EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK
P
LETTERS
Letters are posted
and archived on JN Online:
www.dettoitjewishnews.com
Hitting The Right Notes
4 31 udaism is a symphony of high and low notes that extend our reach,
strengthen our identity and test our will as a people.
Metaphorically, we may enjoy playing in our local "Jewish commu-
nity orchestra." But we must all take a turn with the conductor's wand
to remind the "orchestra" what the score really is.
So says Michael Brooks, the outspoken executive director of
the Hillel Foundation of the University of Michigan in Ann
Arbor.
And I agree.
Too many of us like making music, like playing in the
"orchestra," but don't ever step up to conduct with hopes of
bringing people together toward a crescendo of what it means
to be Jewish. Like an orchestra, Judaism is only as good as the
ROBERT A. sum of its individuals.
SKLAR
"As conductors," says Brooks, "we must not just bring musi-
Editor
cians together, but we also must make the orchestra sound so
fabulous that people will stand in line to be part of it — to be
part of our conversation, part of us."
Brooks, on sabbatical following his 21st year with U-M's Hillel Foundation,
keynoted the third annual meeting of the Detroit Jewish community's
Federation-Synagogue Committee. The committee grew out of a desire to
enrich our communal programs and stimulate interest in the synagogue.
In his May 30 address, "What's the Score? Playing in a Jewish Orchestra," he
pitched the idea that it's more important to provide a taste of Jewish culture
than to try to engage nonobservant Jews or convert non-Jews.
I interpreted what he said to mean that identifying Jewishly is as important as
learning Jewishly. To be versed in Jewish history, law and ritual should be part
of who we are as Jews. But to be able to articulate why we are Jewish beyond
lineage is something special.
I liked it a lot when Brooks said: "Yes, Jewish education is critical; I don't dis-
miss that. But while we may have great resources and great teachers, at the end
of the day, the larger culture must tell us why Judaism matters if we are to bring
new people into the orchestra."
Well- Tuned Music
A 1997 winner of the Covenant Award as
one of America's finest Jewish educators,
Brooks foresees three outcomes emerging
from the beat of an inspired, and inspir-
ing, "Jewish community orchestra":
• That "most Jews will believe that, all
things being equal, the Jewish community is
the place they will want to invest their lives,
their passion, their time."
• That "new life partners, whether they have Jewish parents or not, will both
now play in this orchestra."
• That "non-Jews will say what a wise and astute community these Jews are,
and that maybe this orchestra is something they would consider if they had
their lives to do over."
Inviting as these outcomes are, Brooks is right: They will be a leap until we, as
a "Jewish community orchestra," acknowledge we have spent more time trying
to put a sizzle into our institutions than into our community — into the build-
ings we use than into the people who use them.
And this imbalance will stay until we raise the curtain on a truly stirring sym-
phony that resonates from the depth of our neshamah, our Jewish soul.
Giving the opening prayer before Brooks spoke, Rabbi Paul Yedwab of
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield hit the ultimate chord facing the communal
and synagogue world.
As he put it: "We are in more than the Judaism business. We are in the peo-
ple business. We may think we have the best programs, but when it comes
right down to it, we, quite simply, are in the business of relationships with
people." ❑
Jewish Veterans
Well Remembered
On behalf of the Michigan Jewish
War Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary, as
well as the Canadian and Russian
Jewish veterans, we want to thank you
for the good coverage you provided
for our Memorial Day services at
Machpelah and Hebrew Memorial
Park cemeteries ("Memorial Day,"
May 25, page 20; "Remembered,"
June 1, page 18).
The publicity gives families and
friends of fallen servicemen and
women a chance to pay homage to
those who served their country. It
also helps dispel the stereotype that
Jewish people benefit from wars but
do not serve. The fact is that Jews
served in greater numbers than their
population warranted.
Incidentally, if we gave the impres-
sion that 550,000 Jewish servicemen
were killed during World War II, then
we erred. It was 550,000 who served
and about 11,000 of those were
killed. (We have more than 200 pic-
tures of local men who died in the
service on display in our Memorial
Room at 16990 W. 12 Mile.) The
numbers who served, as well as the
500,000 Russian Jewish servicemen,
are some of the best-kept secrets of
the war.
It was a pleasure talking to your
very capable writers, David Sachs
and Bill Carroll, and to watch the
professionalism of photographer
Joshua Kristal.
It is our wish to have a world with-
out wars. But if they do occur, it is
important to know that Jewish people
will step forward as they have done in
the past to serve with honor.
Milton Klein
program chair, past state commander
Jewish War Veterans of the USA
Southfield
Nothing Replaces
Direct Experience
In response to the letter from Jay R.
Shayevitz concerning the participation
of Yeshivat Akiva in the March of the
Living-Detroit Teen Unity
Israel/Poland Experience ("What Are
The March's Benefits?", May 18, page
6):
LETTERS
on page 6
Dollkie
your
Mitzvah/
Honor family and
friends on your
special occasion
with a gift
to JARC
A loving way to
celebrate a simcha
A meaningful way
to help people with
disabilities in our
community
• Use JARC place cards
which indicate your
support of JARC
• Present each guest
with an elegant
Home Sweet Home
tribute with your
unique message.
• Use household or
other useful items in
your centerpieces and
donate them to JARC.
• Ask your guests to
mark your simchas with
a contribution to JARC.
• Recognize your
honoree with a special
gift to a JARC home in
his or her name.
• Or your own idea —
we love to create
new opportunities!
To discuss how to
enhance the beauty of your
important day, call JARC at
248-538-6611
30301 Northwestern Hwy.
Suite 100
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
jarc@jarc.org
JARC Does it With. Heart
6/8
2001
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