SpiritualIlk
Torah Portion/Synagogues
Strangers In A Strange Land
Shabbat Shemot: Exodus
1:1-6:1; Isaiah 27:6-
28:13; 29:22-23.
I
n this week's Torah portion, we
are told (Exodus 1:8) that: "There
arose a new king over Egypt that
did not know of Joseph ..." This "new
king" instituted not only slavery but
the slaying of the male children of the
Jews.
The Talmud (Sota 11A) brings a
very strange interpretation of this
verse. Rav and Shmuel dispute; one
says: "(It was not actually a new king
but rather) he (the old king) instituted
new decrees (against the Jews) ... for it
doesn't say that he (the old king) died
and (the new king) reigned ... "That
did not know Joseph' (means that) he
behaved as if he didn't know Joseph at
all." Certainly this interpretation is
not simply based on the fact that the
death of the old king is not men-
tioned.
What really is this midrash trying
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of Congregation
Or Chadash.
Even after generations of living
to teach us?
with and contributing to the welfare
In my opinion, this midrash is the
of their neighbors and especially the
brilliant insight borne out time and
rulers, the Jews were almost invariably
again in Jewish history: The Jew (or
turned upon when the population or
any stranger) always remains in a pre-
the rulers saw it was to their
carious position. In spite of
advantage to do so.
what Joseph had done for
The lesson is even reflect-
Egypt (saving all of its
ed in the Passover seder.
inhabitants during years of
Although most of us use
famine) and for Pharaoh
horseradish as the "bitter
(acquiring for him all of the
herb" for our seder, the
money, livestock, land and
Talmud (Pesach 39A) says
imposing state serfdom upon
that romaine lettuce is actu-
the people ( Genesis 47:13-
ally preferable, even though
26]), there was no guarantee
it is not bitter.
of future security for Joseph's
RABBI ELIEZER
Rabbi Shmuel bar
family and people.
COHEN
Nachmani in the name of
Even the same king,
Special to the
Rabbi Yonatan says the
according to the interpreta-
Jewish News
experience of Egypt is corn-
tion, if he thought it advan-
pared to romaine lettuce
tageous, could turn upon
because "just as the lettuce is at first
these "aliens" and impose upon them
(when it is young) tender (and sweet),
slavery and even death.
at the end (when it remains too long
It is not clear why the Jews
in the ground) it becomes bitter. So
remained in Egypt after the famine
too our stay in Egypt in the beginning
ended (there are midrashim to the
was sweet and in the end became bit-
effect that they were forced to stay by
”
ter.
Pharaoh). But what is clear is that
Certainly, we in America believe
throughout Jewish history the Jews
and hope that out experience here is
have been discriminated against, per-
different. This year, we celebrate the
secuted or expelled from practically
350th anniversary of Jewish settle-
every country in which they lived.
Shedding Light On Shabbat
Tradition recounts the miracle of our matriarch Sarah, whose Shabbat candles
burned all week from Friday eve to Friday eve.
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:
miriamamzalak1@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.
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., 4:45 p.m.; weekdays 7 a.m., 7
p.m.; Sundays and civic holidays: 8:15 a.m., 5 p.m.
12/31
2004
54
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. 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., 5:15 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, (586) 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
5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 5 p.m.; Monday-Friday 7 a.m.,
Monday-Thursday 6 p.m.; Sunday and legal holidays 9
a.m.; Sunday 5 p.m. Haftorah, Marc Sussman.
DOR CHADASH - U. OF MICH.
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
wwvv.umhillel.org
ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN
SYNAGOGUE
1457 Griswold, Detroit, 48226, (313) 961-9328.
Chazan: Cantor Usher Adler. Baal Kriah: Howard
Marcus. Cantorial soloist: Neil Barris. 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 9 a.m., 4:45 p.m.; Sunday 8:30
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.
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.
ment on these shores. We are part and
parcel of the citizenry of this country,
who all — but for the Native
Americans — came as "strangers."
Yet, it is not inconceivable that
conditions could arise to make our
stay here unsure and even unsafe. (We
see what happened to Muslim
Americans after 9-11.)
The Mishnah in Pirkei Avot (2:3)
states: "Beware of the rulers for they
are close to someone only for their
own needs: They appear to love one
for their own benefit but do not stand
by one in time of need."
This could be just as true now as
when first formulated almost two mil-
lennia ago.
Conversations
Is being part of a democracy a
guarantee of safety? Does the
American population consider
the Jews as "us" or as "others"?
Do "others" or "strangers" ever
lose such a status if they remain
"different"? Are the Jews in Israel
any safer?
=DEPENDENT
AHAVAT SHALOM
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.
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.