Torah Portion/Synagogues
New Hope For Humbled Humanity
Shabbat Bereshit:
Genesis 1:1-6:8;
Isaiah 42:5-43:10.
I
t would be perfectly possible to
spend all of one's years reading
the text and various commen-
taries to our first Torah portion,
Bereshit.
Within its famous lines, we experi-
ence the entire range of emotion: the
splendorous wonder of a new world;
the intense shame of human sin and
denial; the frightful disappointment
of our divine creator; the glimpses of
hope as virtuous people emerge. The
famous maxim of Ben Bag Bag could
apply to this parshah (portion) alone:
,c
turn it this way, and turn it again,
for all is contained within it." (Pirkei
Avot 5:22).
Yet the salient point of the par-
shah is perfectly clear: God created
the world; people then messed it up.
From Adam and Eve, to Cain and
Abel, to the sinful generation of the
flood, the plans devised by people
Danny Nevins is a spiritual leader at
Adat Shalom Synagogue.
were "only evil all day long" (6:5).
of great spiritual power. Ben Sira
These stories are quite familiar, so let
describes Enoch as "a sign of [mysti-
us consider a more obscure variant,
cal] knowledge to all generations"
the case of Enoch (Chanokh).
(see "Enoch" in the Encyclopedia
In fact, it is not much of a story.
Judaica).
Enoch appears in two genealogies,
The rabbis have a more conflicted
first as the son of Cain in Ch. 4 and
view of Enoch. The Aramaic transla-
then as the seventh-generation
tion called Targum Yerushalaim
descendant of Adam in Ch. 5. Most
(5:23) says he ascended to heaven at
people's eyes glaze over when con-
God's command and was made into
fronted with genealogies,
the mighty angel Metatron.
but verses 22-24 of Ch. 5
Yet other rabbinic texts say
catch our attention.
that Enoch was a borderline
We learn that Enoch
villain, and that God "took"
"walked with God," that he
him early so that he could
lived 365 years and that
die innocent. Rashi states,
rather than die, "he was no
"he was righteous and yet
more, for God took him."
inclined to revert to vil-
These peculiar statements
lainy; thus the Holy One
spawned an extraordinarily
hastened to remove him,
rich afterlife for Enoch in
and killed him prior to his
the apocrypha, the Dead
time."
RABBI
Sea scrolls, and rabbinic lit-
This strange rabbinic
DANNIEL
erature.
idea
of a preemptive killing
NEVINS
Enoch is lionized in the
for
the
benefit of the victim
Special to the
pre-rabbinic literature called
appears
in another context,
Jewish News
the apocrypha. His lifespan
that of the rebellious son
of 365 years is understood
(Deuteronomy 21:18-21).
to hint at his role as the discoverer of
The Mishnah states that the rebel-
the solar year. Like Elijah, he appar-
lious son is executed not for the mis-
ently ascends to heaven without
demeanors that he has already com-
dying, an impressive feat indicative
mitted, but to prevent him from
"My two sisters and I each inherited a set of my great-grandmother's brass can-
dlesticks, which she brought from the "old country." Each time we light the
Shabbos candles, we are somehow all connected, despite distance and time."
— Leslie Samet Belenson, secretary, Farmington Hills
To submit a candlelighting message, call Miriam Amzalak of the Lubavitch Women's Organization
at (248) 548-6771 or e-mail: miriamanwalak1@juno.com
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:
Yevsey Gutman. Cantor emeritus: Larry Vieder. Services:
Friday 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 6:45 p.m.; weekdays
7:30 a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. B'nai mitzvah of
Brittany Feldman, daughter of Carol and Alan Feldman;
Noah Stone, son of Andrea and Douglas Stone. Aufruf of
Ericka Wolfe and Matthew Thacker. Simchat Torah:
Friday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m., 6 p.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 am.
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 Mermelstein. Rabbi emeri-
tus: 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., 6:30 p.m.; weekdays 7 a.m., 7 p.m.; Sundays
10/ 8
2004
74
6 p.m. Bat mitzvah of Sarah Seransky, daughter of Kelly
and Roy Seransky. Simchat Torah: Friday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m.
(Haftorah, Kerry Greenhut), 6 p.m.
ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN
SYNAGOGUE
and civic holidays: 8:15 a.m., 5 p.m. Bar mitzvah of
Nathan Cykiert, son of Julie Cykiert and Stuart Cykiert.
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.
BETH ISRAEL (FLINT)
CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK
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
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.
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., 6:15 p.m.; Monday-Friday 7
am., 6 p.m.; Sunday and legal holidays 9 a.m.; Sunday
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., 6:30 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m.
Simchat Torah: Friday, Oct 8, 9 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., 6:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 am. bar mitzvah
of Adam Klar, son of Kim and the late Dennis Klar.
Simchat Torah: Friday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m.
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.
INDEPENDENT
AHAVAT SHALOM
413 N. Division St., Traverse City, 49684, (231) 929-
4330. Rabbi: Chava (Stacie) Bahle. Weekly Shabbat cel-
entering a life of serious crime and
dying with horrible guilt. (Sanhedrin
71b).
But based on such reasoning, why
did God create humanity in the first
place, knowing full well that we
would immediately make a mess of
creation? This is one of the great
mysteries of existence — why did
God choose to create the world, and
why does God allow humans to
blunder along?
The answer can only be that God
loves us, even in our most dismal
moments. As we said in the Neilah
service on Yom Kippur, God does
not desire the death of the wicked,
but their repentance and continued
life. Inspired by the dawn of cre-
ation, humbled by our own short-
comings, let us renew life and turn
our existence into a blessing. ❑
Conversations
At what point should one inter-
vene to stop a friend from sin-
ning? How do you weigh the
risks and benefits of interven-
tion?
ebrations, holidays, year round programming, children's
education. Summer programming for downstate visitors.
GROSSE POINTE JEWISH COUNCIL
(313) 882-6700. Rabbi: Nicholas Behrmann. Cantorial
soloist: Bryant Frank.
JEW.13ILATION
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; Saturday
9:45 a.m., 20 min. before sundown; weekdays 7:30 a.m.;
Sunday 9 am. 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 a.m.
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 am.; weekdays 6:50
a.m.