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TORAH PORTION

Meet and Greet

at Regent Street

Reverence For Mom

Shabbat Emor: Leviticus 21:1-24:23;
Ezekiel 44:15-31.

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urs is a society that seeks to
cartoons.
salvage precious values by
And there exists a lack of apprecia-
designating a week or a day
tion for the dilemma and complexity
of honor. Sunday is Mother's Day.
of the mother's role — a complexity
It's easy to laugh at this as an
which involves balancing the needs for
expiation for a responsibility that is
self-fulfillment with assuming the role
incurred all the remaining 364 days.
of nurture and love and responsibility
The Ten Commandments, sets no
for the lives in her care.
time limit when it ordains, "Honor
The test of respect for mother
thy father and they mother" So, it is
comes when we do not agree with her,
tempting to scoff at the childish idea
when we discover that she is less than
that attitudes that ought to be part of
perfect and when we become aware of
our daily activity, a habitual response, those weaknesses, which belong to her
can be expressed by giving
as to all of us. Awe or rever-
them prominence for a lim-
ence is an obligation. It is
ited period of time. A gift
not based on the assump-
of flowers or candy or tak-
tion that we all have saintly
ing mother to dinner is no
or even sane mothers. It's a
assurance that a firm and
commitment to implement
constant attitude of appre-
the honor of earthly parents
ciation and regard and
to whom we owe the gift of
understanding is thereby
life itself.
instituted.
I would add that there's a
The figure of the Jewish
modern commentary, a new
Rabbi Irwin
mother has always been
imperative, that flows out
Groner
sacrosanct in traditions in
of this ancient law, which is,
life and lore. But in recent
Special to the
we would say to all who are
times, some would like to
Jewish news
parents: Have reverence for
dispense with her altogeth-
yourself. Have respect for
er. Yet, mothers are both tender and
yourself For you hold in your hands
tough. They can absorb vast quantities sacred and solemn responsibility, the
of punishment and hold their ground
responsibility of nurturing life, of sus-
against critics and opponents, and
taining life, and of, as it were, shaping
nobody has yet found an adequate
the character of the next generation.
substitute for them.
Hold yourself in reverence and in awe.
The Jewish mother is family ori-
Respect that great and serious privi-
ented; the modern woman is indi-
lege that has entered your life.
vidualistic. The Jewish mother is
Remember that the Bible says
self-sacrificing; the modern woman
"Honor thy father and thy mother
is self-fulfilling. The Jewish mother is
that thy days may be long on the land
a homebody; the modern woman is
which the Lord, thy God, giveth thee"
interested in career and society. The
If we seek days that are lengthy, if we
modern woman is not undevoted or
seek a life of blessing and of truth and
unloving of her children, but she plac- of meaning, let us revere our parents;
es clear limits on the impositions she
let us revere ourselves; let us seek to
will permit of her time and attention.
find the generations close, one to the
The Jewish mother knows of no such
other. ❑
limits. She expects to give all that she
has, all that she is, to her children.
Irwin Groner is rabbi emeritus of
I think it's unfortunate that instead
Congregation Shaarey Zedek of Oakland
of developing a new understanding of County.
the traditional Jewish mother despite
her imperfections, she is now being
reviled in certain circles. That instead
Conversations
of acknowledging the inherently
Material gifts aside, discuss
poignant dimension of her love, she
some real ways to show we
is held up to ridicule. That instead of
honor our parents.
a balanced picture, we have literary

Join us for a free meet and greet event with
Jilt Gregory and Karen Tintori, authors of

"The Book of Names"

There will be a brief presentation about
their work followed by a group discussion.
Refreshments Will be served. For additional
information, please contact Cindy Kashdan
at (248) 683-1010.

Wednesday, May 21 at 7:00 pm

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KAREN TIMOR!

REGENT 7 STREET

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OF WEST BLOOMT1ELDCP

ASSISTED LIVING

248.683.1010

4460 Orchard Lake Rd. West Bloomfield, MI 48323
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Created to care for our family, devoted to serving yours.

1376650

May 8 a 2008

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