Torah Portion/Synagogues

Noah's Laws Were For All Humanity

Shabbat Noah:
Genesis 6:9-11:32;
Isaiah 54:1-55:5.

A

s Noah left the ark, he was
instructed in the laws of making
a society These statutes, known
as the Noahide laws, were to ensure that
mankind would not revert to their pre-
vious mindset of wreaking havoc and
destruction and generally making a big
mess of things — thus insuring no
recurrence of the massive devastation of
another flood.
The seven commandments impera-
tive to all mankind are: believing in one
God; not to worship idols; not to corn-
mit murder, adultery or theft; not to be
cruel to animals; to establish legislative
bodies, courts and police forces charged
with overseeing the fulfillment of the
previous six. Let us focus on the com-
mandment of adultery
Everyone, regardless of race, religion
or national origin, has the obligation to
be fruitful and multiply. The need for
promulgating the species is obvious.

Hershel Finman is a rabbi serving the
Detroit area and the host of the "Jewish
Hour," 3 p.m. Fridays on WPON-AM
1460.

its mission.
Those cults and sects that practice total
A non-Jew that fulfills the above
celibacy have met with little continued
seven laws is considered righteous and
success as their pool of members must
guaranteed to be resurrected with the
constantly be replenished from outside
coming of Mashiach and have a place in
sources.
the world to come. (Judaism is the only
Called the miracle of birth, having
religion that has place for non-mem-
children is the most natural of occur-
bers.) A Jew that fulfills only 612 of the
rences. Anything that counteracts popu-
613 commandments Jews are
lating the world is anathema
expected to do, has not ful-
to society. That is why the
filled the expected mission.
prohibition of adultery
We can therefore see that
includes incest, bestiality and
mixed marriages, Jew and
homosexuality.
non-Jew, cannot be consid-
Human beings, although of
ered spiritually balanced. It
diverse ethnic backgrounds,
would not be fair of the non-
are considered a single species,
Jew to perform more than
however, the world has classi-
seven commandments, nor
fied itself into two groups,
RABBI
would it be satisfactory for
Jews and gentiles. The term
HERSCHEL
the Jew to perform only
gentile, meaning indigenous,
F INMAN
seven. A couple cannot be
was not coined by Jews, but
Special to the
balanced if their loads are
by gentiles. The gentiles them-
Jewish News
unequal.
selves, considered themselves
Considering the perform-
different from Jews. Jews are
ance of the commandments, here is an
not better that non-Jews, nor vice versa,
illustrative anecdote.
just different.
Michoel and Atara Hasofer,
The Almighty charged Noah and his
Australian academicians, went into a
descendants with making the world a
private audience with the Lubavitcher
better, more godly place. The primary
Rebbe in 1980. The Rebbe said, "There
force of the mission was Abraham and
are souls to be saved in Malaysia," and
his progeny HaShem gave each nation
instructed Mrs. Hasofer to travel there
the specific strengths and powers it
to study meditation so she would be
would require to fulfill this mission,
able to show the many young Jews who
with the expressed expectation that that
were practicing a non-kosher form of
nation would fulfill its mission and only

meditation the error of their ways and
teach them a kosher form.
In Malaysia, Atara was introduced to
the "master of meditation," a 97-year-
old Buddhist monk. The monk tau ght
Atara the fundamentals of meditation.
Michoel Hasofer taught him Tanya, the
basic Chabad chassidic text.
A short time after leaving Malaysia,
the Hasofers received a letter from a
woman living in London. She wrote
that she had flown to Malaysia to meet
the "master" and expressed her desire to
become his disciple. "Your place is not
with me," he replied. "You must go to
the source, to the place where they
study the Tanya." He gave the woman
the address of the Hasofers.
That woman is now the mother of
a prominent family living in
Jerusalem. ❑

p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 6:15 p.m.; Monday-Friday 7 am., 6
p.m.; Sunday and legal holidays 9 am.; Sunday 6 p.m. Bat
mitzvah of Laura Katsnelson, daughter of Ruth and
Gennady Katsnelson.

Rabbi: Chava (Stacie) Bahle. Weekly Shabbat celebrations,
holidays, year round programming, children's education.
Summer programming for downstate visitors.

ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN
SYNAGOGUE

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

"As I light the candles and close my eyes to bless Shabbat, the picture of my
mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and the generations before me who
repeated this act flashes in front of me. For one brief moment, I am like Sarah,
our mother, as she lights her precious light. I feel renewed and strengthened."

To submit a candlelighting message, call Miriam Amzalak of the Lubavitch Women's Organization
at (248) 548-6771 or e-mail: miriamamzalak1@juno.com 41011

holidays: 8:15 am., 5 p.m. Bar mitzvah of Justin Samuel
Farber, son of Jill and David Farber.

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.

29901 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, 48334, (248) 851-
5100. Rabbis: Daniel Nevins, Herbert Yoskowit, Rachel
Lawson Shere. Rabbi emeritus: Efry Spectre. Cantor:
Yevsey Gutman. Cantor emeritus: Larry Vieder. Services:
Friday 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 am., 6:45 p.m.; weekdays 7:30
a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. B'not mitzvah of Jaclyn
Snider, daughter of Harriet and Lloyd Snider, Kady Stillman,
daughter of Alicia and Michael Stillman.

BETH ISRAEL (FLINT)

CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK

AHAVAS ISRAEL (GRAND RAPIDS)

2000 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, 48104, (734) 665-9897.
Rabbi: Robert Dobrusin. Services: Friday 6 p.m.; Saturday
9:30 am.; weekdays 7:30 p.m.; Sunday 5 p.m.

CONSERVATIVE

ADAT SHALOM SYNAGOGUE

2727 Michigan St SE, Grand Rapids, 49506-1297, (616)
949-2840. Rabbi: David J.B. Krishet Cantor: Stuart R.
Rapaport. Services: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 7:30
am.; Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 am.

G-5240 Calkins Road, Flint, 48532, (810) 732-6310. Cantor
emeritus: Sholom Kalib. President: Leonard Meizlish.
Services: Saturday 9:30 am., 6 p.m.; weekdays 7:30 am.,
6 p.m.; Sunday and legal holidays 8 a.m., 6 p.m. Ivriah reli-
gious school (810) 732-6312.

BETH ISRAEL (ANN ARBOR)
CONGREGATION

CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM

31840 W. Seven Mile, Livonia, (248) 477-8974. Cantor:
David Gutman. President tarry Stein. Vice presidents:
Martin Diskin, Al Gittleman. Services: Friday 8 p.m.;
Saturday 9 a.m.

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 am., 6:15 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m., 5 p.m.; week-
days 7 am., 6:30 p.m. Bar mitzvah of Ben Flaisher, son of
Cheryl and Lesly Flaisher.

CONGREGATION BETH AHM

BETH TEPHILATH MOSES

BELT KODESH

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 am.,
6:15 p.m.; weekdays 7 am., 7 p.m.; Sundays and civic

146 South Ave., Mt Clemens, 48043, (810) 465-0641.
Services: weekdays 7:15 a.m.; Saturday 10 am.; 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

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

Conversations

After the flood, man has a new set
of obligations and the relationship
with God and between men is
permanently altered. Consider
milestones in life (such as mar-
riage) and discuss times when new
obligations are assumed and new
responsibilities toward our fellow
man are developed.

GROSSE POINTE JEWISH COUNCIL

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.

ORTHODOX

Southfield: 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., 6:15 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 am. Bar
mitzvah of Scott Mitchell Mattler, son of Carolyn and Steve
Mattler.

AGUDAS YISROEL MOGEN
ABRAHAM

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
am., 6:15 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.

ANN ARBOR CHABAD HOUSE

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 to-cities area. Religious and Hebrew
education programs for children and adults.

INDEPENDENT

AHAVAT SHALOM

413 N. Division St., Traverse City, 49684, (231) 929-4330.

15751 W. Lincoln, Southfield, 48075, (248) 552-1971.
Rabbis: Dov Loketch, Asher Eisenberger. President Irwin
Cohen.

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. limes 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 am. 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-

SYNAGOGUES

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2004

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