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Spirituality

How to Find a Better
Assisted Living Solution

TORAH PORTION

LOOKING FOR assisted living for your loved one doesn't have to
be difficult. As you research your options, look for these 3 features:

Together, Sanctity

Shabbat Shekalim (Parshat Pekudei):
Exodus 30:11-16; 38:21-40:38;
Numbers 28:9-15; Isaiah 66: 1-24.

R

abbi, I know ... I haven't
because it is purposefully placed at
been in shul recently"
a location on his body where only
I hear this guilt-laden tone another person would be able to see it.
all too often — and since I do not
This, then, is the lesson:
believe that Jewish guilt inspires great-
The Temple worship, led by the
er Jewish living, I always smile and
High Priest, cannot be holy if it is in a
offer the same reassuring response:
vacuum, in solitude. Only when there
"It's okay — I don't take attendance, is a community of worshippers who
but you're always welcome; we love it
gaze upon the tzitz to appreciate its
when you're with us."
holiness — only then is the ritual and
While I don't take attendance, I do
practice of Judaism truly meaningful.
value and honor those who
Each morning, at daily
come to engage in prayer
minyan, in the placing of
and to be in the company
the tefillin shel rosh — the
of others who are seeking
phylactery that goes on that
Jewish meaning. In every
same place on our forehead,
synagogue and temple, the
between our eyes — we
people who sit in the congre-
are reminded of the same
gation are the most impor-
lesson, that holiness resides
tant part of the service.
most strongly in commu-
Think about it: What
nity. Indeed, that is why
would happen if, theoreti-
Judaism has always promot-
cally, on yet another cold,
Rabb i Eric
ed the importance of having
Yan off
snowy Michigan winter
a minyan — 10 people who
Specia I to the
Shabbat — if no one could
constitute a community
Jewish News
get to synagogue or temple?
where God's presence is
God forbid! I'm thankful it
most strongly felt.
doesn't happen!
As the Proverbs remind us,"B'rov
But what would happen if the rabbi
am hadrat melech — the glory of a
stood on the bimah, ready to lead
king is found only in the mass gather-
a service, without a congregation?
ing of the people" (Proverbs 14:28).
Or, put another way: If a prayer is
I don't take attendance in shul, on
offered in the synagogue and no one
Shabbat or at daily minyan, but I cer-
says "Amen," does the prayer make a
tainly value the presence of those who
sound? Does it make a difference? Is it
are there. We need one another (both
received by God?
in synagogue, and by extension, as an
We might find the answer to this
entire Jewish community) to bring this
question in a detail from this week's
level of holiness and thankfulness to
Torah portion. A lengthy accounting
our Jewish lives. Only when we gaze
of all the finery of the Tabernacle and
upon one another, in the presence of
the priestly garb concludes with one
one another — only then do we merit
final decorative piece worn by Aaron
the words "Holy unto the Lord."
as High Priest:
On his forehead, Aaron wears
Eric Yanoff is a rabbi at Congregation
the tzitz — a diadem, a gold plate
Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County.
inscribed with the words "Holy unto
the Lord" (Exodus 39:30).
This is the smallest single article
Conversations
of the High Priest's garb, and it is
Does it make a difference if I
mentioned last of all the adornments
come to synagogue? What does
of the sacred worship — and yet, in
my presence add? What do I
many ways, it serves as a most crucial
gain from being there? Do we
reminder of the purpose of this wor-
feel a sense of holiness more in
ship.
a large group or alone? What is
Aaron cannot see the tzitz, with
the power of coming together as
those words proclaiming holiness
a community in this way?

1 Honors individual lifestyles. At Renaissance Gardens, residents
I live on their own terms, like at home. There is no set schedule
because people should eat, rest, and engage in activities when
they please.

9 Activities and socializing. At Renaissance Gardens, residents'

schedules are based on their interests. Residents also have access to
the 108-acre Fox Run campus. They can go for a swim in the all-season
pool or grab a bite at one of three on-campus restaurants.

41 Access to health care. Licensed caregivers are on-site 24 hours
Oa day at Renaissance Gardens, and the full-time Erickson Healthsm
doctors only see residents of Fox Run. There's even a Medicare Advantage
health insurance plan exclusively for Erickson residents.

Call today for your personal tour at
248-668-8770 or 1-800-472-1299

Renarssance ardens

at

FOX KUNI

Near the junction of M-5
and 1-96, 275, and 696

www.TheCareExperts.com

Photo by David Debalko

1361840

Tickets are still available for our
final two performances

Call 248.967.4030,
)r visit our Web site at
www. jccdet.org

❑

Debbie Friedman
Sunday, March 9 • 3:30 p.m.
West Bloomfield

Mike Burstyn
Saturday, March 8 • B p.
West Bloomfield

Debbie Friedman, renowned
singer and songwriter, presents a
family concert.

tribute to Israel's 60th
UV A starring
Broadway and
international film celebri
Mike Burstyn.

STEPHEN GOTTLIEB
JEWISH MOSICFEST

The Chrysler Founciation

ComentA

"nwa

LI

Charter One

D. Dan & Betts Kahn Building • Eugene Nlareia .•1pplebauni Jewish Community Campus • noffil \\ est Maple Road • \Vest Bloomfield

March 6 . 2008

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