Shaping Programs
In addition, new Reform and
Conservative converts, about 75
annually, are receiving mikvah baskets
at conversion, each filled with ritual
objects, community information and
a towel embroidered with the words
waters of the mikvah. Others have
become more involved in temple
groups and more have committed
themselves to more ritually observant
lives.
With the mentoring program, the
newcomers are the obvious benefici-
aries, but the mentors also renew
their commitment to Judaism by
guiding others on their Jewish jour-
neys.
Perhaps the biggest rewards come
from the involvement of so many
hands involved in the process of wel-
coming others. From the Jewish
Women's Foundation to the Temple
Israel sisterhood, from the mentors to
the mikvah basket contributors, more
people are involved in outreach in
our community than ever before, vir-
tually assuring that all strangers will
be welcomed and that no one will be
left dripping wet at the mikvah again.
This is where the change begins.
Let's make sure it continues and
grows.
The Power Of The Moment
brethren of long ago who faced the
Tel Aviv
Greeks and triumphed, bequeathing
look out the window of my
to us the shining lights of the
38th floor Tel Aviv office. My
Chanukah candles, come to mind.
eyes scan the horizon, passing
Like us, they were surrounded by
over thousands of cars stuck in
those who wanted to annihilate their
Mazel Toy.
the early evening traffic.
The baskets are the product of
spiritual and national aspirations.
It is not the cars, but rather the
donations from community groups
Like us, the size of their enemy
people inside that are on my mind. I
and a grant from the Temple Israel
must have seemed frightening. There
cannot help wondering, in the events
sisterhood. The sisterhood recently
were, of course, Jews at the time as
of the past week, or the past year for
won the national Or Ami (Light of
well who saw the price of their Jewish
that matter, how many of them are
my People) award at the biennial
identity as small in compar-
grieving a lost relative? How
meeting for its role with the baskets.
ison to the peaCeful life of
many ran for their lives 50
In addition to these programs, a
Greek paganism. It was,
years ago with the heat of
mentoring program for those new to
however, only in the will of
the ovens at their back, just
Judaism has been created and oper-
those who decided that
to have their grandchildren
their Jewish identity had no
ates now in nearly every
snatched away from them in
Conservative, Reform and Secular
price,
that the Temple in
the instant it takes a suicide
Humanistic congregation in the
Jerusalem
was restored and
bomber to push a button?
Detroit area. Each participant shares
the
Jewish
people pre-
The answer comes in
a year of activities with a committed
served.
Do
we Jews who
silence, and then, out of the
Jew in a non-threatening environ-
live in the modern world
corner of my eye, my com-
DO RON
have that strength, I ask
ment.
puter flashes with a message
SPIL MAN
These programs do not come with-
myself? As I round the last
summoning me to the
Spe cial
out a struggle. After all, they are
corner to my office lobby,
lobby of my office.
Comm entary
Jill Sklar is a Huntington Woods resi-
about changing culture in the corn-
the answer awaits me.
I pass a series of offices
dent and co-chair of Project NAOMI
munity from the roots up. But the
There,
in
the middle of the lobby
on my way, each one flanked by a
Community Council, a local program
programs come with great rewards.
of
my
predominantly
secular Tel Aviv
flag of a different country. My col-
of the Interfaith Connection, Agency for leagues, mostly Jewish immigrants
In the Temple Israel programs,
corporate office, a crowd of people,
Jewish Education and Jewish Family
some women who were unsure about
representing a multitude of coun-
like myself, file out of the doorways
Service. Her e-mail address is
converting though they were raising
tries, languages and religious back-
to join the growing masses now
Jewish children have gone to the
jdsklar@home. corn
grounds, gather around the menorah
heading towards the lobby.
for the first night of Chanukah's
The flag by each door marks the
blessing. In the throng of people,
nationality and native language of
head coverings range from well-worn
the people exiting through it. The
knit yarmulkes to paper towels to an
boisterous Italians catch up to me
open hand. It is in that moment as
from behind, their melodious voices
we
begin singing together that I am
overwhelming
the
short
chatter
of
of a Jerusalem yeshivah, offered a mini-
way to measure the reward."
no
longer
in a bunker. In the power
the
light-haired
Scandinavians
in
sermon in pointing out that while 10
Israel's new tourism minister agrees.
of that instant, I know why it is I
front
of
me.
I
am
surrounded
by
the
of
the
spies
expressed
concern
about
Rabbi Benny Elon, who was appoint-
came here.
remnant, having come home from
conquering the land, well fortified and
ed in October to succeed Rechavam
It is that for which the Maccabees
every place in the world.
inhabited by giants, Joshua and Caleb
Zeevi, the victim of Arab terrorists,
were
willing to die, and it is the same
Each of us walking that hallway
describe it as "exceedingly good" and
was in New York last week to encour-
reason
why our people do, in fact,
followed our dreams to Israel, getting
"flowing with milk and honey,"
age staff and American Jews to come
possess
the strength to preserve our
off
the
Jewish
train
only
at
the
end
to Israel in the spirit of "brotherhood," emphasizing that if God is with the
identity
and guard our land for our
of
the
line.
After
thousands
of
years
Jewish people, there is nothing to fear.
if not defiance. A warm man known
children.
It is the undeniable feeling,
of
exile,
where
would
we
possibly
go
"This is my challenge," Rabbi Elon
for right-wing views that are becoming
the absolute certainty, that your
from
here?
There
are
those
who
have
says
quietly,
"to
convince
people
that
increasingly popular at home, he is all
entire essence has returned home.
left, of course, they disappeared like
the land is 'exceedingly good' and that
too aware of the fears and concerns
"Blessed are you, Hashem our God,
the tourists. However, most of us
it is important to be there."
many people have about traveling to
King
of the Universe, who has per-
Whether we have the resources (finan- have just dug into our trenches,
Israel now, and of the statistics show-
formed
miracles for our ancestors, in
ready to last out this, just the newest
cial or otherwise) to pick up and visit
ing tourism in a nosedive.
those
days,
in this season." [L]
battle.
Day
by
day,
we
are
just
trying
Israel now, those of us who care deeply
His strategy is to start with those
to
carry
on
with
our
lives
in
some
about our brothers and sisters there
American groups that have the
Doron Spilman is a 1996 University
crazy version of normality, with the
sense that he is right, and that whether
strongest affinity for Israel — syna-
of Michigan graduate and an alumnus
fatalistic news reports chiming in the
we do it for them or for ourselves, as an
gogues and religious organizations —
of the Jewish Federation of
background.
act of courage or kinship, privately or
and convince them it is important,
Metropolitan Detroit-sponsored pro-
with fanfare, next week or next month,
and safe, to visit.
gram, Project OTZMA. He made
Israel needs us. And we need Israel. ❑
He noted the official logo of the
aliyah in January 2000 and serves as
Price
Of
Identity
tourism ministry is a depiction of two
an Israel Defense Forces reserve mili-
I
force
my
mind
back
into
our
histo-
Gary Rosenblatt is editor of the New
of the 12 biblical spies, sent out to
tary spokesperson. His parents are
ry,
groping
for
some
way
out
of
the
York Jewish Week and former editor of
scout the land of Israel, bearing poles
Geraldine and Murray Spilman of
dark
time
in
which
many
of
us
feel
with large grapes, symbols of the land's
the Detroit Jewish News. His e-mail
Orchard Lake.
we
are
living.
The
Maccabees,
our
fruitfulness. Rabbi Elon, former head
address is Gary@jewishweek.org
I
❑
12/21
2001
33