Torah Portion/Synagogues
It's The Slanderer Who Gets Stained
Shabbat Tazria-Metzora:
Leviticus 12:1-15:33;
II Kings 7:3-20.
T
he story is told of one of
the great Chasidic leaders
who said when, approach-
ing his 80th birthday, that
when he was 20, he had wanted to
change the world. But by the time he
was 30, he realized that this was too
ambitious. Instead, he planned to
change the people of his country.
By the time that he was 40, he real-
ized that this, also, was too ambitious.
He decided that if he could change the
people in his province, this would be a
great achievement. However, by age
.50, he realized that that, too, was
beyond his ability. Instead he resigned
himself to changing the people of his
town. If they would see the light, they
would influence others and make the
world a better place.
By age 60, he felt that to change`the
Michael Cohen is the rabbi of Keter
Torah Synagogue (the Sephardic
Community of Greater Detroit).
CONSERVATIVE
ADAT SHALOM SYNAGOGUE
29901 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, 48334, (248) 851-
5100. Rabbis: Daniel Nevins, Herbert Yoskowitz. Cantor:
Howard Glantz. Rabbi emeritus: Efry Spectre. Cantor
emeritus: Larry Vieder. Services: Friday 6 p.m.; Saturday
9 a.m., 8:15 p.m.; weekdays 7:30 a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday
8:30 a.m. Bat mitzvah of Hannah Rosenberg, daughter of
Julie Rosenberg and Brandon Rosenberg. Sisterhood
Shabbat.
AHAVAS ISRAEL (GRAND RAPIDS)
2727 Michigan St. SE, Grand Rapids, 49506-1297, (616)
949-2840. Rabbi: David J.B. Krishef. Cantor: Stuart R.
Rapaport. Services: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 7:30
a.m.; Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
BEIT KODESH
31840 W. Seven Mile, Livonia, (248) 477-8974. Cantor:
David Gutman. President: Larry Stein. Vice presidents:
Martin Diskin, Al Gfttleman. Services: Friday 8 p.m.;
Saturday 9 a.m.
CONGREGATION BETH AHM
5075 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, 48322, (248) 851-
6880. Rabbi: Charles Popky. Ritual director: Joseph
Mermelstein. Rabbi emeritus: A. Irving Schnipper. Cantor
Emeritus: Shabtai Ackerman. Services: Friday 6 p.m.;
Saturday 9:30 a.m., 7:45 p.m.; weekdays 7 a.m., 7 p.ni.;
Sundays and civic holidays: 8:15 a.m., 5 p.m. Bat mitz-
vah of Michelle Schwartz, daughter of Wendy and Alan
Schwartz.
tor, one would be advised to seek out
people of his family would be a more
one of the priests of the Temple, who
realistic goal. His family would be an
would be able to tell if indeed one had
example to all others. But by the time
become a metsorah (one afflicted with
he was 70, he wanted just to change
the "ailment" or impurity of tsora'at).
his own children's character traits.
This impurity was the most severe
Now upon approaching the age of
type that existed. In contrast
80, he said he realized that the
to the other 10 types of impu-
best thing would be for him
rity, when afflicted, a person
change himself — and that
would have to leave his home
had he realized this at age 20,
and city and wait for at least a
then perhaps by the age of 80,
week,
or longer outside the city
he would have changed the
limits.
Only when he repented
world!
did the tsora'at (affliction)
Probably the greatest chal-
leave him.
lenge that faces each one of us
Another type of tsora'at
is that of our own character
would afflict one's home. In
development and spiritual
RABBI
this case, the homeowner
growth.
MICHAEL
would have to remove all his
In this week's Torah por-
COHEN
property from his house and
tion, we learn of a most .
Special
to the
put it in the street or in stor-
ingenious plan to ensure the
Jewish News • age until the affliction had
spiritual growth of the people
gone.
of Israel. We read of a particu-
The Talmud ( Yoma 11b)
lar type of "ailment" or impu-
explains that if a person were selfish,
rity called tsora'at (often mistranslated
not wishing to share his home with
as leprosy because it sometimes
anyone, this affliction would miracu-
occurred as white blotches on the flesh
lously appear on the walls of his house
of a person).
in order to put him straight. Once
If one slandered a neighbor or
friend, miraculously a blotch of discol- 'called, the priest would enter the house
and inspect the "blemish."
ored flesh would appear on a part of
The homeowner then had the
one's body. After speaking to the doc-
BETH ISRAEL (FLINT)
G-5240 Calkins Road, Flint, 48532, (810) 732-6310.
Cantor emeritus: Sholom Kalib. President: Leonard
Meizlish. Services: Saturday 9:30 a.m., 6 p.m.; weekdays
7:30 a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday and legal holidays 8 a.m., 6
p.m. Ivriah religious school (810) 732-6312.
BETH ISRAEL (ANN ARBOR)
CONGREGATION
2000 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, 48104, (734) 665-
9897. Rabbi: Robert Dobrusin. Services: Friday 6 p.m.;
Saturday 9:30 a.m.; weekdays 7:30 p.m.; Sunday 5 p.m.
CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM
14601 W. Lincoln, Oak Park, 48237, (248) 547-7970.
Rabbi: David A. Nelson. Cantor: Samuel L Greenbaum.
Ritual director: Rev. Samuel Semp. Services: Friday 6
p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 6:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m., 5 p.m.;
weekdays 7 a.m., 6:30 p.m. Bar mitzvah of Zachary
Yaker, son of Jennifer and Brad Yaker. Family led service
11 a.m.
BETH TEPHILATH MOSES
146 South Ave., Mt. Clemens, 48043, (810) 465-0641.
Services: weekdays 7:15 a.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.;
Sunday 8 a.m.
CONGREGATION B'NAI MOSHE
6800 Drake, West Bloomfield, 48322, (248) 788-0600.
Rabbi: Elliot Pachter. Cantor: Earl Berris. Services: Friday
6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 8 p.m.; Monday-Thursday 7
a.m., 6 p.m.; Friday 7 a.m.; Sunday and legal holidays 9
a.m.; Sunday 6 p.m. Bar mitzvah of David Shvimer, son
of Sigmund and Taisa Shvimer. Aufruf of David Buckfire
and Lori Haber.
ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN
SYNAGOGUE
1457 Griswold, Detroit, 48226, (313) 961-9328. Chazan:
Cantor Usher Adler. Baal Kriah: Rabbi Craig Allen. Ritual
director: Dr. Martin Herman. President: Dr. Ellen Kahn.
Services: Saturday 8:30 a.m.
CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK
opportunity to remove anything from
the house before the priest declared the
house impure. Once the declaration
was made however, anything remain-
ing in the house would have to be
destroyed.
The affliction of tsora'at, as fright-
ening as it was, maintained the amia-
bility of the Jewish people towards
each other.
Even though we do not have these
"afflictions" today, there is a Biblical
obligation upon each one of us to
remember daily that Miriam (Moshe's
sister) became afflicted with tsora'at
when she slandered her brother and
had to wait outside the camp for seven
days. Thus reminding us to be careful
about what we say about anyone, even
our closest friends and relatives. ❑
Conversations
Why do you think we do not
have the "ailment" of tsora'at
these days? Is there a reason for
everything (or anything) that
happens to us? Why should slan-
der be subject to the most severe
type of impurity?
INDEPENDENT
AHAVAT SHALOM
413 N. Division St., Traverse City, 49684, (231) 929-
4330. Rabbi: Chava (Stacie) Bahle. Weekly Shabbat cel-
ebrations, holidays, year round programming, children's
education. Summer programming for downstate visitors.
Rabbis: Joseph H. Krakoff, Jonathan E. Berkun. Rabbi
emeritus: Irwin Groner. Cantor: Chaim Najman. Ritual
director: Leonard Gutman.
GROSSE POINTE JEWISH COUNCIL
Southfield: 27375 Bell Road, Southfield, 48034, (248)
JEWBILATION
West Bloomfield, B'nai Israel Center: 4200 Walnut
ORTHODOX
357-5544. Services: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 7:30
a.m.; Monday, Thursday 7:15 a.m.; daily 6 p.m.; Friday 6
p.m.; Saturday 8:45 a.m., 8 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m.
Friday bat mitzvah of Jessica Elayne Singer, daughter of
Debra and Miles Singer. Saturday bar mitzvah of Alex
Shek, son of Norma and Mitchell Shek.
Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48323-2772, (248) 357-
5544. Services: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 7:15 a.m.;
Monday, Thursday 7 a.m.; daily 6 p.m.; Friday 6 p.m.;
Saturday 9 a.m., 8 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. Bat mitzvah of
Alena Alter, daughter of Denise Alter and Robert Alter.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
2300 Center Ave., Bay City, 48708; (989) 893-7811.
Cantor: Daniel Gale. President: Dr. Jonathan Abramson.
Services: Saturday 9:30 a.m. A liberal, egalitarian con-
gregation serving the tri-cities area. Religious and
Hebrew education programs for children and adults.
(313) 882-6700. Rabbi: Nicholas Behrmann. Cantorial
soloist: Bryant Frank.
P.O. Box 130014, Ann Arbor, 48103, (734) 996-3524 or
995-1963. Rev. Lauren Zinn. Services: Friday 6:15, fol-
lowing dinner. Jewish Roots with Interfaith Wings holds
bi-monthly Shabbat dinner, services, kids' programs,
family school and Hebrew school for all ages.
AGUDAS YISROEL MOGEN •
ABRAHAM
15751 W. Lincoln, Southfield, 48075, (248) 552-1971.
Rabbis: Dov Loketch, Asher Eisenberger. President: Irwin
Cohen.
ANN ARBOR CHABAD HOUSE
715 Hill St., Ann Arbor, 48104, (734) 995-3276. Rabbi:
Aharon Goldstein. Services: Friday at sundown; Saturday
9:45 a.m., 20 min. before sundown; weekdays 7:30
a.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. Times for weekdays and Sunday are
for the academic year.
4/23
2004
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