Let Us Pray

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4,T41-e

Detroit rabbis respond to word of Sharon's illness.

She'll Liebman Dorfman
Staff Writer

hether they agree with
Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon's policies or not,
many area rabbis had at least one
shared sentiment: to pray for his
good health and for the safety of
Israel. -
In Israel
• In response to last week's appeal
The same day the prayer service
by the Israeli Chief Rabbinate that
was planned in Southfield, several
Jews throughout the world recite
tehillim (psalms) on
behalf of Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon,
two local congregations
hosted a community
prayer service.
Rabbi Yechiel Morris
of Young Israel of
Southfield quickly noti-
fied his membership,
asking Rabbi Reuven
Spolter of Young Israel
Rabbi Nevins
Rabbi Tisdale
of Oak Park to do the
same. The contacts and
Metro Detroit rabbis were in Israel,
an announcement on WWJ Radio,
as part of the Jewish Federation of
brought a Jan. 5 gathering on just
Metropolitan Detroit's Family
a few hours notice.
Miracle Mission. -
Likening Sharon's methods of
"As I walked around Tel Aviv on
battle and reconciliation to the
Thursday (Jan. 5), there Was a pal-
biblical story of Jacob's reunion
pable feeling of sadness',' said
with his arch-enemy and brother,
Rabbi Jennifer Tisdale of Temple
Esau. "He prepared for battle, he
Israel. "People were stopping in
sent gifts of reconciliation and he
stores to listen to the news or
prayed to God',' Rabbi Morris told
watch television broadcasts. People
the group. "The Gemara (Talmud)
were gathering around cabs to lis-
says that this approach, which
ten to the radio.
proved to be successful, is the
"Israelis that I spoke with said
model that would guide the Jewish
people throughout the centuries as they were pained to see their
leader, once so strong and a central
they would face those who wished
figure in their country's history for
to cause them harm.
so many decades, now so ill and
"The first two methods, battle
frail. They prayed for his recovery
and reconciliation, have been the
and hoped for his return to his
hallmark of former general and
command as prime minister of
current Israeli Prime Minister
Israel."
Ariel Sharon's career. He led har-
Rabbi Daniel Nevins of Adat
rowing military battles against
Shalom Synagogue said, "We had
those that have wished to destroy
the Jewish state and, more recently, just finished our final dinner in Tel
Aviv Wednesday night [before
has challenged those same ene-
coming home] when the prime
mies toward the path of peace
minister was rushed to Hadassah
through dialogue, reconciliation,
Hospital. Everyone is tensely wait-
and separation.
ing for some good news," he said.
"Unfortunately, he is now bat-

W

From top: Rabbi Yechiel Morris

of Young Israel of Southfield

Rabbi Yigal Tsaidi of Yeshivat

Akiva in Southfield

Ziporah Winker and Barry

Eisenberg, both of Southfield

fling for his own life and it is now
our turn to employ Jacob's third
tactic, tefillah (prayer) and turn to
HaShem (God) and ask for Divine
assistance in granting Prime
Minister Sharon health, strength
and protection from the great
physical challenge that he has suf-
fered."

measures?
"The Almighty is telling us that
actions like these without internal
structures in place are, by their
very nature, a disaster.
"Sharon has dedicated his life to
the safety of the Jewish people.
Perhaps his current condition is to
teach us to take his lesson serious-
What's Next?
ly. We have to .get our internal
In response to television evan-
house in order or we can not and
gelist Pat Robertson's suggestion
will never get along with our
that Sharon's stroke was divine
neighbors."
punishment for the Israeli with-
Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg of
drawal from Gaza and parts of
the Sara Tugman Bais Chabad
the West Bank this past sum-
Torah Center has supported Jewish
mer, Rabbi Alon Tolwin said,
settlements in the territories. He
"Robertson said that he had it
said, "Of course, there are many
coming, giving away God's land.
who believe Sharon put Israel in
I hear this echoed in some cir-
mortal danger with the pullout. of
cles." Rabbi Tolwin is director of
8,500 people from their homes in
Aish Detroit in Southfield.
Gaza and the West Bank, but he
"There is no doubt we must
still deserves our prayers.
attempt to understand what
"First of all he, is a Jew; second
God is telling us. I don't think He
of all, he is a Jew who was a hero in
is saying that whoever gives up
parts of Israel dies. This seems a so many situations and put him-
self on the line many times for the
bit pretentious to me. Whether
Jewish people.
one agrees with Sharon or not, he
"We must learn from (the bibli-
is a leader., he has guts and he is
cal) Joseph, who felt his brothers
willing to make hard decisions, at
put him in danger but who ulti-
risk of his own popularity, to do
mately never took revenge against
what he thinks is correct. That is a
them."
measure of greatness."
Rabbi Morris said, "Clearly there
Rabbi Tolwin said that whether
will
be a short-term void with
or not one agrees with the prime
Sharon's absence.
minister's poli-
But, at the same
cies,"Israel is on
time, Israelis
the verge of a
have proved time
critical step that
and again hoW
may decide our
resilient they are,
fate as an inde-
whether
the chal-
pendent Jewish
lenges
and
dan-
state. It is one
gers
are
external
that will deter-
or come from
mine our
within.
Rabbi
Rabbi
Tolwin
defense posture
"New leaders,
Silberberq
and our relation-
God
willing, will
ship with our
emerge
and
move
the
country
for-
neighbors and the rest of the
ward.
Prime
Minister
Sharon
will
world."
He added, "At a time like this, we undoubtedly now face many diffi-
must make sure our internal house cult hurdles, as all victims of
is strong, structured and in order. I severe strokes must endure, and I
pray that God should watch over
think the Almighty is pointing out
and protect him."
our weakness. We have no seces-
sion plan, no leadership! And we
are ready to make such high-risk

"We at Adat Shalom will be
praying for the health of the prime
minister this Shabbat. Without
him, all of Israeli politics is thrown
wide open and it is very hard to
see what will come next. Shalom al
Yisrael! (Peace to Israel):'

❑

January 12 .2006

35

