THE ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF

AMERICA-MICHIGAN REGION IS PROUD TO

INTRODUCE THE FIRST PROGRAM IN A SERIES

ON ANTI-SEMITISM.

ZOA-MI & DOC EMET PRODUCTIONS WILL

PRESENT THE MICHIGAN FILM PREMIERE OF:

UNMASKED

Parshat Bo: Exodus 10:1-13:16;
Jeremiah 46:13-46:28.

JUDEOPHOBIA

THE THREAT M. CIVILIZATIO

I

Jew is bidden to acknowledge, be
n this week's Torah Portion, Bo, the
grateful for and in some way recip-
Jews are commanded to bring the
paschal sacrifice. Part of the proce- rocate God's love for us in creating,
sustaining and blessing us with His
dure is to "take from the blood and put
it upon the two doorposts and upon the goodness.
These rituals are reminders to us of
lintel of the house in which you will eat it
God's infinite love and con-
[the sacrifice]" (Exodus 12:7).
cern for us, and an oppor-
The midrash halachah
tunity for us to show our
(the collection of exegetical
gratitude to the Benevolent
interpretations by the rabbis
One.
of the Mishnah period to
It seems to me that the
derive Jewish law from the
dispute between Rabbi
verses of the Torah) brings
Shimon and Rabbi Noson
a three-way dispute about
as to the proof text is sim-
the placement of the blood
ply a matter of emphasis. Is
(Mechilta Parshah 6-34):
it more important for us to
Rabbi Shimon says the
Rabbi Eliezer
realize God's goodness, or to
blood should be placed on
Coh en
demonstrate our gratitude?
the inside of the doorway
Certainly both are important.
because the verse (Exodus 12:13) says:
The lesson of the verses is that those
"I [God] will see the blood and pass
who observe the rituals of Judaism for
over you." That is, the blood should be
purely social reasons — for others, so
visible to God but not to outsiders.
to speak — and don't find personal
Rabbi Noson also says the blood
meaning in the observance are miss-
should be put on the inside because
ing the real point of these mitzvot.
the verse (Exodus 12:13) states:"...
They offer us a program to fulfill our
the blood will be a sign for you ..."
potential for real personal growth.
— a sign for those who put the blood
Doing them in a meaningful way can
there and for no one else. And Rabbi
help us find meaning in our very exis-
Yitzchak says that the blood should
tence and help make us not only "bet-
be put on the outside as a sign to the
ter Jews" but also "better people?' 7
Egyptians.
At first glance, it would seem that
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of Congregation Or
Rabbi Yitzchak makes the most sense,
Chadash of Oak Park/Huntington Woods
for what purpose would be served if
and teaches at Yeshivat Akiva in Southfield.
no one else could see the blood? But
upon reflection, it seems to me that
the main purpose is not for others.
Conversations
The sacrifice of the paschal lamb (or
• Do we really perform
goat) is the first mitzvah commanded
observances
in a meaningful
and observed by each Jew. This sets
way?
the tone for the observance of the
• Can we find more meaning
mitzvot of the Torah in general.
in the rituals we observe by
The laws of the Torah, particularly
learning more about them and
the ritual observances, are the method
thinking
more about what they
by which we can create, maintain and
should
and
can mean to us?
strengthen our personal relationship
How
can
rituals
make us better
•
with God. This, then, rightfully should
people?
be primarily private. Each individual

INCE I 945, I WAS NOT AS

AFRAiD AS I AM NOW"

ELIE WiESEL, PH. D.,

AUTHOR, NOBEL LAUREATE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

7:30 PM

THE BERMAN CENTER FOR THE

PERFORMING ARTS

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

6600 WEST MAPLE ROAD, WEST B LOOMFIELD

THIS GROUND BREAKING DOCUMENTARY FILM

WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION

WITH THE FILM'S PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

GLORIA GREENFIELD.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR $7 (STUDENTS FREE) AT THE

BERMAN CENTER BOX OFFICE (248-661-1900)

OR VISIT HTTP://BERMANCENTER.JCCDET.ORG/TICKETING.

CO-SPONSORS: ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF

AMERICA-MICHIGAN REGION,

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CENTER,

STANDWITHUS MICHIGAN,

B'NAI B'RITH INTERNATIONAL GREAT LAKES REGION.

SUPPORTERS: TEMPLE SHIR SHALOM, ISRAEL ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

OF ADAT SHALOM, AISH HATORAH, TEMPLE ISRAEL.

WALK FOR ISRAEL, CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM. TEMPLE BETH EL'S

ISRAEL CHAI COMMITTEE, CONGREGATION B'NAI MOSHE.

GREATER DETROIT CHAPTER OF HADASSAH,

YOUNG ISRAEL OF OAK PARK, BAIS CHABAD OF FARMINGTON HILLS,

CONGREGATION BETH AHM, SARA TUGMAN BAIS CHABAD, AKIVA PTO.

CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK.

HILLEL OF METRO DETROIT
YOUNG ISRAEL OF SOUTHFIELD

January 26 • 2012

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