(Spirituality
The Rabbis' Words
Local clergy offer excerpts from their High Holiday synagogue messages.
Sheilli Liebman Dorfman
Senior Writer
E
ach High Holiday season, rabbis throughout the world take on the awesome
responsibility of inspiring and teaching a larger group of congregants than at
any other time during the year.
Some of our area rabbis share a glimpse into their High Holiday sermons, ranging
from belief in God to performing mitzvot and what we can learn from the lives of bibli-
cal figures.
Here is a brief preview of what they will speak about during this year's Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur services:
Rabbi Joseph
Klein
"On Erev Rosh Hashanah, my message is 'Reclaiming Zionism!
According to a recent survey, only 28 percent of Jews identify
themselves as Zionist. There are real challenges facing both Israel
and American Jews who support Israel if we are to revive the
Zionist dream.
"On Rosh Hashanah morning, I am addressing the 'New
Atheism that has pushed five books onto the bestseller list. On
Erev Yom Kippur, I will ask our members to consider what kind of
gift they will leave the next generation; and on Yom Kippur morn-
ing I will reflect on a year of 'Interfaith Surprises!"
"The past few months, we have been reading in the papers about the real-estate crisis
all over the United States and especially here in Michigan. One of the reasons is that
the banks have been lending money to people with bad or no credit. Many houses are
in foreclosure, and the bottom line is that everyone is losing. Since
the banks aren't being repaid, they are more cautious with loans
and it becomes more difficult to get a new mortgage.
"The Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement who
lived 300 years ago, said that on Rosh Hashanah God gives every
Jew a good year 'on credit! We promise to pay our dues by being
a good Jew and keep Torah and mitzvot, and God relies on our
promise.
"As the year progresses, we pay a mitzvah here and there, light
Rabbi Schneor
Shabbat candles, learn a little Torah, but we don't really pay the
Greenberg
full amount that we owe from Rosh Hashanah.
"Then comes the month of Elul and we remember that Rosh
Hashanah is approaching, and we will need to take out another 'loan' from God for a
shanah tovah (good year) for the upcoming year.
"During this month, we try to pay as much as we can by doing extra mitzvot
and we show that we really want to do the right thing. Just as a bank takes the risk
because ultimately they will make more money from the interest, we hope that God
will take the risk this year, too, and will give us a good year because of the great
nachas (joy) he will earn from the mitzvot, good deeds and learning that we will do
in the upcoming year!"
— Rabbi Joseph Klein, Temple Emanu-El,
Oak Park
Rabbi Eric
Yanoff
"I am speaking about Jewish Guilt: prescribing a diet for the
soul, called 'Guilt-Free Judaism: I believe that there are reasons
for making Jewish choices and engaging Jewishly — in terms of
observance, tradition, community, and ritual — that are more
redemptive than anything motivated by guilt or pressure. This is
particularly true for the next generation of Jews, who pride them-
selves on being a 'Choosing People' more than a 'Chosen People'
(to quote Rabbi Harold Kushner) — and who may be pushed
away from Judaism by feelings of guilt. The alternative?
Instead of guilt, we can find great blessing and joy in being a
part of a People and a tradition and a history that are bigger than
any individual."
— Rabbi Schneor Greenberg, Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce, Commerce Township
Rabbi Kasriel
Shemtov
"I will speak on 'The Courage to Make Changes!
"Many are familiar with the 'Serenity Prayer; in which there is a
call upon God to grant 'the serenity to accept that which cannot be
changed, the courage to change that which can be changed — and
the wisdom to know the difference!
"This wisdom begins with having an honest knowledge and
understanding of ourselves. Joining with a community, hearing
the sounds of the shofar and keying in on the inner message of
Rosh Hashanah affords us a unique opportunity to attain all of the
above as we face the challenges of the year ahead!"
— Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, the Shul-Chabad Lubavitch, West Bloomfield
— Rabbi Eric Yanoff, Congregation Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County
Rabbi Elliot
Pachter
"I use the High Holiday sermons mostly to discuss matters of
the spirit, how to help my members restore their connection with
God and Judaism. In one sermon, I will draw from a new book
about God authored by my Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)
professor, Neil Gillman. In another, I will use as a springboard the
courageous final words of Daniel Pearl, whose story resurfaced in
the recent movie, A Mighty Heart.
"I will also be incorporating messages from our local
Federation about the importance of community, and from new
JTS Chancellor Dr. Arnold Eisen on the centrality of mitzvah
observance!"
— Rabbi Elliot Pachter, Congregation B'nai Moshe, West Bloomfield
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September 13 • 2007
"A core teaching of Judaism throughout the ages is beneath the
vast diversity of all created things is one Unified Source of Life to
which, in English, we have given the name 'God.'
"At Rosh Hashanah, we engage in deep reflection as to how our
individual lives can be more fully connected to and integrated
with this Source of Life. All of us engage in self-analysis as to how
we can take steps to better our lives.
"One traditional interpretation is that Rosh Hashanah is the
Rabbi Peter K.
birthday of Creation, for we date time — 5768 years — to the
Gluck
very first day of creation in Genesis. Since at this time we celebrate
the creative power in the world that gave each of us life, it could be
considered a spiritual birthday for us as well.
"And as we celebrate the spiritual source of each of our lives in community, we give
rebirth to the Jewish community at the time of the new year as well!"
— Rabbi Peter K. Gluck, Bet Chaverim, Canton