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wants to do. That's why the only
people to find the community. To
moral compass we have is God."
bring young families into the commu-
Kahn says that he doesn't comprehend
nity faster and keep them there,
the certainty in which religious officials
Federation, through the Millennium
know the views of God on morality. "In
Campaign for Detroit's Jewish Future,
my view," he says, "historical evidence is
is making a major investment by near-
that the Bible, including the Torah; was
ly doubling the size of the West
evolved by human beings to help them
Bloomfield Jewish Community
explain the unexplainable."
Center's Sarah and Irving Pitt Child'
"The greatness of religion," says
Development Center. A place that nat-
Conservative Rabbi Nelson, "is that it
urally involves parents and children in
offers a mystical approach to life. In key
Jewish activities, the Pitt Center will
moments of my life, I'm moved by
go from 150 to 250 students.
words of devotion and of prayer, whereas
The Federation also sponsors special
a classroom experience would have left
groups for those most likely to drop out
me unsatisfied."
of Jewish community life: those in
interfaith relationships and single
Jewish parents. These programs,
Both Sides Now
such as a Sunday school for
Despite the numbers of unaffili-
unaffiliated and family camp,
ated Jews, the rabbis interviewed
help families "try on" Judaism.
remain upbeat about the future.
"The problem," says
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Appelman, "is that the commu-
Rabbi
Joseph Krakoff— who
nity is a two-by-two [couples]
community. It also takes a lot of Rabbi Nelson created Torah on Tap (see "Two
Jews, Two Views, Let's Shmooze
energy to stay involved, which
on page 10), an innovative pro-
is difficult if a person is also
gram that brings young adults into
fighting a personal battle."
Torah study — is "incredibly optimistic.
Susan Victor teaches kindergarten in
"We've survived over 4,000 years of
a Detroit public school. She took a
challenges," he says.
holiday workshop at Temple Emanu-
Orthodox Rabbis Silberberg and
El, a Reform synagogue in Oak Park,
Jacobovitz see the possibility of the
when she got married, which gave her
messianic age evolving from the
a better sense of her Judaism. After her
American Jewish experience.
divorce, however, she floundered and
"Our Chabad Rabbi Menachem M.
didn't pursue her interest in Judaism
Schneerson [the Lubavitcher Rebbe
for several years.
who died in 1994] believed in the
Now, Victor is interested in recon-
spiritual potential of the American
necting Jewishly. Though unaffiliated,
she's attended High Holiday services at Jews," says Rabbi Silberberg.
The rabbis' optimism underscores
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, a
how unaffiliation may not threaten
Conservative synagogue in Southfield,
Judaism, though they are concerned
and visited the Sephardic synagogue,
about it.
the Sephardic Community of Greater
For those unaffiliated Jews inter-
Detroit in West Bloomfield, where
viewed, their lack of affiliation does
"the warmth and melodic prayers"
not make them any less Jewish than
attracted her. But she is leaning
the Jews in ancient times.
toward joining a Reform synagogue.
Shiri Katz-Gershon, 34, an Israeli
Welcoming or not, some unaffiliated
studying in Detroit, explains, "I was
Jews say the synagogue, in whatever
raised to be curious. That's why I
variety, is not for them.
came to America, to know more.
"I feel uncomfortable in any organiza-
Judaism is not just a religion to me,
tion in which I'm expected to pray," says
but a way of life. I am Jewish — and
Mark Kahn. "Religion provides an
that's not a matter of anyone else's def-
anchor and a view of what morality
inition."
should be," he says. "But morality should
derive not from a God-given source, but
from ourselves and standards we observe
because we're human beings."
Shown in Contributing
Rabbi Silberberg of the Torah
Photographer Glenn Triest's
Center disagrees: "A believing Jew
photograph are, from left:
believes in Torah and that all morality
Diane Kreger, Shiri Katz-
is rooted in the will of God.
Otherwise, one gets into a relative
Gershon with son Evyatar
morality, dictated by the particular
Gershon, Susan Victor,
Mark Kahn and Al Fishman.
whims of a certain society. Ultimately,
society can rationalize anything it
❑
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