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TORAH PORTION

Icing On The Cake

Ron Greenberg still makes the calls
after 4 decades as a player and ref.

Steve Stein
Special to The Jewish News

2000), vice president of the Little
Caesars Hockey League (1995-1998)
and MAHA District 4 registrar (1994-
ay you're watching a Detroit
1997).
Red Wings game at Joe Louis
Somehow, Greenberg found time in
Arena and there's a disputed
between hockey games, meetings and
goal. While players and fans debate the seminars to put together a productive
issue, the referee picks up a phone and career in the delicatessen business.
calls the press box.
His parents, Irving and Ruth
On the other end of the line
Greenberg, owned Plaza Deli
could be Ron Greenberg,
in Southfield for many years.
one of two video goal judges
Greenberg is now in his
employed by the NHL who
eighth year as general man-
alternate working Red Wings
ager for Lefkofsky & Vienna
home games. After reviewing
wholesale delicatessen com-
television replays, the video
pany in Taylor. "Sometimes
goal judge rules that a goal
work got in the way of
Greenber 9
was scored, or he waives it off.
hockey:' Greenberg said with
That ends the debate.
a laugh.
"The video goal judge is part of the
Hockey officials must be in tip-top
officiating crew at a game Greenberg
shape. That fact makes Greenberg's
said. "His job is to be the referee's eyes
longevity amazing. "We don't sit down.
upstairs!'
We don't get a rest:' Greenberg said.
Greenberg has been a video goal
Greenberg and his wife, Sheryl,
judge at JLA since 2000. The West
have two sons and two grandsons.
Bloomfield resident is a man who
Sons Matthew, 32, of Wixom, and
knows just about everything there
Michael, 28, of Hazel Park, played
is to know about hockey, his lifetime
hockey from mites through midgets.
passion. Greenberg played the game
Michael has followed in his father's
from 1954-1998, and he recently
refereeing footsteps, working college
ended a 40-year career as a referee.
and travel games.
While he still enjoyed refereeing and
he skates well, Greenberg felt it was
Knuckleball Honoree
time to hang up his whistle. He under- Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro will
went knee surgery in December to
receive the Hank Greenberg Memorial
repair wear and tear, and he'll be turn- Award at the annual Greenberg
ing 60 on June 29. "It's time to let other Golf Invitational on Monday at Tam
people do the job:' Greenberg said.
O'Shanter Country Club in West
Greenberg officiated at many levels, Bloomfield.
from mites to college. He also was
Niekro put together a 318-274 life-
busy off the ice, serving as referee
time record in his 24 years as a major
in chief for the Southfield Referee
leaguer, winning an unprecedented
Association (1994-2000), Michigan
121 games after he turned 40.
District USA Hockey referee evalua-
Niekro has two current pet proj-
tion program coordinator and evalu-
ects: building a "Field of Dreams" for
ator (1996-2003), Michigan District
disabled children in Hall County, Ga.,
USA Hockey referee seminar staff
and a center for abused children in
instructor (1996-2007), and Michigan
Gainsville, Ga.
Amateur Hockey Association District
The Greenberg Invitational is a
4 supervisor of officials (2000-2004).
fund-raiser for the Michigan Jewish
Believe it or not, Greenberg's hockey Sports Foundation's charitable efforts.
involvement didn't end there. He also
The Greenberg Award is one of the
was president of the Oak Park Hockey highlights of a dinner that follows
Association (1966-1971), coach, board a day of golf. For reservations, call
member, vice president and president
Elayne Wolfson, (248) 788-0921. ❑
of the Southfield Hockey Association
(1982-1994), MAHA district director
Please send sports news to
and rules committee member (1991-
sports@thejewishnews.com.

S

34

June 7 • 2007

vs,

Perception And Belief

Shabbat Shelach Lecha:
Numbers 13:1-15:41; Joshua 2:1-24.

E

very time we open the Torah,
from the start. Yet, if we are honest with
the realities of human nature
the challenges we face and recognize
speak to us. We find our
our strengths and abilities, we always
ancestors time and again, wrestling
will have hope.
with the same challenges that each of
Through all of this, two of the spies
us face today.
saw things differently. Armed with the
How many times have perceptions
same facts, Joshua and Caleb refused to
clouded the truth? How often have
be swayed by the others' hysteria. With
we found ourselves making decisions
passion and conviction, they knew that
based on inaccurate and subjective
the Israelites could enter the promised
information? There is no greater admo- land. It would take time and insight,
nition against such behavior than in
patience and conviction.
this week's parashah.
It is interesting to note that this
Moses sends 12 spies, one from
parashah ends with a few laws that
each tribe, into the land that they are
seemingly have little to do with the
about to conquer. He gives them a list
story of the 12 spies — particularly the
of questions to have answered upon
last verses, in which God commands
their return: Are the people
us to make tzitzit for the
who live there strong or weak,
corners of our garments.
many or few? Is the land good
Why the reminder of tzitzit
or bad, fertile or lean? Are
here? Quite possibly it is the
their cities fortified?
perfect link to the sin of the
They return with reports of
spies and the virtue of Caleb
how beautiful the land is, this
and Joshua. Every time we
land flowing with milk and
wear tzitzit we are reminded
honey.
of the mitzvot we follow in
By the time they conclude
our lives, the actions we do
Rabbi Michael
that initial positive descrip-
to make our lives and the
Mos kowitz
tion, they begin the very next
lives of others better.
Specia I to the
line with the word efes. It
There are times in life,
Jewis h News
might appear insignificant
as 10 of the spies and the
— this word best translated here to
community of Israel demonstrated,
mean, "but:' With that one word, they
where we are inclined to follow only
are able to spin the entire perception
our heart. Our feelings guide us. They
of what they had experienced. And it is
direct us. Perceptions dominate how we
that word, which Ramban comments,
will live. Yet our Judaism is about living
that is the key to their report.
with intellect and faith, with action and
On the surface, they had done noth-
belief — as Joshua and Caleb demon-
ing wrong in describing what they had
strated. Tzitzit remind us of that every
seen. But this word changed everything. time we wear them, every time we
In a purely factual report, there was no
touch them, every time we see them.
need for such a qualifier — and this
What a blessing to have this as
expression turned their initial opti-
our tradition. It is a constant link to
mism on its head.
our past. It is our continual source of
They continue by describing the
strength and hope.
people in the land as giants. Again this
is mostly factual. Yet the clincher is how Michael Moskowitz is a rabbi at Temple Shir
they view themselves. Not only were
Shalom in West Bloomfield.
the inhabitants huge, but, the spies
proclaim, "in their eyes, and in ours,
we were like grasshoppers." It is this
Conversations
description which the Kotzker Rebbe ,
Discuss some instances in which
sees as the root of their sin. While it is
you have desired a certain
natural to be concerned with what they
answer, and therefore played
saw, they had no right to consider how
with the facts, spoken even in
the giants viewed them.
hyperbole, to get yourself to
If we live our lives guided by how
where you want to be?
we think others see us, we are doomed

❑