Torah Portion/Synagogues
One's Deeds Determine One's Holiness
Shabbat Kedoshim:
Leviticus 19:1-20:27;
Amos 9:7-15.
I
've always found it interesting to
see how religious systems under-
stand and define "holiness," for it
helps us to appreciate the theology of
another's faith. In our Jewish tradition,
holiness or kedushah is beautifully
expressed in this week's Torah reading,
whose operative verse is, "You will be
holy because I, the Lord your God, am
holy."
What does it mean to say that a
person or a thing is holy? Other reli-
gious theologies might say that a thing
is holy when it belongs to, or comes
from, God. Holy then means more
than human, spiritually perfect or
pure, untainted by evil or sin.
Holiness, they might say, is a
Joseph Klein is rabbi of Temple Emanu-
El.
description of the innate nature of an
ingkindness of one's personal actions.
We are not only to feed the poor and
object or person, a nature that tran-
scends the physical properties of that
the stranger from our fields, but we
preserve their sense of worth and dig-
object or the behavior of that person.
nity by allowing them to gather it
Thus, "holiness" is defined by what
themselves. Kedushah is described here
thing or person is, rather than what a
as honesty with neighbors, in prompt
thing or person does.
payment for work completed and in
Holiness or kedushah within Jewish
not taking advantage of another's dis-
theology is just the opposite. Notice,
• ability. And to be kadosh is
for instance, the well-known
to make fair decisions in
declaration in our prayers
courts of law: rendering
and benedictions asher kid-
judgments without favor to
shanu bMitzvotav, that God
the poor or deference to the
"enables us to become kadosh
powerful.
(holy) through fulfilling
And there is an additional
mitzvot (commandments)."
quality of kedushah, which
That is, one's holiness is
is expressed in relationships.
determined by what one
If we look at the examples of
does. If one does the right
how we are to become
thing, then one is kadosh —
kadosh, each involves a rela-
and not the other way
RAB BI
around!
JOSEP H KLEIN tionship with something or
someone outside of our own
And here in Leviticus Ch.
Specia 1 to the
selves! Whether it is our rela-
19, the Torah describes holi-
Jewis h News
tionship with members of
ness as a quality generated
our family, our neighbors,
through proper interaction
the poor, the stranger, our cattle or the
with the world. Kedushah is found in
produce in our fields — we become
the justice and righteousness and lov-
DOR CHADASH — U. OF MICH.
Keeping Kosher
To signify that packaged food items have been carefully supervised by a rabbi,
their wrapping will include a symbol certifying it as kosher.
Sponsored by Lubavitch Women's Organization. For information on keeping kosher or for help
making your kitchen kosher, contact Miriam Amzalak at (248) 548-6771 or e-mail•
miriamarnzalakl@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 7:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 8:15 p.m.; weekdays
7:30 a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. B'nai mitzvah of
Matthew Felsenfeld, son of Brenda and Robert
Felsenfeld; David Friedman, son of Pam and Michael
Friedman.
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 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., 8:15 p.m.; weekdays 7 a.m., 7 p.m.; Sundays
and civic holidays: 8:15 a.m., 5 p.m. Bat mitzvah of
Emily Hersch, daughter of Julie and Edward Hersch.
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 7:30 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 am., 6:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m., 5 p.m.;
weekdays 7 a.m., 6:30 p.m. Children's monthly birthday
blessings.
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
6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m., 8:15 p.m.; Monday-Friday 7
a.m., Monday-Thursday 6 p.m.; Sunday and legal holi-
days 9 a.m.; Sunday 6 p.m. Haftorah, Gabriel Pachter.
Library Shabbat.
U-M Hillel; 1429 Hill St., Ann Arbor 48104, (734) 769-
0500. Rabbi: Jason A. Miller. Co-chairs: Naomi Karp,
Perry Teicher. Egalitarian Carlebach-style service at cas-
ndlelighting time Fridays. Monthly Shabbat morning
service. Monthly Shabbat Minchah-Seudah Shlishit.
Check Web site for times www.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.
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 am., 8:15 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. Bat
mitzvah of Elizabeth Claire Aviv, daughter of Linda and
Joseph Aviv.
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., 8:15 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.
INDEP'ENDENT
AHAVAT SHALOM
413 N. Division St., Traverse City, 49684, (231) 929-
4330. Rabbi: Chava (Stacie) Bahle. Weekly Shabbat cele-
kadosh by establishing "proper rela-
tionships" as well as performing "prop-
er personal actions."
Holiness, then, is not only what we
do with and make of our lives — but
also our actions extend "holiness" out
into the world so that our society is
changed by our productive, beneficial,
righteous and ethical relationships
with all people and every part of God's
cosmos. "Holiness" flows from the
Divine and through us; it infuses all of
existence.
"You will be holy, because I, the
Lord your God, am holy."
Conversations
What are some of the small actions
of our daily living that bring holi-
ness into the world? Wouldn't it be
nice if we more regularly thanked
others for their repeated acts of
kedushah? Is kedushah the most
important indicator of one's reli-
gious integrity?
brations, 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, 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
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 academ-
ic year 7:30 a.m.; 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 am.; Sunday 8:30 am.; weekdays 6:50 a.m.
BAIS CHABAD OF NORTH OAK PARK
15401 W. 10 Mile, Oak Park, 48237, (248) 872-8878.
Rabbi: Shea Werner.
5/ 5
2005