*

Reaching out with
a new savings offer.

TORAH PORTION

Now, It's more affordable than ever
to enjoy our high-quality senior living.

Announcing our "Good Neighbors
Fellowship" savings program:*

Third month rent-free: We'll make
your transition easier on your family's
finances by waiving your third month's
rent at an American House®
community.

Go Ahead, Make
That Mistake

$500 moving expense voucher:
Save valuable dollars on your move
by having American House pay up to
$500 of your moving expenses.

Shabbat Shuvah, (Parashat Vayelich):
Deuteronomy 31:1 30; Hosea 14:2 10;
Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-27.

-

18 - month 'Lease Lock" Reservation:
Reserve your residence at American
House now, and we'll lock your first
year's rent amount at today's rates
until you make your move anytime in
the next 6 months.

-

Call us today, to schedule a visit
and learn the details on how much
you can save.

A

s we prepare our bodies and moving forward and growing. In the
souls for Shabbat Shuvah,
same way, our missteps are actually
the Shabbat of Return, our
proof of our learning and maturing,
minds our focused more intensely this not of our failure.
week on teshuvah — namely,
Indeed, our past errors
changing ourselves and trans-
can so often be helpful
forming our relationships in
to us. Thomas Edison
order to live our lives more
worked for two years just
fully.
on the incandescent light
Immediately following
bulb. Each time he fell
Rosh Hashanah and on the
short he was inspired to
heels of Yom Kippur, we have
try a different approach.
the opportunity to begin
Without determined
again.
persistence and countless
In Hebrew, teshuvah means
setbacks, Edison would
Rabbi Joseph
"return." This idea of return
never
have succeeded in
H. Krakoff
means we must go back
patenting
1,093 inven-
Special to the
home, to be the children of
tions.
Jewish News
God we were created to be.
And the same is true
But teshuvah means much
with us. We might not
more than saying we are sorry. It
like to recall our misdeeds, yet without
means clearly articulating the reasons
them, we are stuck going nowhere.
we are sorry. It means we must truly
Unless we understand our mistakes
contemplate what we have done wrong and keep a record of where we have
and commit ourselves to not making
fallen short, our ultimate success is
the same mistakes again.
ultimately in jeopardy. Going for-
Authentic teshuvah requires a
ward, we must allow our mistakes to
change of attitude and a change in
become an inspiring force on the road
how we behave. For authentic teshu-
to personal achievement and accom-
vah to occur, we must delve deeply
plishment.
within!
In the days that lie ahead, each and
Our Torah portion teaches that
every one of us has a special oppor-
when Moses and the Israelites repent,
tunity to make lasting changes in our
God takes them back "lovingly." We
lives. Let us all heed this annual call to
learn that God is much less disturbed
teshuvah.
by sin itself and much more con-
And by so doing, may we in the new
cerned with people taking responsi-
year 5769 be able to engage in a closer,
bility for their misdeeds. God never
more meaningful partnership with
created us to be perfect and perfec-
one another as human beings, and a
tion is not even a word in the Jewish
deeper union with the Almighty.
vocabulary.
The truth is that to be human
Joseph Krakoff is a rabbi at Congregation
means that we must take risks. And
Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County.
with risks come mistakes. We learn
from all of our experiences, good
and bad, and should never shy away
Conversations
from any of them. So many of us were
How is celebrating the Jewish
raised thinking it was wrong to make
new year different from cel-
mistakes and so we refuse to attempt
ebrating the secular new year?
new activities rather than risk failing.
What acts from the past year
This makes sense because it is
do you want to seek forgiveness
easier to remain in our comfort zone.
for? Try to name two of the best
But the moment we become too com-
mistakes you ever made.
fortable with the way we are, we stop

Welcome Home

America
Hous

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0111fti.

Senior Living Residences

We're right In your neighborhood:

Southfield
Farmington Hills
Oakland (Auburn Hills)

(248) 353-5835
(248) 471-9141
(248) 335-7020

On the web: americanhouse.com

West Bloomfield
Troy

(248) 538-5283
(248) 589-3555

and 21 other locations in southeastern
Michigan

For the hearing impaired: TDD (800) 649-3777

•Contact American House for official program details and requirements. Program available to new residents only. Offer valid one time per resident.
Restrictions may apply. Offer valid through 12/31/08. "American House" and flag logo registered trademarks of American House Senior Living LLC.
© 2008 American House Senior Living LLC..

1437930

Temple Israel extends our best
wishes toyou & yours
for a year of health, 'V
peace & happineSS.

Rabbi Harold S. Loss
Rabbi Paul M. Yedwab
Rabbi Joshua L. Bennett
Rabbi Marla R. Hornsten
Rabbi Jennifer T. Kaluzny
Cantor Michael Smolash
Cantonal Soloist Neil Michaels

5725 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield MI
248-661-5700 * www.temple-israel.org

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October 2 2008

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