Add meaning to your Judaism through Reconstructionism Spirituality ongrega tion rchiyah - • ftwat, frienkti7 5. tinalcre With. xn,4‘ pa rtiCipNtorti iiproAdv- to 700 4501- Holiday and Shabbat services conveniently located in Royal Oak For more information, please call (248)545-4137 or (248)542-0900 ittfIR riVIVRE Is IN CM VINCS Early Intervention, Pre-School, Kindergarten and Toddler Programs for Children with Special Needs, such as Attention and Behavioral Concerns counted in the minyan, we counted them. Here they read Torah, haftorah, lead services, give d'vrei Torah commentaries. Developmental, Educational and Psychological Specialists in Early Childhood Comprehensive, Individualized Programs Community Egalitarianism 4:1 Student/Teacher Ratio Uniquely Focused on Helping Parents Help Their Children 33360 West 13 Mile Road (corner of Farmington Road) Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (248) 476-4515 Michigan Center For Children And Parents Donald Silver, M.D. and Victoria Schreiber, M.A., Directors DOWS WALLS MORE HunterDouglas WINDOM F AINIONS ecarnozefilthe Vriefew Sophisticated Room Designs for Adults & Children Wallpaper • Fabric • Window Treatments • Bedding Expert Installation Luminette Priva • Sheers® Duette® Honeycomb Shades Vertical/Horizontal Blinds A.S.I.D Interior Designers Country Wood® Builds Excellent Service Beyond- Woods- Blinds Silhouettes 0 WmdowShadings In-home Consultation 5528 Drake at Walnut Lake Rd., W. Bloomfield • 248-661-3840 • http://www.windowsandwalls.com Mon, Thurs 10-6 • Thes, Wed, Fri 10-5 • Sat 10-4 the coming year be filled with health, happiness and prosperitg for all our family and friends. frie 2lappg 21e1V - Year 9/29 2000 R26 — Weintraub Jewelers Yetta and Danny Weintraub Other local congregations have total inclusion of women in service-partici- pation. "Women participate fully in Adat Shalom services," says Rabbi Daniel Nevins. "Should we ever need to hire more clergy, Adat Shalom would be delighted to welcome a woman rabbi or cantor." At Congregation Shaarey Zedek, women participate in everything," says Rabbi Joseph Krakoff. "Usually the cantor leads services, but a once- a-month congregation-participation service includes women" at the Southfield synagogue. The annual Sisterhood Shabbat service is entire- ly women-led. At B'nai Israel, the West Bloomfield branch of Shaarey Zedek, where there is no cantor, women share bimah participation. At Congregation Beth Ahm, women's full participation in the service came nearly all at once. "Here they conduct services, have aliyot, give d'vrei Torah, read Torah and haftorah and are counted in the minyan," says Rabbi Charles Popky. But that wasn't the case less than four years ago. Former Beth Ahm Rabbi Aaron Bergman says when he began as senior rabbi of the synagogue in 1996, women could read haftorah and megillot, but they were not involved with ark openings or aliyot. Although changes made at that time were based on a board of directors vote, he says, "I was behind instigat- ing it. I pushed it and we went fully egalitarian." " Choices Reinforcing the issue that each con- gregation makes the changes that are comfortable for their rabbis and memberships, B'nai Moshe did not become totally egalitarian. "We have maintained tradition in the strictest sense, with respect to shaliach tzibbur, the prayer leader, a position which remains open only to a man. Men are clearly obligated to fulfill that obligation, but women may or may not be," Rabbi Pachter says. Prior to B'nai Moshe's recent vote, women took part in most other religious and lay leadership roles. "Women at B'nai Moshe are very visible on the bimah during the ser- vice," Rabbi Pachter says. "I think our Shabbat morning service has felt inclusionary for a long time. Our synagogue was among the first to have women reading Torah," he says. "We have had full participation in the Torah service for years. The only change here is counting women in our minyan." At B'nai Moshe, the rabbi may grant permission for a ritual change, such as the issue of women in the minyan. Two years ago, Rabbi Pachter decided against that change. "I did a lot of soul-searching," he says. "Some people in the congrega- tion felt it was really important. I have respect for those who didn't want it." With his stance, Rabbi Pachter follows the philosophy of the Rambam (Maimonides), who defined a minyan as 10 free adult Jews based on social status, not one's obligatory status. On that basis, Rabbi Pachter asked the board this year to examine the issue and vote on whether to change the syna- gogue's policy. At B'nai Moshe, Rabbi Pachter sees a sense of a healthy balance of egali- tarianism and tradition. "I would still like that to continue," he says. "I think that having choices in the com- munity, even within the same move- ment is important. There is some value in being different and some in holding on to the practice sustaining us for so many years." ❑