Metro

ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY

"Like an unchecked
cancer, hate
corrodes the
personality and
eats away its vital
unity. Hate destroys
a man's sense of
values and his
objectivity."

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Call 248-661-1836 to schedule
dinner and a tour or visit
our website for an application!

- Rev. King, 1963

My Pastor from page 19

$500 off the first month's
rent. (Time limited on select units)

- Complimentary
JCC Membership

Cr Social Transportation
Now Available

Independent Living
in a Luxurious Community

Private balconies and patios
Spacious open floor Owls
Kosher meals, Social Work staff and support
Personal care services available
Recreational, educational & social programs
Pet friendly, Transportation available
Art and crafts studio, fitness center, library,
computer center and chapel
Cafe and convenience store, Covered parking

MEER
APARTMENTS

a residence of Jewish Senior Life

of Metropolitan Detroit

6760 West Maple Road,
West Bloomfield, Michigan 48322

Eugene and Marcia Applebaum
Jewish Community Campus

For appointment or application call

248-661-18

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20 January 20 2011

Getting Started
After one of our lunches last summer,
Henry shared that he wanted others
to hear what I had to say. It seemed
like a role reversal. One of my goals
was to create more opportunities
for Shir Shalom to get involved in
Detroit, to acknowledge our respon-
sibility in helping heal our central
city. Everyone needed to meet Pastor
Henry, to know his story, to learn
from his experience, to be inspired
by his mission. So we had scheduled
a Shabbat when he could share from
Shir Shalom's pulpit. But now he was
asking me something different. There
were a group of ministers, deacons
and elders connected to his church
that needed to learn about Judaism.
Every time we were together, he pep- Asher (in stripes) and Ellie Moskowitz
(behind) share caramel apples at the shelter.
pered me with questions — ques-
tions about Torah, about Jewish
thought. He loved learning — and it was would be good," he said. "We could use
this that he wanted others to experience. 20 people to serve dinner!'
We didn't have enough of those times
So we made our plans.
— but I relished the opportunity Henry
A Shir Shalom member, Alan Rosen,
gave me. There were eight others with
asked if he could donate 200 caramel
us last time we studied; and like Henry,
apples from his store, Rocky Mountain
they loved the chance we had to learn
Chocolate Factory. I wanted to make
together. They shared a respect and
sure it would be OK. Henry responded,
reverence for Judaism and from where
"I haven't had a caramel apple in I don't
I was coming. They were genuine and
know how long. That would be wonder-
trusting. I only wish we had more time
ful."
to learn from each other.
I could hear his smile through the
After that last lunch, we spoke of
phone. Of course, that is how Henry
more work we could do together. In
always spoke. It's how he made you feel
every instance, Henry told me, if we
— not only were you enveloped in his
have the time, he'll find the work. "Can
presence, but you also constantly sensed
we help on Christmas?" I asked. "That
his incredible gratitude and appreciation.

Shock Waves
When we learned of Henry's
Dec. 21 death in New York at
age 53, besides the shock and
grief, we didn't know what
would become of our plans and
the work we had hoped to do.
We could only imagine how
overwhelmed they were at the
church. So that Friday morning,
I visited Henry's community.
Upon arriving, there was no
doubt that they still hoped we
would come. With hugs and
heavy hearts, I was told that if
Pastor Henry wanted us coming
down on Christmas, then we
better be coming down.
For all of us who worked
that evening, we knew that we
weren't only feeding the hungry,
but we were bringing more
smiles into I Am My Brother's
Keepers Ministry. We were
touched by the experience and
felt Pastor Henry's presence in
the work we were doing. Many
asked, "What more can be
done?" And that is a question
we actively are working to figure
out. Obviously there is much
needed.
Henry Covington brought
people and resources together
— his life, his constant giving
taught others. Nearly everyone
in the church has said it now
— we will carry out Pastor's
mission. We will continue to do
his work. Still, there are times of
crisis and loss when things are
said that seem to be only words.
Yet in hearing this shared
these past few weeks, I know it
is reality. As we were leaving on
Christmas, Elder Anthony "Cass"
Castelow reached out, took my
hand and asked, "We're still
going to do our learning, right?"
With that I knew Henry's legacy
and mission would continue
strong.
"You can bet on it," I responded.
And with that, I still have hope.
It's what Henry would demand
of us.

Rabbi Michael Moskowitz is a

spiritual leader at Temple Shir

Shalom in West Bloomfield and

president of the Michigan Board

of Rabbis. He keynoted the Martin

Luther King Day Jr. Commemoration

on Jan. 13 at the Max M. Fisher

Federation Building in Bloomfield

Township.

