Spirituality

Torah Portion/Synagogues

Lavan And 'Jews For Jesus'

Shabbat Ki Tavo:
Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8;
Isaiah 60:1-22.

I

f you're reading this article, then
there's a strong chance that I
don't have to worry about you.
You see, Jews for Jesus is coming to
Detroit in force, ready to convert us
during the upcoming High Holiday
season. But, while they might say that
they're targeting all Jews, they really
only focus on the weakest Jews —
those people disconnected and alien-
ated from their heritage and from our
community.
So, if you're actually reading the
Torah portion and not just skimming
the Jewish News for the ads, Jews for
Jesus has no way to entice you. But, if
you have no community connection
or you're searching for your place in
the world but don't know where to
turn, you're a prime candidate for
Jews for Jesus. And I'm worried about
you.
The Torah commands all Jews liv-
ing in Israel during the times of the

Reuven Spolter

is rabbi of Young Israel

of Oak Park.

Temple to offer bikkruim, a sampling
— "destroyed" in past tense, in
of first fruits as a gift of thanks to
Hebrew it's in the present tense. So
God for the new crop. When each
what we really say is, 'An Aramite
person brings his basket, in addition
destroys my father." Through this
to offering the fruits, he must recite a
subtle use of language, the Torah
small declaration, called mikra
reminds us that underhanded
bikkurim, explaining why he's offer-
attempts to destroy the Jewish people
ing these fruits to God.
didn't just occur long ago. Rather,
In this brief text, we explain how
they continue to this very day.
the Jewish people fell into captivity at
Even today, people use deceitful
the hands of the Egyptians
means to try and under-
and how God saved us from
mine the faith and heritage
slavery and brought us to
of Jews, especially during
the Promised Land.
their weakest and most vul-
Therefore, in gratitude for
nerable moments.
God's goodness, we offer the
Therefore, especially at a
first fruits.
time of great joy — a time
The "declaration" begins
of harvest and plenty, we
with the words, "arami oved
thank God not only for His
avi," literally meaning that
past blessings, but for His
"an Aramite tried to destroy
ongoing protection for His
RABBI
my father." Rashi explains
people.
REUVEN
that we recount the story of
Most of us are about to
SPOLTER
Lavan (the Aramite),
celebrate the High Holidays
Special to the
Yaakov's uncle, who through
— first through the solem-
Jewish News
deception and trickery
nity of Rosh Hashanah and
against his nephew, attempts
Yom Kippur and then the
to undermine the Jewish people even
joy of Sukkot and Simchat Torah.
before the birth of the nation. With
Most of us.
God's help, despite Lavan's nefarious
Unfortunately, too many Jews in
attempts, Yaakov prevails and
southeastern Michigan know nothing
becomes a patriarch of God's people.
of the spirituality and exaltedness of
While we translate the word oved
the coming weeks and find them-

"Lighting the Shabbat candles is a special time spent with my two daughters as we sing the blessing
together with our melodic, family tune. When we finish, I take a moment to review my week, say
my own little blessing for each member of my family; and I send love to my father, who watches
over all of us."
Mara Staller Starr, office manager, Congregation Beth Shalom
To submit a candlelighting message, call Miriam Amzalak of the Lubavitch Womens Organization
at (248) 548-6771 or e-mail• miriamamzalakl@juno.com

—

CONSERVATIVE

ADAT SHALOM SYNAGOGUE

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.

AHAVAS ISRAEL (GRAND RAPIDS)

CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM

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

9/ 3
2004

62

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 reli-
gious school (810) 732-6312.

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., 7:45 p.m.; weekdays 7:30 am., 6
p.m.; Sunday 8:30 am. B'not mitzvah of Brittany Borsen,
daughter of Stacey and Alan Borsen; Alexandra Zaslow,
daughter of Sherry Margulis-Zaslow and Jeffrey Zaslow.
Aufn.rf of Debbry Vieder and Alberto Katan.

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.

"TN

BETH ISRAEL (FLINT)

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.,
7:30 p.m.; weekdays 7 a.m., 7 p.m.; Sundays and civic
holidays: 8:15 a.m., 5 p.m.

BETH ISRAEL (ANN ARBOR)
CONGREGATION

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 am., 5 p.m.; week-
days 7 a.m., 6:30 p.m. Bat mitzvah of Rachel Elaine
Orbach, daughter of Linda Orbach-Shear and Brian Shear,
Sherry and Geoffrey Orbach.

BETH TEPHILATH MOSES

146 South Ave., Mt. Clemens, 48043, (810) 465-0641.
Services: weekdays 7:15 am.; 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., 7:15 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 Zachary Firestone, son
of Marcia and Jerry Firestone.

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

Rabbis: Joseph H. Krakoff, Jonathan E. Berkun, Eric S.
Yanoff. Rabbi emeritus: Irwin Groner. Cantor: Chaim
Najman. Ritual director: Leonard Gutman.

Smithfield: 27375 Bell Road, Southfield, 48034, (248) 357-
5544. Services: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 7:30 am.;
Monday, Thursday 7:15 a.m.; daily 6 p.m.; Friday 6 p.m.;
Saturday 9 a.m., 8:15 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. Bat mitzvah
of Jessica Kepes, daughter of Brenda and Gary Kepes.

West Bloomfield, B'nai Israel Center: 4200 Walnut Lake
Road, West Bloomfield, 48323-2772, (248) 357-5544.
Services: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 7:15 am.; Monday,
Thursday 7 a.m.; daily 6 p.m.; Friday 6 p.m.; Saturday 9
a.m., 8:15 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. B'nai mitzvah of Aaron
Howard Wasserman and Benjamin Mark Wasserman, sons
of Debbie Wasserman and Gary Wasserman.

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

INEIEPENDENT

AHAVAT SHALOM

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

selves reeling, searching for some con-
nection to something greater. That's
where Jews for Jesus jumps in.
Instead of engaging in intellectual
debate, they, like the nefarious Lavan,
first offer solace and comfort — a
shoulder to cry on, a companion dur-
ing a chilly fall evening. Only later,
after intensive "one-on-one ministry"
(their term), do they bring up matters
of faith and theology. That's not min-
istry — it's deceptive and disreputable
— and we must be aware and vigilant
to prevent their campaign from
achieving any level of success.
But there's one more thing we can
do. Instead of clucking our tongues
about the poor souls who will fall
prey to Jews for Jesus this month,
why not invite one of our fellow Jews
over for a Rosh Hashanah meal?

❑

Conversations

What do I have to be grateful
for? If I had to bring first fruits
of my labors as a gift to God,
what would I bring and whom
would I give it to?

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, follow-
ing dinner. Jewish Roots with Interfaith Wings holds bi-
monthly Shabbat dinner, services, kids' programs, family
school and Hebrew school for all ages.

ORTIIODOX

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.

ANN ARBOR ORTHODOX MINYAN

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 academic
year 7:30 a.m.; Sunday 9 am.

BAIS CHABAD OF FARMINGTON
HILLS

32000 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, 48334, (248) 855-
2910. Rabbi: Chaim Bergstein. Services: Friday sundown;
Saturday 9:30 a.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m.; weekdays 6:50
a.m.

SYNAGOGUE LIST

on page 64