Spirituality Torah Portion/Synagogues `Hineini I Am Here' Shabbat Vayerah: Genesis 18:1-22:24; II Kings 4:1-37. I n this week's Torah portion is Chapter 22 of Genesis, the well- known, if not infamous, narrative called Akaydat Yitzchak, the "Binding of Isaac." Though we read this story every year at Rosh Hashanah, we are com- pelled to revisit it now, several weeks later, when it appears in the regular cycle of weekly readings. At the beginning of Chapter 22, God calls out, "Abraham!" and Abra- I am here." ham responds, "Hineini Later, when Abraham and Isaac are walking up the mountain, with the knife and wood and fire, Isaac speaks for the first time, wondering about the animal offering that is missing. He says, "My father." And Abraham responds, "Hineini — I am here." And finally, with knife held above — Joseph Klein is rabbi of Temple Emanu-El. before. I am here but I am not here the bound Isaac, ready to descend and — my body yes, my heart and soul kill— God calls out, "Abraham, no. Abraham!," and for the third time in Abraham answers Isaac's question this single story, Abraham responds, of "My father, where is the offering?" "Hineini — I am here." with "God will provide for it, my Hineini — I am here; here I am. son." A double-edged statement that Though the same response, it is differ- only he and we can appreciate. ent in each of the three situations: The father binds the son hands and The first is rather matter-of-fact, a feet, lifts him onto the wood, verbal acknowledgement of his listen- arranged on a readied altar. ing, attentive presence. He takes out the knife, lifts But then, knowing what it over his son. Is the knife awaits them at the top of the held in midair for but a mountain, Abraham takes moment, or does Abraham Isaac's hand and the two hold it — waiting, hoping, silently climb. Is Abraham believing that God or con- questioning himself, is he science or circumstance will questioning his God? stop him? Each step would bring For a moment, or a him closer to that single, minute all movement stops, fearful, awful moment — and into the silence God and one wonders if he knew RABBI JOSEPH calls "Abraham, Abraham." what he would then do? KLEIN "Hineini, I am still here" And into that terrible, Special to the Abraham answers. overwhelming silence, comes Jewish News With a single word, Isaac's voice: "Avi, my father Abraham meets and moves ..." What Abraham thinks, through the major passage points of we do not know. What he says is, his life: With hineini, he affirms he is here I am, my son." "Hineini b'ni ready for God's mission. With hineini, Perhaps Abraham is saying to him- he reassures himself (and perhaps God self, and only incidentally to his son, and Isaac) that he is in control of his "I am here" in ways unimaginable emotions and impulses, his behavior and belief. And with hineini, he gives thanks for having the strength and courage to firmly accept his fate and follow his faith. Perhaps what's important in this story is not God's testing-trial or even Abraham's ready acceptance of the task. Perhaps what's important is that Abraham is prepared and ready to face the moment, every moment, with his entire self, fully engaged in the day-to- day challenge of faith and fate. Jason A. Miller. Friday evenings: check Web site for times www.umhillel.org Monthly Saturday morning and afternoon services. education. Summer programming for downstate visitors. — Shedding Light On Shabbat It is customary to put coins in a charity box before lighting Shabbat candles. Sponsored by Lubavitch Women's Organization. To receive Shabbat candles, candlesticks and brochures at no cost, contact Miriam Amzalak at (248) 548-6771 or e-mail miriamamzalakl. @j tmo . 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: Yevsey Gutman. Cantor emeritus: Larry Vieder. Services: Friday 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 am., 6:30 p.m.; weekdays 7:30 a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. B'nai mitzvah of Allison Feldman, daughter of Debby and Jamie Feldman; Evan Fischer, son of Terri Feldman Fischer and Steven Fischer. CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM BEIT KODESH BETH TEPHILATH MOSES 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. 146 South Ave., Mt. Clemens, 48043, (810) 465-0641. Services: weekdays 7:15 a.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. CONGREGATION BETH AHM 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 a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday and legal holidays 9 a.m.; Sunday 6 p.m. Bat mitzvah of Caryn Zeitlin, daughter of Marlene and Garry Zeitlin. BETH ISRAEL (FLINT) 98 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. 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. 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 p.m.; weekdays 7 a.m., 7 p.m.; Sundays and civic holidays: 8:15 a.m., 5 p.m. 2004 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., 6:35 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m., 5 p.m.; weekdays 7 a.m., 6:30 p.m. AHAVAS ISRAEL (GRAND RAPIDS) 10/29 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. CONGREGATION B'NAI MOSHE EGALITARIAN MINYAN U-M HILLEL 1429 Hill St., Ann Arbor 48104, (734) 769-0500. Rabbi: 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. 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 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. Bat mitzvah of Rachel Faye Margolin, daughter of Beth and Steve Margolin. West Bloomfield, B'nai Israel Center: 4200 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48323-2772, (248) 357- 5544. Services: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 7:1 5 a.m.; Monday, Thursday 7 a.m.; daily 6 p.m.; Friday 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday 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 cele- brations, holidays, year round programming, children's ❑ Conversations Our lives, too, are a series of calls and response. What were the times when you knew your life would be changed by how you responded? When were those moments when your confidence or courage, conscience or corn- mitment was tested? In what ways, do we live as Avraham Avinu, Abraham our Father, not even sure what is required of us, and still we respond "Hineini, Here I am." 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; Saturday 9:45 a.m., 20 min. before sundown; weekdays 7:30 am.; 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 am. and 20 minutes before sundown; weekdays during the academic year 7:30 am.; 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 am. BAIS CHABAD OF NORTH OAK PARK 15401 W. 10 Mile, Oak Park, 48237, (248) 872-8878.