To Life!

Torah Portion/Synagogues

interpretations of the talmudic and
medieval rabbis, because I've already
shown (in the introduction to his com-
mentary) that in the simple verses of the
and own reason will dictate whether to
Torah from which Halachah (Jewish
interpret the verses literally:
law) is not derived (basically all of the
"... it is necessary to interpret all
narrative parts of the Torah), a Torah
(verses) that can be refuted by proof in
scholar has the right to innovate (his
another manner" (Guide for the
own interpretations) and this is referred
Perplexed II-25) and
to by the verse (Song of Songs 5:16): 'His
"...discern the matter with your rea-
mouth is sweet and altogether pleasing."'
son and it will be clear to you what is
Thus, there is no necessity to create
said allegorically, figuratively or hyper-
conflict between science and the Torah
bolically, and what is said
(Maimonides himself says that
according to its literal mean-
the creation story is [at least
ing. Then all prophecies will
partially] allegory [Guide II-
be clear to you. And you will
29]). Nor must one accept the
develop and maintain beliefs
verses in ways that contradict
that are rational as is consis-
human experience and our
tent with what is pleasing to
own perception of reality.
God.
This week in our Torah
"Because God does not
portion we have the story of
want anything but truth, and
Bilaam, the angel and "the
He hates falsehood. And then
Talking Donkey" (Numbers
RABBI
your mind and ideas will not
22:22-35). To interpret this
ELIEZER
be so confused that you accept
incident literally would cer-
COHEN
false ideas that are far from
tainly be counter to Mai-
Special to the
the truth and think that they
monides' statement above to
Jewish News
are Torah. The Torah in its
rely on one's reason and,
entirety is perfectly true when
therefore, Maimonides him-
understood properly." (Guide1I-47)
self ( Guide 11-41) interprets the whole
Similarly, the classical commentary
incident as a vision as it appeared to
Or HaChaim (Chaim Ibn Attar, 1676-
Bilaam.
1743) states (I>Genesis 46:8): "... and
This interpretation is borne out by a
do not find it difficult in your eyes that
careful reading of the verses (the entire
my interpretations are counter to the
vision begins with verse 20 and contin-

Open To Interpretation

Shabbat Balak:
Numbers 22:2-25:9;
Micah 5:6-6:8.

ince the Enlightenment and sub-
sequent scientific discoveries, and
with the rise of higher biblical
criticism and its documentary hypothe-
sis, the divinity of the Torah has come
into question.
Contributing to this attitude is the
insistence of many traditionalists that
the Torah must be understood and
accepted literally. Certainly those of us
who accept its Divine origin must
acknowledge that the Torah may speak
to each generation in its own way.
Thus, for example, how the medieval
rabbis, with their own contemporary
understanding of reality, interpreted the
verses is not only not necessarily the only
possible meaning, but may not be the
intended meaning, and it may certainly
not be meaningful to our generation.
Mairnonides (1135-1204) makes it
clear that one's understanding of reality

S

Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of Congregation
Or Chadash.

DOR CHADASH — U. OF MICH.

Giving Tzedakah

The Talmud says we must provide financial support to non-Jews as well as
Jews, visit the non-Jewish sick along with the Jewish sick and arrange for the
burial of non-Jews as well as Jews.

Presented by Lubavitch Women's Organization. For information on keeping kosher or lighting
Shabbat candles, contact Miriam Amzalak (248) 548-6771, miriamamzalaklunu.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., 9 p.m.; weekdays
7:30 a.m., 6 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. Aufruf of Amy
Zimmerman and Jason Epstein.

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

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.

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 a.m., 6:30 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 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, Beth
Horwitz.

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 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. Cantors: Meir
Finkelstein, Chaim Najman. Ritual director: Leonard
Gutman.

ues through verse 38). In fact, Mai-
monides ( Guide 11-41, 45, 46) inter-
prets the biblical use of the word "angel"
(malach in Hebrew, literally "a messen-
ger") as God manifesting Himself
through a vision, communicating to
human beings, and not as a testament to
the actual existence of such "mythical"
creatures.
As to the widely accepted thesis that
the Torah was composed by human
beings and (poorly) edited over genera-
tions (the documentary hypothesis),
every anomaly of language or usage, par-
ticularly Divine names and redundancies
that are used to support such a theory,
have already been noted and dealt with
by the talmudic and subsequent rabbis.
And their explanations are considerably
more intellectually satisfying and honest
than those of the Bible critics.
Our responsibility is to enable the
Torah to communicate to us God's will
in a way that is meaningful and
enlightening to each of us. II

Conversations

Do you believe in angels? Why? If
the Torah must speak to all gener-
ations, how could there be just
one acceptable interpretation? If
the Torah is not divine, should
anyone follow it?

INDEPENDENT

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

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.

AGUDAS YISROEL MOGEN
ABRAHAM

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., 8:45 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.

ANN ARBOR CHABAD HOUSE

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 congregation serving the tri-cities area.
Religious and Hebrew education programs for children
and adults.

15751 W. Lincoln, Southfield, 48075, (248) 552-1971.
Rabbis: Dov Loketch, Asher Eisenberger. President:
Irwin Cohen.

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 am.; 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

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