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Torah Portion/Synagogues

Feeling The Pain Of Others

Shabbat Bechalotecha:
Numbers 8:1-12:16;
Zachariah 2:14-4:7.

T

hese are trying times for the
Jewish people. The State of
Israel will this summer
embark on, perhaps, one of the most
dangerous periods in modern Israeli
history as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
follows through on his promise to dis-
engage from Gaza and parts of the
West Bank.
In the interest of full disclosure, I
am against the disengagement — par-
tially for political but mostly for reli-
gious and spiritual reasons. I believe
that God commanded the Jewish peo-
ple to inherit and settle the land of
Israel as a religious imperative. God
gave us the land for us to treasure and
develop; not give back to our enemies
in exchange for terrorism and murder.
But I also understand that others
disagree with me. There are political
and demographic realities in Israel
that the government must contend
with. My goal, therefore, is not to
convince you that disengagement is
right or wrong — but to ask you to

feel for, understand and pray for the
Moshe. Sure, he leads the people to
well being of the thousands of Jews
the Promised Land, but not before
who have come to call these areas of
they commit several sins, including
Israel their homes.
the sin of the spies that forces God to
Parshat Bechalotecha relays perhaps
hasten Moshe's death and prevent him
most tragic story in the
from entering the Land.
entire Torah. After rescuing
When we read this sec-
tion each year in shul, I feel
the Jews from Egypt, trans-
mitting the Torah to them
terrible for Moshe; while
on Sinai, building the
he's certain that he'll enter
mishkan (tabernacle) and
the Promised Land, I know
organizing the camp, it's
that he won't, and I mourn
finally time to go to Israel.
the pain that I know he will
And Moshe is excited, telling
soon endure.
Whatever political opin-
his father-in-law Chovev,
"We are now traveling to the
ions American Jews may
place about which God has
have about the settlements,
RABBI
said, 'I will give it to you.'
there can be no doubt about
REUVEN
Come with us and we will
those Israelis who live in
SPOLTER
great you well, for God has
them: they are passionate,
Special to the
dedicated Jews, devoted to
spoken good things upon
Jewish News
Israel." (10:29) Chovev
God, spirituality, Israel and
the Jewish people. Their
demurs. Instead of joining
Moshe on the great conquest
dedication is total and
absolute — not to themselves, but to
of the Land, he returns home to
us, and to Jews around the world.
Midyan.
What's so tragic about Moshe's
With their blood and sweat and tears,
offer to Chovev is his absolute certain- they have turned sand dunes in the
ty. "We're going! It's going to be only
desert into beautiful fields, barren land
good! Come with us!" At the same
into wonderful oases and put their
time we, who have read the Torah
lives on the line both as soldiers and
everyday citizens to fulfill God's com-
before, already know the end of the
mandment to develop that very same
story. It doesn't turn out well for

Giving Tzedaka.h.

Sunday 8 a.m.

Most domestic birds like chicken, turkey, duck and goose are kosher.

Presented by Lubavitch Women Organization. For information on keeping kosher or lighting
Shabbat candles, contact Miriam Amzalak (248) 548-6771, miriamanizalakl@junu.com .

To help consolidate lifecycle listings in
one, easy-to-find location, we've moved
all b'nai mitzvah announcements to the
Mazel Toy! section. Avoiding duplication
in the JN allows us to run more news.

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., 8:45 p.m.; weekdays 7 a.m., 7
p.m.; Sundays and civic holidays: 8:15 a.m., 5 p.m.

CONSERVATIVE

BETH ISRAEL (FLINT)

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., 9 p.m.; weekdays
7:30 a.m., 6 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: Martin Diskin. Vice presi-
dents: Aaron Engel, Jeffrey Kirsch. Services: Friday 8
p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.

CONGREGATION BETH AHM

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 a.m., 6:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m., 6:30
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.;

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., 8:30 p.m.; Monday-
Friday 7 a.m., Monday-Thursday 6 p.m.; Sunday and
legal holidays 9 a.m.; Sunday 6 p.m. Haftorah, Bennett
Price. Aufruf of Benjamin Manson and Randi Brenner.

DOR CHADASH

—

U. OF MICH.

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
candlelighting 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 Barris. 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., 8:45 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m.

West Bloomfield, B'nai Israel Center: 4200 Walnut
Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48323-2772, (248) 357-

land that Moshe could only dream
about.
So, even if we disagree with them
we must also understand and appreci-
ate their passion and their self-sacrifice
for the Jewish people. While a Jew in
Michigan might feel that these people
should be relocated, she must also feel
their very real pain and anguish as
well as they are forced to watch the
lives and homes and communities
they have built abandoned and
destroyed.
If the disengagement does indeed
happen, we must pray for their safety
and well being. We must feel their
pain and appreciate their suffering. It
is the very least we can do.

❑

Reuven Spolter is rabbi of Young Israel
of Oak Park.

Conversations

If there is a commandment for
the Jewish people to settle the
land of Israel, does the Torah give
that government the right to
return land to our enemies if it
sees fit?

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., 8:45 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.

DIDEPENDENT

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 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.

6/16

2005

