Torah Portion/Synagogues When Anti-Semites Twist Scriptures Shabbat Vayi gash: Genesis 44:18-47:27; Ezekiel 37.15-28. I t is, I suppose, axiomatic to say that Hebrew Scriptures is not anti- Semitic. It comes, therefore, as a surprise when some anti-Semites use Torah as a proof-text for the claim that Judaism is an evil and dangerous reli- gion! This week's Torah portion has so been used. Look how it reads: Joseph, a foreigner in Egypt (in fact a former prisoner), fina- gles his way into national leadership. Once in charge, he imports his own family into the country, not only giving them the choicest land of Egypt but also apparently evicting its legitimate Egyptian residents. And while the rest of Egypt suffers during the famine, Joseph ensures that his foreigner father, brothers and all their households get all the food they want. They see to themselves first, leaving the native-born to fend for themselves. When the food supply runs out, Joseph sells back to the Egyptians their Joseph Klein is rabbi of Temple Emanu-El. enslavement of the Egyptian peasant own grain that he had collected in the shocking proof of Joseph's inhumanity. good years. When their money runs out, But, as has been expressed by more Joseph trades grain from the storehouse objective students, such censorious com- for their livestock. When their animals ments show little understanding of either are gone, Joseph buys up .their land, history or literature." forcing the native, home-born Egyptians There is no evidence that Egyptian into slavery to serve Pharaoh — while all society would have understood such the time, Joseph's foreigner family is pro- changes [as described in Joseph's plan as] tected in Goshen. anything other than constructive. That Is this or is this not an accurate they would be credited to description of the modern Joseph in this narrative is part Jewish conspiracy? Look and parcel of his idealized his- around; wake up, America. torical image. Pharaonic Are not today's foreigner Jews Egypt followed its own due doing the same thing to course, regardless of ancient America? They have maneu- visitors or modern moraliz- vered their way into govern- ers." (Genesis p. 353) mental positions of power, and If it does nothing else, our they control the banks and big portion this week prompts us businesses. to think a little bit more about Just like their ancestor our place in society, how oth- Joseph, they bankrupt our RABBI JOSEPH ers see us and how we might farmers so that they can take KLEIN want or wish others to see us. control of America's food sup- Special to the We can do little to prevent the ply. Just like Joseph, their plan Jewish News kind of tendentious commen- for the bad times to come is to tary with which our enemies make us their slaves. In interpret history. But we cannot allow it Genesis, Joseph is rewarded for his to go unchallenged either. We must be actions; he is exalted. Their Jewish Bible particularly on our guard at this time of obviously endorses such behavior. year, when Jewish objections to the In his commentary on Genesis, E.A. intense cultural infusion of Christian Speiser writes more than one modern faith make us easy targets for those who scholar has found in this [story] of the Shedding Light On Shabbat The mitzvah of lighting Shabbat candles is incumbent on men as well as women. Nevertheless, the responsibility is given primarily to women. 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• miriamannalaki@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 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 5 p.m.; weekdays 7:30 a.m., 5 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. Bar mitzvah of Jeremy Kaplan, son of Helayne and Jeffrey Kaplan. 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 emer- itus: A. Irving Schnipper. Cantor Emeritus: Shabtai Ackerman. Guest rabbi: Aaron Bergman. Visiting schol- ar: 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: Dr. Harold Steinman. 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., 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m., 5 p.m.; weekdays 7 a.m., 6:30 p.m. The real "December Dilemma" is how we respond to those who insist that religious observance ought to be a public celebration. Is it more important for Jews to support a social separation of religion and state, or to be labeled anti-God and anti- American for our insistence on that separation? Are the short- term separation battles we wage worth the long-term effects? INDEPENDENT DOR CHADASH - U. OF MICH. AHAVAT SHALOM 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 serv- ice 5:30 p.m. Fridays. Monthly Shabbat morning serv- ice. Monthly Shabbat Minchah-Seudah Shlishit. Check Web site for times wvvvv.umhillel.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. 413 N. Division St., Traverse City, 49684, (231) 929- 4330. Rabbi: Chava (Stacie) Bahle. Weekly Shabbat cel- ebrations, holidays, year round programming, children's education. Summer programming for downstate visi- tors. 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. CONGREGATION SHAAREY 7FDEK 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 9 a.m., 4:45 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. Bat mitzvah of Amanda Arin Horwitz, daughter of Susie and Dennis Horwitz. 146 South Ave., Mt. Clemens, 48043, (586) 465-0641. Services: weekdays 7:15 a.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. CONGREGATION B'NAI MOSHE TEMPLE ISRAEL 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 9 a.m.; Sunday 4:45 p.m. Bat mitzvah of Conversations Samantha Grace Fine, daughter of Elyse and Steven Fine. 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. BETH TEPHILATH MOSES are looking for an excuse to call us anti- God and anti-American. We must walk and talk carefully, yet still maintain our religious integrity within pluralistic America. It means that we must choose our words and our bat- des cautiously, engaging issues of social conflict in which we are not alone and may reasonably win. It is indeed unfortunate that we must always be on guard against those who see in Judaism an evil conspiracy to subju- gate the world. And how unfortunate that they can not and will not hear their own message of this season: "Peace on earth, good will toward men." 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. 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; week- days 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 aca- demic year 7:30 a.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. SYNAGOGUES on page 62