Torah Portion/Synagogues A Different Perspective Adds Light Noa, Chaglah, Milkah. and Tirtzach.) story here — for a couple of phenom- These five go to Moses and ask a enal things occur leading up to the question that directly affects celebrated ruling. We see their lives. What about Halachah (Jewish law) going inheritance if a man had no through a revision right sons, only daughters? before our eyes. The census Wouldn't it make more n the midst of this week's Torah establishes the law, but some- sense, they ask, rather than portion, our ancestors literally one's just and moral question are preparing to enter the land of leave their father's name motivates a new understand- out, to give these women a Israel. So once again, God commands ing. Just like that, God share of the possession? Moses to take a census, but what changes Divine legislation Unsure of how to teaches us most is what occurs imme- due to the validity, the justice respond, Moses goes direct- diately afterward. in another contrary view. RAB BI ly to God. Remember, he The Promised Land will be divided What a blessing for us to see had just completed a census MIC HAEL up as an inheritance according to the this in Torah — and what an where only the men were MOSKO WITZ example for what Halachah names the census lists. But there is a counted. But now, these Special to the problem — and this is where some- should be. women bring up a chal- Jewish News thing amazing in our history occurs. Rashi looks at this change lenge. Amazingly, God says Five women step forward and, in and provides some wonderful that these women speak the truth. making a request, demonstrate the insight. He taught, in referring to the Moses learns at this moment that the utmost courage. Most of us only know daughters and their perspective, that women are right. And then, God pro- them as the daughters of Zelophehad "their eyes saw what the eyes of Moses ceeds to change the law immediately — very few know their individual did not." It is not that Moses was declaring, "if a man dies and has no names. Yet their impact changes our unable to see the validity in the son, his inheritance shall pass directly tradition from that moment on. (For daughters' claim. Rather, he just wasn't to his daughter." (27:8) Yes, amazing. our benefit, they deserve to be men- thinking like they were. He couldn't We can rejoice in this mandate for tioned appropriately — Machlah, think like them for he was not stand- what it tells us of women's rights and ing in their shoes. Yes, the great lead- ers and the great thinkers ideally have Michael Moskowitz is a rabbi at Temple the reality that our faith has honored this from the very beginning. the ability to think from other per- Shir Shalom. But step back a moment in the spectives, to not only demonstrate Shabbat Pinchas: Numbers 25:10-30:1; I Kings 18:46-19:21. I Giving liedalcah DOR CHADASH — U. OF MICH. Most domestic birds like chicken, turkey, duck and goose, are kosher. Presented by Lubavitch Women's Organization. For in, formation 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 Yoskowit, Rachel Lawson Shere. Rabbi emeritus: Efry Spectre. Cantor: Yevsey Gutman. Cantor emeritus: Larry Vieder. Services: Friday 7:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 am., 8:45 p.m.; weekdays 7:30 am., 6 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 am. Baby naming of Seth Brasch, son of Faith and Jeffrey Brasch. 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 presidents: Aaron Engel, Jeffrey Kirsch. Services: Friday 8 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. CONGREGATION BETH ABM 5075 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, 48322, (248) 851-6880. Ritual director: Joseph Mermelstein. Rabbi emeritus: 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., 8:45 p.m.; weekdays 7 am., 7 p.m.; Sundays and civic holidays: 8:15 am., 5 p.m. 7/21 2005 36 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.; weekdays 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 am.; 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 am., 5 p.m.; week- days 7 am., 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 Berns. 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 am.; Sunday 6 p.m. Haftorah, Irving Lopatin. 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 candlelight- ing 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. Cantors: Meir Finkelstein, 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., 8:30 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., 8:30 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 am. A liberal, egalitarian congre- gation serving the to-cities area. Religious and Hebrew education programs for children and adults. empathy and compassion, but to help with that perspective in mind. Yet, here, we learn that even the greatest prophet couldn't understand every- thing, every angle, and needed some- one else's lens to bring the necessary reality into focus. So, too, is it the case in our own lives. We would like to think that we grasp so much, that we can solve so many different challenges; but more often than not, a different perspective can add such light, such understand- ing. So maybe this Torah portion, more than anything else, is reminding us not to discount any opinion, any perspective. If Moses could do this, imagine how much we can do with our minds open. I can't tell you how many times my children have helped me understand this world. Thank God for the blessing we have to be able to learn from others every single day. ❑ Conversations Has Judaism, liberal or traditional, gone far enough in including and truly regarding women as equal? INDEPENDENT AHAVAT SHALOM 413 N. Division St., Traverse City, 49684, (231) 929-4330. Rabbi: Chava (Stacie) Bahle. Weekly Shabbat celebrations, 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, follow- ing dinner. Jewish Roots with Interfaith Wings holds bi- monthly Shabbat dinner, services, kids' programs, family school and Hebrew school for all ages. OR'rHODOX 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 am., 20 min. before sundown; weekdays 7:30 am.; Sunday 9 am. 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 academic