Torah Portion/Synagogues
The First Jewish Mentor
Shabbat Mikketz, 4th
Day of Chanukah:
Genesis 41:1-44:17;
Numbers 7:30-35;
Zechariah 2;14-4:7.
ir
aced with famine and starva-
tion at home, Yaakov sends his
sons to Egypt to buy food.
Yosef (the viceroy) pretends not to
recognize them and accuses them of
spying. In an effort to convince him of
their innocence, the brothers tell him
their life's story and mention their
younger brother Binyamin, who
remained home with his father. Yosef
harshly demands that that they pro-
duce the young Binyamin in Egypt.
When they return home to their
father with their predicament, Yaakov
won't hear of sending Binyamin. After
all, he had already lost Yosef (whom he
thought dead); and Binyamin, the
baby of the family, is the last living
descendant of his beloved wife Rachel.
Reuven tries to convince his father to
Reuven Spolter is rabbi of Young
Israel of Oak Park.
send Binyamin, telling him, "You may
plans to care for his brother. On the
put my two sons to death if I do not
other hand, Yehudah tells his father,
bring him to you." (42:37) Yaakov
"You may claim him from my hand."
won't hear of it. In essence, Yaakov tells
Yehudah doesn't just take responsi-
the family, "I don't care if we starve to
bility in a detached way. Rather, he
death, but you're not taking Binyamin
promises to be actively involved in the
to Egypt."
care of his brother throughout.
When they find themselves with
"Father," he says, "I know I'll bring
nothing to eat, the brothers return to
him back, because he'll be right next to
their father and insist that they must
me the entire time."
take Binyamin with them to
In our community, we
Egypt to buy food. Yehudah
have so many caring and
says to his father, "You may
dedicated people who work
claim him from my hand. If I
on behalf of the welfare of
have not brought him to you
their fellow Jews. All too
and presented him before
often, while they do impor-
you, then I will have sinned
tant work, their efforts
against you for all time."
remain focused "behind the
(43:9)
scenes," serving on commit-
Yaakov relents and agrees
tees, raising funds and
to send the young boy with
attending meetings.
RABBI
his brothers. Why does he
While these efforts are
REUVEN
now concede to Yehudah if
crucial, many people are
SPOLTER
he so vociferously refused to
looking to follow in
Special
to the
send Binyamin before? Why
Yehudah's footsteps and
Jewish News
does he trust Yehudah's prom-
become actively and person-
ise but not Reuven's?
ally involved. If you're one of
He trusts Yehudah because while
those people, I've got just the program
Reuven makes promises, Yehudah takes
for you.
personal responsibility. While Reuven's
During this past year, I have had the
dramatic oath to kill his sons might
pleasure of working with Michelle
sound good (and might not), it doesn't
Malamis, who runs heads Mentor
tell his father anything about how he
Works, a JFS program that matches
Shedding Light On Shabbat
9 a.m.; Sunday 4:45 p.m. Bat mitzvah of Emma Cohen,
daughter of Don and Ken Guten Cohen.
Our sages tell us of our matriarch Rivkah, who lit Shabbat candles from the
tender age of 3.
DOR CHADASH - U. OF MICH.
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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:
Yevsey Gutman. Cantor emeritus: Larry Vieder. Services:
Friday 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 5 p.m.; weekdays 7:30
a.m., 5 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. B'not mitzvah of Emily
Prog, daughter of Jennifer Green and Stewart Prog; Jillian
Sallan, daughter of Lesly and Andrew Sallan.
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 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.,
4:30 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.; weekdays
7:30 a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday and legal holidays 8 a.m., 6
p.m. Ivriah 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., 5:25 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m., 5 p.m.; week-
days 7 a.m., 6:30 p.m. Scholar in residence, Dr. Howard
Lupovich, will speak. Sunday, Dec. 12, bar mitzvah of
Mitchell Zachary Greenstein, son of Anne and Eugene
Greenstein.
BETH TEPHILATH MOSES
146 South Ave., Mt Clemens, 48043, (586) 465-0641. Serv-
ices: 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
4:45 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 4:45 p.m.; Monday-Friday 7
a.m., Monday-Thursday 6 p.m.; Sunday and legal holidays
U-M Hillel; 1429 Hill St., Ann Arbor 48104, (734) 769-
0500. Rabbi: Jason A. Miller. Co-chairs: Rebecca Murow,
Perry Teicher. Egalitarian Carlebach-style service 5:30
p.m. Fridays. Monthly Shabbat moming service. Monthly
Shabbat Minchah-Seudah Shlishit. Check Web site for
times vvww.urnhillel.org
ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN
SYNAGOGUE
1457 Griswold, Detroit, 48226, (313) 961-9328. Chazan:
Cantor Usher Adler. Baal Kriah: Howard Marcus. Cantorial
soloist: Neil Bards. Ritual director: Dr. Martin Herman.
President: Dr. Ellen Kahn. Services: Saturday 8:30 a.m.
also the second Friday of every month at 7 p.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 5 p.m.; Friday
4:45 p.m.; Saturday 8:45 a.m., 4:45 p.m.; Sunday 8:30
a.m. Friday, Dec. 10, third day Chanukah, 7:15 a.m.
Saturday Havdalah bat mitzvah of Shayna Nicole Stillman,
daughter of Andrea and Jeffrey Stillman. Tuesday, Dec. 14,
seventh day Chanukah, 7:15 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., 4:45 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 10, third day
Chanukah, 7 a.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 14, seventh day
Chanukah, 7 a.m.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
2300 Center Ave., Bay City, 48708; (989) 893-7811.
adults willing to dedicate their time to
helping a child in need.
In so many Jewish families in our
community, the children often bear the
burden of circumstances over which
they have no control. Whether due to
a death or illness of a parent or sibling,
parental divorce or separation or any
number of other difficult circum-
stances, too many children lack the
nurturing home environment that they
need to thrive and grow.
Mentor Works needs more caring
adults willing to serve as mentors for
children who just need someone to talk
to and the benefit of exposure to a
warm, nurturing family environment.
So, follow in Yehudah's footsteps
and get actively involved. Take a per-
sonal interest and become a Jewish
mentor. You'll be amazed at how your
efforts truly can change a child's life.
Conversations
Why doesn't Yosef reveal himself
to his brothers outright? Why
does he give them such a hard
time before telling them who he
really is?
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.
INIIEIPENDENT
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.
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.
ORTHODOX
AGUDAS YISROEL MOGEN ABRAHAM
15751 W. Lincoln, Southfield, 48075, (248) 552-1971. Rab-
bis: 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
SYNAGOGUE LISTINGS on page 68
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12/10
2004
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