Synagogues
THE
SALE
SYNAGOGUES FROM PAGE
57
TEMPLE KOL AMI
5085 Walnut Lake, West Bloomfield, 48323, (248) 661-
0040. Rabbi: Norman T. Roman. Rabbi emeritus: Ernst J.
Conrad. Cantorial soloist: Susan Greener. Services: Friday 8
p.m. Saturday 10:30 a.m.
CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK
EVENT
1924 Coolidge, East Lansing 48823, (517) 351-3570.
Rabbi Emeritus: Morton Hoffman. Rabbi: Richard Baroff.
Cantor: Pamela Jordan Schiffer. Services: Friday 8 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m.
OF THE SEASON
TEMPLE SHIR SHALOM
3999 Walnut Lake, West Bloomfield, 48323, (248) 737-
8700. Rabbis: Dannel Schwartz, Michael L. Moskowitz.
Cantorial soloist: Penny Steyer. Services: Friday 7:30 p.m.,
Saturday 11 a.m. Friday sixth grade Honor Shabbat with
youth choir; 8:30 p.m. Yoga meditation service. Saturday
Ma'at Shabbat 9:30 a.m.
REPORRE/RENEWAL
CONGREGATION SHIR TIKVAH
WOMEN'S
3900 Northfield Parkway, Troy, 48084, (248) 649-4418.
Rabbi: Arnie Sleutelberg. Services: Friday 7 p.m. Saturday
10 a.m. Friday, Empty Bowl Shabbat.
EUROPEAN & AMERICAN
SECULAR Hurawasne
DESIGNER
CLOTHING COLLECTIONS
THE BIRMINGHAM TEMPLE
28611 W. 12 Mile, Farmington Hills, 48334, (248) 477-
1410. Rabbis: Tamara Kolton, Adam Chalom. Founding
rabbi: Sherwin T. Wine. Services: Friday 8 p.m. Saturday 5
p.m. Saturday bat mitzvah of Elizabeth Olson, daughter of
Deborah and Bill Olson.
JEWISH CULTURAL SOCIETY
ACCESSORIES & SHOES
2935 Birch Hollow Drive, Ann Arbor, 48108-2301, (734)
975-9872. Board president: Karla Rice. School principal:
Ramona Brand. Shabbat services first Friday of every
month 7:30 p.m.; cultural Jewish celebrations, secular
bar/bat mitzvah programming, cultural Sunday school.
JEWISH PARENTS INSTITUTE.
JCC, 6600 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, 48322, (248) 661-
1000. Director: Marilyn Wolfe. Alternative cultural Jewish
celebrations; secular bar/bat mitzvah ceremonies; adult
programming; cultural Sunday school from nursery
through teen.
SHOLEM ALEICHEM INSTITUTE
THE SALE
AT
TENDER
28690 Southfield, Suite 293, Lathrup Village, 48076, (248)
423-4406. Co-presidents: Alva Dworkin, May Moskowitz.
Holiday observances; Friday night oneg Shabbat; cultural
events.
WORKMEN'S CIRCLE ARBETER
RING
26341 Coolidge, Oak Park, 48237, (248) 545-0985. Chair:
Arlene Frank. Michigan district director: Ellen R. Bates-
Brackett. Year round holiday observances, Nokh Shabbes
Havdalah once a month; secular bar/bat mitzvah; Sunday
school.
SEPHARDIC
KETER TORAH SYNAGOGUE
5480 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, (248) 681-
3665. Rabbi: Michael Cohen. Services: Friday at candle-
lighting time; Saturday 9 a.m., Minchah 1 1/4 hours before
the end of Shabbat; Sunday 9 a.m.; Monday 7 am.;
Wednesday 9 p.m., Thursday 7 am., 9 p.m.
271 WEST MAPLE
DOWNTOWN
BIRMINGHAM
248.258.0212
TRADITIONAL
B'NAI DAVID
6346 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 100, West Bloomfield,
48322, (248) 855-5007. Cantor: Ben-Zion Lanxner.
Services: Saturday 9 a.m. Haftorah, William Ickison.
MIN wirAzis
FLEISCHMAN RESIDENCE
STORE HOURS:
SUNDAY 12-5
MONDAY-SATURDAY 10-6
THURSDAY EVENINGS 'TIL 9
1/23
2004
58
6710 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, 48322, (248) 661-2999.
Rabbi: Avie Shapiro. Services: Saturday and Sunday 9:15
a.m. Minchah Monday-Friday 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 1:30
p.m. Maariv Monday-Saturday 5:30 p.m.
YESHIVAT AKIVA
21100 W. 12 Mile, Southfield, 48076 (248) 386-1625.
Services: During the school year, morning services at 7:30
a.m.; afternoon services at 2:40 p.m. The community is
invited.
Torah Portion
Don't Confuse God's Will
With Human Speculation
doubts. God's gift of the land of Israel
to the Jewish people may not be what
we expect nor happen in a way that we
anticipate. We must not assume that the
Divine will will be limited to or mani-
fest in a way that fits our own human
expectations or speculations.
Likewise, through Jewish tradition
and
folklore we have our own specula-
his week's Torah portion
tive
view of the ultimate redemption
begins with God's respond-
(usually
termed "the coming of the
ing to Moses' complaints at
Messiah"), which Maimonides holds to
the end of last week's portion
be one of the basic tenets of Jewish
(Exodus 5:22): "... Lord, why do You
belief (Perush HaMishnayos: San. Chap.
deal badly with this nation?
10). Yet Maimonides, himself,
Why did You send me? Since
writes
(Mishna Torah: Laws of
I came to Pharaoh to speak in
Kings,
Chap. 12:2):
Your name, he has dealt badly
"And all of these things
with this nation and You have
(the redemption and
not saved Your nation!"
Messiah) and similar things
In His response, God reas-
no man knows how it will be
sures Moses that ultimately
until it happens, because
He will deliver the nation and
these
things are hidden with
He refers to His relationship
the
prophets,
and even the
with the forefathers.
great rabbis have no accepted
Apparently, Moses was under
RABBI
tradition about these things
the wrong impression as to
ELIEZER
except according to the (clear)
how God would achieve His
COHEN
determination of the Biblical
salvation; and, thus, when the
Special to the
verses
(which are very few).
anticipated deliverance didn't
Jewish News
Therefore,
they are subject to
materialize, and, in fact, things
dispute.
Anyway,
the order
got worse, Moses doubted
and details of such events are not basic
God and his own mission.
to the religion and one should not
The Talmud remarks about Moses'
involve oneself with such Aggadata
doubt (Sanhedrin 111A): "God said to
(interpretations) and should not dwell at
Moses, 'Oh, (what a loss) those who are
length
with the Midrashim that speak of
gone and cannot be replaced!' I said to
such
topics
... but rather simply wait
Abraham (Genesis 13:17): 'Get up and
and
have
faith
in the general concept ..."
traverse the land ... I will give it to you.'
And there is even a traditional Jewish
And yet when he sought a burial place
source that disagrees with the entire
for Sarah he had to buy it for 400
concept (Talmud San. 99A) and others
shekels of silver (Genesis 23) and he did-
that dispute that it is a basic tenet of
n't doubt My ways.
Judaism
(Sepher Haikariml: 1).
"I said to Isaac (Genesis 26:3): 'Dwell
When
it comes to "God's plan," we
in this land ... because I will give all
must
be
very
careful to distinguish
these lands to you and your descendents
between that which God undeniably
...' Yet when his servants sought water to
reveals in the Torah and that which is
drink and had to dispute (with the
merely human interpretation and specu-.
Philistines) (Genesis 26:15-34) ... he did-
lation.
What is revealed is God's will
n't doubt My ways.
and
must
be acted upon; what is human
"I said to Jacob (Genesis 28:13): 'The
speculation
is not basic to Judaism and
land upon which you lie I will give to
we
must
not
confuse it with God's will
you ...) And when he sought a place to
or Divine mandate.
pitch his tent he had to buy it for 100
kesita (Genesis 33:19) and he didn't
doubt My ways ... And you, Moses, said
3
`Since I came to Pharaoh ... You have
not saved Your nation.'"
How can anyone presume to know
According to the Talmud, God
God's will? What is the source of
rebukes Moses for doubting Him when
information for those who speak of I
God does not behave "as expected."
God's giving us the land, or the -
God's bestowal of the land to the forefa-
redemption, or the afterlife?
thers was not accomplished in the way
Why do these topics assume such
one would expect, and, yet, they had no
importance to some Jews?
What is meant by the assertion
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of
that "Judaism is reality-based"?
A
Congregation
Or Chadasl).
a
Shabbat Vaera:
Exodus 6:2-9:35;
Numbers 28:9-15;
Isaiah 66:1-24.
T
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