Featuring Hollywood's T ORA DJ AM ! PORTION Lisa and Bill Ford and Kathryn and Roger Penske invite you to attend... The Courage To Become Free r Shabbat Shemot: Exodus 1:1-6:1; Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23. Ape A fundraiser to benefit The Children's Center H when all that we can feel is weakness. . ow strong are you? How Too often, we accept our historical strong are we? The truth is, circumstances as predetermined and we haven't a clue. Consumed inevitable. We forget to challenge with worry, we focus on the limita- inequity, ignorance and evil. We neg- tions of life, often ignoring the ample lect to demand justice and opportunities afforded us to kindness and.religious con- change our destiny. viction. Parshat Shemot zeroes in In our community, we on the nadir of Jewish exis- accept Jewish ignorance • tence. After centuries of and apathy as basic facts, enslavement, it is completely watering down our Torah's rational for Israel to feel that expectations until they it will never know freedom, become meaningless. that it isn't even entitled to As Americans, we cele- freedom. Rabbi brated this week the life and Yet time and again in this Danny Nevins legacy of Dr. Martin Luther portion, God cajoles his Special to the King Jr. He had the courage agents to find the courage to Jewish News to challenge injustice and to challenge their situation and reject a status quo which to assert their independence Americans of all colors had long of Pharaoh. accepted as inevitable. The greatness Moses is a self-starter. It is his own of Dr. King was his ability to motivate righteous indignation that causes him masses of people to stand for princi- repeatedly to intervene on behalf of ple, to reject despair and to dream of the weak, whether in Egypt or in justice. Midian. Yet even Moses questions the How appropriate that our Torah wisdom of God's plan. portion this week makes the same At first, Moses frames his doubts in point — we have strengths beyond terms of his own disability; but .by the our imagination. Will we have the end of the portion, he comes to blame conviction to study and then proclaim God for the worsening situation of the sacred values of our religion? Israel and the undelivered redemp- Judaism asserts that all humans tion. All that he can see is calamity. What does God perceive? In Chapter have dignity Furthermore, all people have a purpose. Israel's purpose is to 2 we read a string of four verbs — sanctify the world through the prac- God hears the cries of Israel; God tice of Torah. The task may be daunt- - remembers the covenant with their ing, but we do have the ability. If we ancestors; God sees Israel; and God will it, then it is no dream. ❑ . knows. What is the point of this intensive Danny Nevins is a spiritual leader at Adat narration of God's inner process? Our Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills. sages teach that God is attentive not only to the present moment, but to all of the past and future actions of Israel. Conversations: In the Midrash Mechilta, Rabbi Why does God allow slavery Yehudah Ben Lakish teaches that God to last so long? Is there any sees Israel's repentance, even when benefit to the delayed they can't see it. God understands redemption? Is suffering a their merit, even when they cannot. necessary component of God sees us when we cannot see our- redemption? selves; God believes in our strength An officially sanctioned event of the Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee February 4, 2006 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. • Ford Conference and Event Center 1151 Village Road, Dearborn, Michigan Strolling Reception/Cocktails/Desserts and After-Dinner Drinks Live art performances, dancing and entertainment featuring the renowned dance band "Haute Chile" and DJ AM Creative casual chic attire encouraged! $450 a ticket groovedetroit.com • 313-262-1112 HONORARY CO-CHAIRS Mr. and Mrs. Dave Bing • Mr. and Mrs. Chris Chelios Mr. Alex Delvecchio • Mr. and Mrs. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Al Kaline • Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lewand Mr. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez • Mr. and Mrs. Steve Yzerman As one of the largest, most diverse and comprehensive front-line child- serving agencies in Michigan, The Children's Center addresses the needs and problems of some of the most troubled children in the United States. Founded in 1929, The Children's Center serves thousands of children the Cilal