Spirituality.

e=the florence melton
Fw-
e -
adult mini-school
of metro detroit

A Project of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

There Are Many Flags
But One Common Cause

is starting its second year...
Will you be a part of it?

* Expand your Jewish horizons in just two years
* Geared to the adult learner — no prerequisites, grades or exams
* Classes meet weekly; Tuesday evenings or Thursday mornings
beginning the week of September 10, 2002

The pluralistic curriculum is one of the main innovations of the Florence Melton
Adult Mini-School. It integrates text into the study of Jewish history, religion, ritual,
language, ethics, philosophy, literature, theology and contemporary Jewish life.

Join us for a "Taste of Melton"
informational meeting.

Study in the Melton style and learn what Melton is all about:

* Tuesday, May 14, 7:30 PM, in a private home
* Tuesday, May 21, 10:00 AM, Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield
* Tuesday, May 28, 10:00 AM, Borders Books in Farmington Hills
* Wednesday, May 29, 7:00 PM, Max M. Fisher Building in Bloomfield Hills

For further information, or to attend a
"Taste of Melton" informational meeting,
call the Mini-School office at (248) 661-1894

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Co-Sponsored by the Agency for Jewish Education, Federation's Alliance for
Jewish Education and the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit

PAKNIGHT & DEUTSCH

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ADMIRAL OPTICAL

David M. Deutsch

58

journey toward spiritual fulfillment.
In the wilderness, every Israelite
was in his place under the tribal ban-
ner to which he was attached. By such
arrangement and in such formation,
the sanctuary was properly guarded;
and thus, the people marched on to
n this Sabbath, the sedrah
their goal. If Moses had tried to oblit-
describes the arrangement
erate the differences and had demand-
and order in which the
ed uniformity, it is certain that inter-
Israelites encamped and
nal troubles would - have arisen to dis-
journeyed in their march from Egypt
turb the national unity. Instead, by
to Canaan.
wisely recognizing the tribal distinc-
In the center of the camp was the
tions, and even preserving
"Ohel Moed," the tent of
them by means of stan-
meeting, containing the ark
dards, Moses secured one-
of the covenant, guarded by
ness.
the Levites. Round about it
This explains a remark-
were stationed the rest of the
able phenomenon in Jewish
tribes, each of them distin-
history. We have always had
guished from the others by
our divisions. Our flexibili-
its own banner, each march-
ty and mutual respect pre-
ing with its own group.
pared us for the•outlook
What was the purpose of
that there is not necessarily
, these regulations? Why
one Jewish response to the
RABBI IRWIN
should each tribe march
problems
of the times, but
GRONER
under its own standard? As
also
many
alternatives. Is
Special to the
we answer, w e may find light
this
not
true
of the diver-
Jewish News
in resolving some of the
gent programs and ideolo-
problems that concern us in
gies of the Reform,
our communal life.
Conservative and Orthodox move-
The Torah recognized that the
ments and other movements as well? I
Jewish people were to be grouped
believe it is a blessing that one is not
according to tribes rather than as a
forced into a religious compartment,
uniform folk. Judaism acknowledges
but also rather has the power of
the wide variety of interests, the dif-
choosing the way of Jewish obser-
ferences of the souls of people, the lat-
vance and belief that expresses the
itude in the courses of life one may
person's convictions.
choose. And yet, within this multi-
Unity is more important than simi-
plicity, there emerges a unity, which is
larity, and unity can only be secured
based on a common attachment to
by respect for diversity. Let us not
the central sanctuary. Although tribe
drive away from the ark of the
was distinct from tribe, they were to
covenant, men and women who are
be bound together.
eager to range themselves by its side,
That is the true ideal of a flourish-
just because they wish to stand under
ing and vigorous community. Yet, we
a different banner. Such an attitude is
persistently neglect it. We want every
contrary to Jewish ideals and retards
member of the community to march
progress. If we desire to march out of
under one banner, but we fail to make
the wilderness and enter the glorious
provision for differences in tempera-
land of promise, we must be prepared
ment, upbringing, education and
to rally around the ark, with every
belief. We refuse to admit the elemen-
person in his place, finding his own
tary fact that what suits one Jew, may
way in this great journey. ❑
not suit another.
The consequence of this attitude is
the creation of divisions in the com-
munity, often mutually hostile. Such
attitudes are a source of weakness
among us. Our energies and resources
Discuss some of the historical
are dissipated in mutual criticism and
examples showing the Jews as
recrimination, rather than in unified
"one people." Cite some mod-
effort on behalf of our common goal
ern examples of this unity in
to strengthen the Jewish people in its
action. How does this thinking
affect us on the local and inter-
nal-4, mi' levels?
Irwin Groner is senior rabbi at

Shabbat Bemidbar:
Numbers h1-4:20; I
Samuel 20:18-42.

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5/10
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Torah Portion

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