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 ❑ Conversations