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 63