Spirituality
JEWISH
WOMEN'S
TORAH PORTION;
FOUNDATION
OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT
Enhancing the Lives of Jewish Women
Please join the Jewish women's Foundation
and-its 2007 Granteesfor the
The Power Of Change
ANNUAL OPEN MEETING
Shabbat Ki Tavo:
Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8;
Isaiah 60:1-22.
of the
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Presentation and Acceptance of
2007 Grant Awards
Installation of Executive Committee
H
Wednesday, septemfier 19, 2007
11:30 a.m. —
Max M. Fisher Federation Building
6735 Telegraph Road • Bloomfield Hills
$78fierperson lunch andprogram
dietary Caws observed/reservations required
RSVP BY SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 (248) 20301483
OR 'EMAIL: KATZ@JFMD.ORG
The 2007 - 2009 Executive Committee Slate
OFFICE
ELECTED OFFICER
Chairperson
Associate Chairperson
Treasurer
Secretary
Rep. to UJF Board
Members At-Large
Advisors
Lisa Lis
Trudi Wineman
Patti Nemer
Carolyn Tisdale
Roselyn Blanck
Karen Alpiner, Gail Lansky, Jennifer Silverman
Sharon Hart - Immediate Past Chairperson
Beverly Liss - Past Chairperson
Margot Halperin - Founding Chairperson
The Jewish Women's Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit is a grant-making and
educational organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for Jewish women and girls.
The Foundation empowers women as philanthropists, decision-makers and leaders.
ere in Michigan, we're no
and every day, [the Torah and com-
strangers to the forces of
mandments] should be new in your
change. In fact, we're now
eyes, as if they were commanded that
experiencing the painful results of
very day" Rashi teaches us the danger
resistance and indifference to change,
of religious and spiritual stagnation.
as numerous factors have thrown us
It can seem redundantly repetitive to
into an economic slump.
recite the same prayers and
But perhaps more than
follow the same command-
anything, Michigan finds
ments year after year. And
itself in its one-state reces-
yet, for some reason, we
sion because of our unwill-
often find ourselves saying
ingness to change. The auto
and doing the same things
companies continue to
over and over again.
produce gas-guzzling cars
For this reason, Moshe
irrespective of the rising cost
tells each of us: "On this
of fuel. Unions continue to
Rabbi Reuven
day" — today — do some-
demand significant conces-
Spo Iter
thing different! Focus on a
sions, irrespective of the
Specia I to the
new commandment; find a
prospects of the companies'
Jewis h News
new insight in the prayers;
viability. Politicians continue
connect to God in a new
to promote the notion that we should
way. In other words: Change yourself
enjoy all benefits of the past, irrespec-
for the better; and find new meaning,
tive of our ability to afford them.
beauty and power in the Torah that
Put simply, most of us abhor
God gives us each and every day.
change. We are creatures of habit. We
We find ourselves two weeks away
like our routines, enjoy our regular
from Rosh Hashanah, and it's time to
activities, have the same friends and
begin the process of teshuvah. We usu-
acquaintances and don't often try
ally translate it to mean "repentance"
new things because we find the very
or "return," but isn't that just a fancy
notion of change painful and difficult. way of referring to change? In order to
In the words of British novelist Arnold
repent" or "return:' we must change
Bennett, "Any change, even a change
the way we do things: the way we act
for the better, is always accompanied
and react to each other; the meaning-
by drawbacks and discomforts!'
ful mitzvot and rituals we incorporate
Yet, change is perhaps one of the
into our lives; the priorities that set
only constants of life. Change is all
the agenda for the way that we lead
around us: We change professionally,
our lives in our jobs and marriages
personally, intellectually and emotion- and in our friendships and families.
ally. Our communities and families
Rosh Hashanah soon will be upon
change and grow. Our jobs change —
us. And if we embrace the possibil-
whether we go to a new firm or simply ity for change within ourselves, that
take on new responsibilities. And yet,
openness gives us the potential for
despite all this, we still resist change.
incredible spiritual growth. II
After teaching the final command-
ments in the Torah to the Children of
Reuven Spotter is rabbi of Young Israel of
Israel, Moshe tells them, "On this day,
Oak Park.
the Lord your God commands you to
do these laws and statutes." (26:16).
Rashi, among many other commen-
Conversations
tators, wonders what Moshe means
Consider some realistic ways
when he tells them, "on this day." What
to find new insight in prayer,
day does he refer to? And, since the
observe the commandments
Torah applies in every generation,
and reconnect with God. Do not
what does he wish to teach us by refer-
treat this as a New Year resolu-
ring to a specific day?
tion exercise, but rather a mean-
Rashi quotes the beautiful but
ingful way to jump-start your
powerful words of the midrash: "Each
spirituality.
((
ENHANCING THE LIVES OF JEWISH WOMEN AND GIRLS
1295620
The Members of the
SHOLEM ALEICHEM
INSTITUTE
invite you to join them at their
SECULAR HIGH HOLIDAY ASSEMBLIES
to be held at
ORCHARD LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
6000 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield
ROSH HASHANA: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 (10 am-12 Noon)
KOL NIDRE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2007 (8 pm-9:30 pm)
Featuring an Assembly of Readings plus music by: Bloch, Bruch, Chayes and others with Edward Benyas (oboe)
Marcy Chant-eau (cello) and Kara Benyas (piano)
YOM KIPPUR: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2007 (10 am-12 Noon)
As Always No Ticket Required
Membership inquiries welcome. Call Institute Office (248) 423-4406
24
August 30 2007
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