Synagogues/Torah Portion

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The Comfort That Aids Repentance.

Shabbat Nachamu,
Parshat Vaetchanan:
Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11;
Isaiah 40:1-26

T

his week's parshah (Torah
portion) is one of the most
challenging of the entire
year. It is filled with text
that is thought provoking and critical
for our lives.
The seemingly simple statement of
Shema Yisrael (Hear, 0 Israel) found
in this week's parshah, is, in fact, any-
thing but simple. Its deep impact and
historical significance challenges each
of us to find our own meaning in
each of the six Hebrew words.
The parshah also contains Aseret
HaDibrot, the Ten Commandments,
which challenge us to bring our lives
to a higher level of faith and morality.
In addition, there are many other
sections that challenge us to repent, to

Robert Dobrusin is rabbi of Beth
Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor.
His e-mail address is
rdobrusin@bethisrael-aa.org

whatever way we understand that
teach our children more actively and
term, that occurs on Rosh Hashanah
with greater purpose and to seek a
and Yom Kippur.
stronger relationship with our
It is particularly important, there-
Creator.
fore, that there is a theme of comfort
But, this Shabbat is known for
running through these days as well.
something other than challenges. It is
The challenges that these times bring
called Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat
is so great we need to know that the
of comfort. The haftorah reading for
challenges are balanced by
this Shabbat, the first after
the sense of nurturing com-
the fast day of Tisha b'Av,
fort that our faith and our
begins with the words of
institutions can provide.
Isaiah: Nachamu, Nachamu,
As we enter into these
Ami, Comfort, 0 comfort
important days, let us ask
my people. This haftorah is
ourselves where we find the
the first of what are known
comfort that encourages us
as the seven readings of
and gives us the confidence
comfort between Tisha b'Av
to engage in self-examina-
(July 27) and Rosh
tion and repentance.
Hashanah.
RABBI ROBERT
The words of our tradi-
While the readings were
DOBRUSIN
tion, the familiar synagogue
chosen to comfort the peo-
Special to the
tunes, the synagogue itself,
ple after the memories of
Jewish News
the Jewish community, fami-
destruction synonymous
ly and friends, the beauty of
with Tisha b'Av, it is signifi-
summer after a long winter, the hob-
cant that they lead us right to the
bies and interests we have which relax
High Holidays. The seven weeks
us and give us a break from the heavy
between the two holy days and partic-
burden of daily life all serve as com-
ularly the month before Rosh
forts and can all serve as encourage-
Hashanah are times of great theologi-
ments to take on the challenge of
cal and personal challenge for the Jew.
seeking to improve our lives.
These are the days of repentance, days
The synagogue, in particular, is an
of return, days of self-examination
important part of this picture. For a
and preparation for the judgment, in

"How happy I am to have my whole family with me to celebrate Shabbat."

— Helen Kuznitzev, Farmington Hills

To submit a candlelighting message, call Miriam Amzalak of the Lubavitch Women's Organization at (248) 548-6771
or e mail• miriamamzalakl@jmo.com

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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.

BEIT KODESH

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

5075 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, 48322, (248) 851-
6880. Ritual director: Joseph Mermeistein. Rabbi
emeritus: A. Irving Schnipper. Cantor Emeritus: Shabtai
Ackerman. Guest rabbi: Aaron Bergman. Visiting schol-
ar: 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.

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.; week-
days 7:30 a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday and legal holidays 8
a.m., 6 p.m. lvriah religious school (810) 732-6312.

BETH ISRAEL (ANN ARBOR)
CONGREGATION

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., 8:45 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. Haftorah, Jason
Bodzin. Baby naming of Emma Brooke Cutler, daughter
of Lisa and Josh Cutler. Aufruf of Jason Koenig and
Jamie Kohen.

ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN
SYNAGOGUE

1457 Griswold, Detroit, 48226, (313) 961-9328.
Chazan: Cantor Usher Adler. Baal Kriah: Rabbi Craig
Allen. Cantorial soloist: Neil Bards. Ritual director: Dr.
Martin Herman. President: Dr. Ellen Kahn. Services:
Saturday 8:30 a.m.

CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK

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. Baby naming of
Avery Rachel Bouskila, daughter of Samantha and
Charlie Bouskila.

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.
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.

BETH TEPHILATH MOSES

TEMPLE ISRAEL

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

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 con-

synagogue needs to be both a place of
challenge and of comfort in order for
it to serve our needs. We need to feel
comfortable enough to know that we
are surrounded by those who care
about us and whom we care for and
comfortable enough to know that we
will hear melodies and words which
make us realize that we are in a place
which is like home.
At the same time, the prayers, the
music, the words spoken must chal-
lenge us to realize that we should not
be comfortable with everything in our
lives, that some things need to be
changed. As we enter into this period
of preparation for the Yamim Noraim,
let us be aware of the delicate balance
between comfort and challenge that
our tradition provides.

Conversations

In what ways are the words of
the prayer book comforting to
us? How can we ensure that our
children are comfortable with
Jewish ritual and yet that the rit-
ual should challenge them to
seek answers to serious questions
in their lives?

gregation serving the tri-cities area. Religious and
Hebrew education programs for children and adults.

INDEPENDENT

AHAVAT SHALOM

413 N. Division St., Traverse City, 49684, (231) 929-
4330. Rabbi: Chava (Stacie) Bahle. Weekly Shabbat
celebrations, holidays, year round programming, chil-
dren's education. Summer programming for downstate
visitors.

GROSSE POINTE JEWISH
COUNCIL

(313) 882-6700. Rabbi: Nicholas Behrmann. Cantorial
soloist: Bryant Frank.

JEWBILATION

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.

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;

SYNAGOGUES

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2004

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