Torah Portion
METROPOLITAN DETROIT CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT
VISITING SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM
If You Seldom Go To Shul:
Join The Party This Weekend!
expressed the joy inherent in Jewish life.
Immediately following Sukkot, we
celebrate another short holiday called
Shemini Atzeret. In the Torah, God
commands the Jewish people to make a
pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the
three major holidays — Pesach,
Shavuot, and Sukkot — together. (Were
the Temple rebuilt this year, that's where
I'd be!) Shemini means eighth, and
atzeret means stopping, so Shemini
ver Yom Kippur, I came to
Atzeret
is "the eighth stopping day."
an important realization: For
Rashi
explains that in this name God
most people, Yom Kippur is
communicates
His love for the Jewish
really, really boring.
people, telling us, "We've
Because I go to shul on a
been together for such a long
regular basis and make
time; it's been such a won-
Judaism an important focus
derful Sukkot. Stop. Don't
on my life — and while I find
leave yet. Stay another day, so
Yom Kippur to be difficult
we
can enjoy each other's
and challenging — I also find
company for just a little
the day spiritually uplifting as
longer."
I reach out to God searching
It's no coincidence that we
for forgiveness.
celebrate the completion of
But for someone who (a)
the Torah on Shemini
never really comes to shul on a
Atzeret. (In Israel, it's on the
regular basis; (b) doesn't com-
RABBI
same day. In the diaspora,
municate with God often; and
REUVEN
where
we have two days of
(c) doesn't read, speak or
SPOLTER
yom tov, we celebrate Simchat
understand Hebrew — Yom
Special to the
Torah on the second day of
Kippur must be awful.
Jewish News
yom toy.)
Nowadays, far too many
On Simchat Torah, we
American Jews equate Judaism
dance, sing, eat and drink and read the
primarily with morbidity and death.
final section of the Torah. We transform
Think about it: When do most Jews
our shul into a huge party, cherishing
appear at a shul? They come either to
the Torah and our closeness to it.
recite Kaddish on a yahrtzeit, or on a
Because Shemini Atzeret represents the
holiday (most often Yom Kippur) to say
mutual love and admiration between
yizkor.
God and His chosen people, what bet-
Tragically, American Jewry has taken
ter way can there be to celebrate that
a religion rooted in joy and fulfillment
love
than by rejoicing in the completion
and transformed it into an avenue to
of
another
cycle of the Torah?
express guilt, bereavement and loss. And
So, I have a modest proposal: If
then we wonder why our children look
you're only going to come to shul on
elsewhere for spiritual fulfillment.
two or three days a year, don't make it
In contrast to the austerity and seri-
Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur or even
ousness of Rosh Hashanah and Yom
on a yahrtzeit. Taken alone, they give
Kippur, Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret
you (and your children) a warped and
give us the opportunity to celebrate.
morbid sense of what Judaism is sup-
The commandment of "Vsamachta
posed to be. If you're only going to
b'chagecha" — "and you shall rejoice on
come two days a year, make those two
your holiday," plays a major role
day Simchat Torah and Purim. Then,
throughout Sukkot. The Torah
don't be surprised when your children
demands that we relax, sit, eat and
ask you, "When are we going back to
drink in the sukkah and enjoy and
shul again?"
appreciate the blessings God has
bestowed upon us.
Coinciding with the "water pouring"
libation that took place in the Temple
on Sukkot, the Jewish people threw
such a wild, raucous party that the
Talmud tells us, "anyone who never saw
On Pesach, we eat matzah. On
this celebration never experienced joy."
Shavuot, we receive the Torah.
Rabbis juggled, sang, danced and
On Sukkot, we sit in the sukkah
and shake the lulay. What's spe-
Reuven Spolter is rabbi of Young Israel
cial about Shemini Atzeret?
Shabbat Shemini Atzeret:
Deuteronomy 14:22-
161Z
Numbers 29:35-30:1;
I Kings 8:54-66
❑
Conversations
of Oak Park. His e-mail address is
rabbispolter@yiop.org
RABBI HARVEY MEIROVICH
OCTOBER 17-23
Harvey Meirovich is Dean of the Rabbinical School at the Schechter
Center of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. His teaching focusses on
exploring the significance and relevance of the Jewish classical tradition
as it confronts the challenges of modernity, and interpreting the religious
movements of Judaism in the modern period.
• Shabbat/Shmini Atseret, October 18, Adat Shalom Synagogue
• Judaism from Creation to History to Redemption Shabbat morning
• The Battle for Tolerance and Pluralism, Shabbat lunch
• Monday October 20, Maimonides Updated:The Philosophy of
David Hartman, 7:30-9:00 PM, Congregation B'nai Moshe
• Wednesday October 22, Coping with Crisis: Insights from
Rabbinic Wisdom 7:15 PM, Congregation Shaarey Zedek Sisterhood,
Laker Building
• Thursday October 23, Coping with Crisis: Insights from Rabbinic
Wisdom, Federation Building, 10:30 AM - Noon
• Friday October 24, Learner's Minyan, Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit, 8:53 AM
768070
Retired? About to Retire?
What are you going to do
with the rest of your life?
Learn about the
Institute For Retired
Professionals
"Where a world of educational & social opportunities await you"
OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday, October 29 • 1 p.m. • Room 332
For information, call the IRP office, (248) 967-4030, ext. 2018.
Fa
4
L
.\
Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building
TH
CE
T ER
i N ST I TUTE FO R RET IRE D Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
PROFESSIONALS 6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield
RE-ELECT COUNCILMAN BARRY BRICKNER
FARMINGTON HILLS CITY COUNCIL
On November 4th, vote for leadership and experience:
Councilmember, Former Mayor Pro Tern and Planning
Commissioner, V.P. 8 Mile Blvd. Assocation., Atttomey 27 Yrs.
Member of Adat Shalom Synagogue.
Paid for by: Barry Brickner for City Council Committee.
35021 Old Homestead, Farmington Hills, MI 48335
768750
10/17
2003
61