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are forever. We, who are generations
habbat Shuvah, the Sabbath
removed from Sinai, must work
of Repentance, which falls
between Rosh Hashanah and diligently to keep the Torah. Further,
Yom Kippur, is special because we take Moses reminds the people that when
they are doing well they must not then
stock of and offer repentance for the
forget about their religion; be con-
sins of the past year. The Talmud says
that the place in heaven where the baal stantly wary and remember God and
the practice of the teachings of Torah.
teshuvah (repentant one) stands is
I am reminded of a man who came
considered even higher than the most
righteous tzadikim; God considers the to synagogue one day. He told me that
he was doing well in America and,
repentant as a truly holy person.
therefore, he did not feel that he had to
How can we repent? It is more than
pray regularly. He forgot that
just offering up a prayer
it is God who is responsible
saying that we are sorry.
for his doing so well; what
First, we can take on the
better
reason to repent and
obligation of performing
return
to God? What God
mitzvot (righteous deeds;
gives
us
enables us to work
commandments). For
to
keep
religion
alive.
example, consider buying a
Another
way
of
righteous-
pair of tefillin and wearing
ness
is
to
save
someone;
them daily in the new year.
remember, "If you save one
Rev. J oseph
I recall that when I was in
person
it is as if you save
Merm
elstein
the concentration camps
Special to the
the world!' An example of
and labor camps during the
this is found in my exercise
Jewish News
Holocaust, even though it
class taught by Arlene Agree
was dangerous to do so, I
found a way to put on tefillin daily and at the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit. Her classes help
to daven each day.
You can consider repenting by keep- me and others to stay healthy and to
ing the Shabbat or going to synagogue live longer. She gives us the strength to
live into old age. To give life to people
instead of a ball game. A form of
in this way is a way to honor God by
repentance can also be seen in the act
helping his creations.
of helping others to learn Torah. Do
Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom
this by supporting such institutions as
Kippur, we are noted in the Book of
the Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit
Life. Remember that tshuvah, tefillah
in Oak Park or local yeshivot.
and tzedakah (repentance, prayer and
In this week's Torah portion, when
charity) can take away the evils that
Moses gives his farewell to the people,
he reminds them to repent. He specifi- exist in the world today and change
our listing in the Book of Life. L'shanah
cally addresses the tribes of Issachar
tovah (a good year) to the entire com-
and Zebulun, which represent those
munity. 11
who study and those who have the
Rev. Joseph Mermelstein is religious
means to support the houses of learn-
ing. Issachar was to learn Torah and to director at Congregation Beth Ahm, West
transmit Halachah (Jewish law) to the Bloomfield. He is retiring today, his 85th
birthday, after serving the synagogue for
people; Zebulun, through work and
52 years.
business, was to support the others so
that they could learn religion, study
and thus impart that to the people.
Conversations
Moses further says that heaven
Take some time to evaluate your
and earth will be the witnesses of the
life and see some practical ways
covenant with the Jewish people. Why
that you can "mend your ways"
these elements? Unlike the generations
and "return to God."
of people which die, these elements