T THE JEWISH ENSEMBLE THEATRE iiiiiii ikur switaromosorosoprime , Spirituality PRESENTS... TORAH PORTION Give Presents Or Presence? Shabbat Vayishlach: Genesis 32:4- 36:43; Obadiah 1:1-21. T Musk by Jed Feuer Book & Lyrics by Boyd Graham December 8-January 3, 2010 Imagine trying to get backers for an 83.5 million-dollar twelve-hour staged history of the world! Just picture eighteen side-splitting numbers portraying, among others, Adam and Eve, Attila the Hun, the building of the pyramids, plus Julius Caesar and Columbus. Visualize the writers trying to promote their show in an opulent "borrowed" Park Avenue apartment, singing and clowning their way through inventive recreations of the past, and stopping occasionally for a little supplicating showbiz patter. An entertainment extravaganza long on historical hilarity! ,,,,„.. - t EN& 4 .2' < Rt A m GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! 248.788.2900 • www.JETINEATRE.0116 I& 4 > 6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield •0' On the MIT corner of Maple & Drake Roads in the Jewish Community Center 1556330 11 Have Th e i l ' Detroit Jewishliews Delivered To Your Door Every Thursday For About A Dollar A Week To subscribe today 24 8.351.5174 36 December 3 • 2009 IN JN he arrival of fall brings with and wept. Esau was not interested in it many things. We marvel the gifts; rather, he cared only about every year at the incredible the fact that he and his brother were show Mother Nature puts on for us as once again together. the trees explode in color and paint Now, you might be even more our world like a bright canvas. shocked than Jacob was if your We welcome the holiday of children cared little for presents on Thanksgiving to remind us of all we Chanukah and cared more about the are grateful for in our lives and, of fact that everyone in the family was course, we welcome the "season of giv- together, happy and healthy. ing" as the holidays of Chanukah and We need to hold fast to our families Christmas creep ever closer. — time goes by so quickly and before But one of the main dilemmas we know it, everyone is off doing their facing every Jewish fam- own things, is busy with ily is that of gift giving. their own lives, and creat- Really, Chanukah is a minor ing a life and family of holiday on our calendar; their own. traditionally, gelt was given We need to consider to children as they spun the those in our community dreidel, but presents were who do not have the funds not part of the picture until to even consider toys, but it became popular to give are worried about paying presents for Christmas. for medical bills or even Wanting to be like our putting food on the table. Rabbi neighbors, or more to the It is our responsibil- Jennifer T. point, wanting to give to our ity at this time of year to Kaluzny children what their neigh- make sure that people have Special to the bors' children were receiving, heat, warm clothes and Jewish News led us to the extravagant the necessities in life. That spending that ensues around when push comes to shove, this time of year. But I would ask: what these are the real gifts: compassion, is it that we are really giving each other consideration and love. when we exchange beautifully wrapped This December, let's make it a sea- packages and expertly designed gift son for giving the best of ourselves cards? Are they really a true expression to the people we love and give as of our love or would our presence at much as we can to help those who this time of year be a more valuable go without. Let's learn a lesson from and enduring present? Vayishlach that its not about presents, Consider this week's Torah portion, but more about presence that makes Vayishlach. After 20 years of separa- a real difference in our lives and our tion, Jacob and Esau are about to meet relationships with others. once again. After the birthright switch, We can still give the material things, Jacob fled out of fear of being killed by but let's all try to put the intangibles his jealous brother and they have not closer to the top of our lists. May your seen each other since. season be filled with light, love and all Jacob decided to send messengers that really matters in life. to Esau with gifts galore — including gifts of respect and honor that would Jennifer Kaluzny is a rabbi at Temple clearly elevate his older brother. Jacob Israel in West Bloomfield. hoped not only to abate any anger Esau might still be harboring, but also win his favor. Conversations What Jacob probably never expected What are the intangible presents was when the two brothers finally in your life? What does it mean came face to face, Esau ran to greet to be truly present for someone him, embraced him, fell on his neck else?