Spirituality
Torah Portion / Synagogues
The Role Of Truth And Faith
Shabbat Hazon,
Parshat Devarim:
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22;
Isaiah 1:1-27.
ir
his week we begin a new book
of Torah. Called Deuteronomy
from the Greek meaning "sec-
ond law," it is Devarim in Hebrew
because its opening line is Eleh had-
varim..."These are the words which
Moses spoke to all of Israel."
Deuteronomy is "second law" because
it is, for the most part, a repetition of
the history and the laws of the three
books which precede it. Specifically, it is
the final speech of Moses. We read
(1:5): "On [his] side of the Jordan, in
the land of Moab, Moses endeavored to
make plain this Torah, saying ..."
Ever since Moses, we too have
"endeavored to make plain this Torah."
Though we engage Torah differently in
our denominational communities, we
all seek to more fully understand and
appreciate the values, ethical principles
and societal rules that come from Torah.
Hillel told the man seeking to learn
Joseph P. Klein is rabbi of Temple
Emanu-El.
Each morning I have faith in my car as
I insert the key. I have faith in our
American democracy and in the "right-
eousness of the American public and the
justice of our institutions. There are
times, of course, when my faith is test-
ed; but the very notion that it can be
tested indicates that "faith" comes from
what we already know, or have reason to
presume, is true — and can
be verified just like any other
presumption based on experi-
ence.
Judaism asks us to believe
only that which we know to
be true. In fact, the very word
emunah, usually translated as
"faith," is derived from the
word emet (truth). Judaism
V'tzadik b'emunato yih-yeh,
does not expect us or demand
though I would expand the
from us, that we blindly fol-
usual translation of emunah as
"faith." I think that emunah is RABBI J OSEPH low another's lead, or unques-
KL EIN
tionably affirm what seems
better understood as trust,
Specia 1 to the
unreasonable. And so Judaism
reliance and confidence, based
Jewish News
has never proclaimed an
on one's evidence of experi-
accepted, affirmed theology!
ence. Thus, in looking for
Yes, there are Jewish theologians that
eternal, self-evident truths, Judaism does
emerge in every generation, but we have
not begin with "believing," but with
no systematic developed dogma of
experiential understanding and know-
"faith" that is a requisite requirement for
ing.
entrance into the community.
Emunah is what we believe to be
Because we can only "have faith in"
true because it's already been demon-
those people, ideas and values which
strated to be true! I have faith in my
have already demonstrated themselves to
wife and children because I know them.
"all of Judaism" while standing on one
foot: "What is hateful to you do not do
to others. That is all of Torah — now
go and study." And Talmud's "endeavor
to make plain this Torah" in a wonder-
ful exchange of arguments that the
essence of the laws of Torah can be
reduced from 613 mitzvot to 11 to six
to three to two to one [BT: Makkot
24a]. That final "one" comes
from Habakkuk: "Behold, he
whose soul is not upright in
him shall fail, but the right-
eous shall live by his faith."
[2:4]
I applaud the resolution in
Talmud, that of all of Torah is
contained in the statement
"Like no other time on earth, Jewish girls and mothers divide between erev
Shabbos and Shabbos, between weekday and holy, between exile and the
--- Naomi Beck, Oak Park, teacher
revelation of Moshiach."
To submit a cancllelighting message, call Miriam Amzalak of the Lubavitch Women's Organization at (248) 548-6771
or e-mail: miriamatnzalakl@juno.co.m
CONSERVATIVE
ADAT SHALOM SYNAGOGUE
29901 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, 48334, (248) 851-
5100. Rabbis: Daniel Nevins, Herbert Yoskowitz, Rachel
Lawson Shere. Rabbi emeritus: Efry Spectre. Cantor:
Yesvey Gutman. Cantor emeritus: Larry Vieder. Services:
Friday 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 8:45 p.m.; weekdays 7:30
a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m.
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.
31840 W. Seven Mile, Livonia, (248) 477-8974. Cantor:
David Gutman. President: Larry Stein. Vice presidents:
Martin Diskin, Al Gittleman. Services: Friday 8 p.m.;
Saturday 9 a.m.
CONGREGATION BETH AHM
BETH TEPHILATH MOSES
5075 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, 48322, (248) 851-6880.
Ritual director: Joseph Mermelstein. Rabbi emeritus: A.
Irving Schnipper. Cantor Emeritus: Shabtai Ackerman.
Guest rabbi: Aaron Bergman. Visiting scholar: Dr. Howard
Lupovitch. Services: Friday 6 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m.,
8:30 p.m.; weekdays 7 a.m., 7 p.m.; Sundays and civic
holidays: 8:15 a.m., 5 p.m.
7/23
56
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.
@Synagogues Subhead:CONGREGA11ON 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.; week-
days 7 a.m., 6:30 p.m.
BEIT KODESH
2004
BETH ISRAEL (ANN ARBOR)
CONGREGATION
C (
Conversations
If Judaism (or any religion) is
only a "faith," what is its merit?
If Judaism (or any religion) is
not founded upon "faith," then
what makes it different from any
social group? Do you think that
Judaism requires, or expects, a
"leap of faith"?
a.m., 6 p.m.; Friday 7 a.m.; Sunday and legal holidays 9
a.m.; Sunday 6 p.m. Haftorah, Nancy Kaplan.
ebrations, holidays, year round programming, children's
education. Summer programming for downstate visi-
tors.
ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN
SYNAGOGUE
GROSSE POINTE JEWISH COUNCIL
1457 Griswold, Detroit, 48226, (313) 961-9328. Chazan:
Cantor Usher Adler. Baal Kriah: Rabbi Craig Men. Cantorial
soloist: Neil Bards. Ritual director: Dr. Martin Herman.
President: Dr. Ellen Kahn. Services: Saturday 8:30 a.m.
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. lvriah religious school (810) 732-6312.
be reliable, trustworthy and true — we
insist that there must be some kind of
demonstrable component that confirms
"belief." Theologically and philosophi-
cally, it is truth seen and heard and
known that is the foundation of faith
— indeed that becomes "faith."
Which makes Habakkuk's statement
... but the righteous shall live by his
faith" indeed the "bottom line" of
Torah, as argued in tractate Makot.
Belief or faith only have value, only have
merit or meaning when expressed in the
living of our lives.
Our faith directs our behavior and
our behavior defines our faith. What we
believe must be what we live by. And
mitzvah, then, is our personal response
to faith and belief. Thus, with our lives,
we "endeavor to make plain this
Torah." ❑
CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK
Rabbis: Joseph H. Krakoff, Jonathan E. Berkun, Eric S.
Yanoff. Rabbi emeritus: Irwin Groner. Cantor: Chaim
Najman. Ritual director: Leonard Gutman.
Southfield: 27375 Bell Road, Southfield, 48034, (248)
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 9 a.m., 8:45 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. Tisha
b'Av: Tuesday, July 27, Shacharit 7 a.m., Minchah 2 p.m.,
Maariv 6 p.m.
West Bloomfield, B'nai Israel Center: 4200 Walnut 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., 8:45 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. Tisha b'Av: Tuesday, July
27, Shacharit 7 a.m., Maariv 6 p.m.
(313) 882-6700. Rabbi: Nicholas Behrmann. Cantorial
soloist: Bryant Frank.
JEWBILATION
P.0 Box 130014, Ann Arbor, 48103, (734) 996-3524 or
995-1963. Rev. Lauren Zinn. Services: Friday 6:15, follow-
ing dinner. Jewish Roots with Interfaith Wings holds bi-
monthly Shabbat dinner, services, kids' programs, family
school and Hebrew school for all ages.
ORTHODOX
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; week-
days 7:30 a.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. Times for weekdays and
Sunday are for the academic year.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
ANN ARBOR ORTHODOX MINYAN
146 South Ave., Mt. Clemens, 48043, (810) 465-0641.
Services: weekdays 7:15 a.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.; Sunday
8 a.m.
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 congre-
gation serving the tri-cities area. Religious and Hebrew
education programs for children and adults.
CONGREGATION B'NAI MOSHE
INDEPENDENT
BATS CHABAD OF FARMINGTON
HILLS
6800 Drake, West Bloomfield, 48322, (248) 788-0600.
Rabbi: Elliot Pachter. Cantor: Earl Berris. Services: Friday 6
p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 8:45 p.m.; Monday-Thursday 7
AHAVAT SHALOM
413 N. Division St., Traverse City, 49684, (231) 929-
4330. Rabbi: Chava (Stacie) Bahle. Weekly Shabbat cel-
1429 Hill St., Ann Arbor, 48014. Rabbi: Rod Glogower.
Services: Friday at sundown; Saturday 9:30 a.m. and
20 minutes before sundown; weekdays during the aca-
demic year 7:30 a.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.
32000 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, 48334, (248) 855-
2910. Rabbi: Chaim Bergstein. Services: Friday sun-