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Shabbat Hol Hamoed Sukkot:
Exodus 33:12-34:26;
Numbers 29:23-28;
Ezekiel 38:18-39:16.

American ORT

and the

Detroit Chapter

will present

IRVING NUSBAUM

with the

2005 AMBASSADOR

DAVID B. HERMELIN AWARD

at a dinner on

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Knollwood Country Club

5050 W. Maple Road, W. Bloomfield

Dinner Co-Chairs

ROBERT ARONSON
& ROBERT NAFTALY

Honorary Co-Chairs

DOREEN HERMELIN &
BARBARA NUSBAUM

P

roceeds will provide

scholarships for

ORT students offering

them an education that

will impart the skills

and opportunities for

successful careers and

the chance for a

brighter future.

Journal ads are due by Noveth

Tai4i:to

30

alking home
before the Lord of hosts
from syna-
and to celebrate Sukkot."
gogue one
Why wait? In the
Shabbat, my 5-year-old
Talmud, God challenges
son asked me an inno-
the nations of the world
cent question about the
to observe this "easy
ancient Temple of
mitzvah" (Avodah Zarah
Jerusalem."Abba, why
Rabbi Daniel 3a). In recent years
don't we build Beit
evangelical Christians
Nevins
HaMikdash again?"
Special to the have made an annual
I started to explain
Jewish News pilgrimage to Jerusalem
how the Muslims had
to celebrate "taberna-
put up their mosque
cles" and demonstrate
where the Temple belongs, but he their support for Israel.
asked, "Why don't they move it?"
But even here in Michigan,
I explained that they really don't
Sukkot is an opportunity for
want to move their mosque, and
interfaith outreach. The themes
it would cause a huge fight, and
of thanksgiving to God for the
then he asked, "So why can't we
harvest, of prayer for the winter
share?"
rains, and of yearning for
It's much easier to answer
redemption are all accessible to
questions from adults! Adults
our gentile neighbors.
understand history and politics.
The humbling experience of
But 5-year-olds have a way of
leaving a luxurious home for the
cutting to the essence. They can
fragile shelter of the sukkah is
understand that the Temple is
good for all people. Sukkot are
intended to be a place of unity
certainly more meaningful than
rather than discord. As Isaiah
the skeletons and cobwebs so
put it, "My house shall be a
many people put outside their
house of prayer for all peoples!'
homes in October.
Can the Temple ever be shared,
This year, let us make our
or is that an unrealistic fantasy?
sukkot magnificent, and let us
The holiday of Sukkot gives us
share some of the joy of the festi-
hope that the fantasy is possible.
val by inviting in our neighbors.
On Sukkot, our ancestors
In this way, we will connect to the
brought 70 sacrifices of well-
origins of the festival and promote
being (shelamim), symbolizing
reconciliation between peoples.
their prayers for the 70 nations
May the Merciful One restore
of the world. On Sukkot, they
the fallen sukkah of David, and
recalled Israel's refugee days,
may we be active participants
when we dwelled in huts in the
in that restoration. Chag
desert and were not embroiled in sameach! ❑
territorial disputes. And on
Sukkot, they envisioned a mes-
Daniel Nevins is a rabbi at Adat
sianic future in which the
Shalom
Synagogue in Farminton
nations would come to Jerusalem
Hills.
to worship God in harmony.
In the haftorah for Sukkot, day
one, the prophet Zecharia pre-
Conversations
dicts that after the apocalyptic
Sukkot are very public
war of Gog from Magog
expressions of Jewish
(described in detail by Ezekiel in
observance. How would you
today's haftorah), the nations
explain yours to Christian
will commence an annual pil-
neighbors?
grimage to Jerusalem "to bow

October 20 2005

jw