the:
• love of the history of our people
— we are all part of a link in a chain
of stories that has carried us through
generations
• pursuit of learning, including the
study of Torah, of ethics, and of spiri-
tual renewal
• desire to celebrate the seasonal
and life cycles in ways that connect us
to tradition
• commitment to treat one another
with the consciousness that we are all
created in the image of the Divine

)4tittlat
()Mk

Warm.

IIWIN':

Wanh.

Warm.
Free.

I

T'S NOT YOUR REGULAR ROSH HASHANAHIYOM KIPPUR

option. It's for the entire community, a place for any-
body to feel comfortable. Because everybody should
have a place to feel at home on the High Holidays.

We feel strongly about that.

So that's why we'll be having exciting services (in
Hebrew and/or English), a children's program, classes
(during service times), a warm environment with
friendly people — and a serious Kiddush after services.

In Pursuit Of Peace
If we can keep these commonalties in

You're invited! Services are free but you need to call The
Shul (248-788-7131) and register. The possibilities for
High Holiday spiritual connections are truly infinite but
seating is limited. (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are
September 30-October 1, and October 8-9.) Services will
be at the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Building on the Eugene
and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus.

So get seats for a warm Minyan — while they're still hot.

.TifE

Chabad-Lubavitch

6211 Quaker Hill Drive, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 www.theshul.net

s your amity tired

e dishes
of the
every R s HaShana?

holiday
. .
recipes invthis issue!

Lo

d

9/22
2000

42

~

mind over the coming year, it will help
generate a first step toward achieving
goodwill and tolerance among Jews.
But clearly, it takes more than sen-
timent to change the way we think of
one another. So I also came up with
some suggestions for how we all could
do a small part in changing the tone
of Jewish dialogue:
• Call up a family member, col-
league or friend whose Jewish life is
different from yours and wish that
person a good year.
• When you open your High Holi-
day prayer book, focus on those
moments when the poets, writers and
rabbis emphasized our unity. Where do
they speak of wholeness, of compassion
and of shared responsibility? The Ami-
dah [special prayer said at Shabbat and
festivals] gives us one answer: "Bless us
all as if we were one, standing in the
light of Your presence."
• Take some time between Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur to serious-
ly reflect on the conflicts in the Jewish
community. Imagine, for a moment,
someone whose position might have
angered you. How could you articu-
late that person's position? What
insight could you learn from the way
in which the other Jew has chosen to
live? What values "live" for you as well
as for him or her?
Ultimately, the question is, "Can
we remain a unified people, sharing a
common purpose?"
The words of the High Holiday
prayer book give us an answer:
"May we all be written into the Book
of Life, of blessing, of peace and of suc-
cess. Remember us, and write our names
in for good life and peace with the
names of all Your people Israel." ❑

