Beautifying your home since 1939
HAGOPIAN
Hashanah and Yom Kippur can be the
mechanisms of focus when much of life
feels out of focus.
To admit our errors and confess our
faults, we need not demean nor degrade
ourselves. We should not beat our chests
so hard that we, in essence, begin to beat
ourselves up. Instead, we should beat
our chests in regret to symbolize that the
mistakes we have made deeply touch us,
have meaning for us and encourage us to
improve ourselves in the coming days and
months ahead. We admit our shortcom-
ings, come to terms with our failings and
recognize our humility first and foremost
by forgiving ourselves. For only after for-
giving ourselves, can we seek and accept
forgiveness from others.
There is a story about a rabbi who was
asked by his students, "How should one
determine the hour when night ends and
day begins?" One student suggested, "Is
it when one can distinguish a sheep from
a dog in the distance?" A second student
ventured, "Is it when one can make out a
date tree from a fig tree in the distance?"
"No," said the rabbi, "It is when you can
look into the face of a stranger and see
your sister or brother. Until then, night is
still with us!"
In this season of forgiveness, may we be
willing to forgive others when they wrong
us and may we never be too proud to ask
pardon of those whom we have wronged.
When we do this with a full heart, we
assure ourselves that the past definitely
does not get in our eyes! Shanah Tovah! E
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Joseph Krakoff is a rabbi at Congregation
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New Year's Resolutions For A
Stronger Jewish Community
T
zedakah, we are taught in our
High Holy Day liturgy, will
save us from death. Now, from
a medical point of view this may not
be entirely correct, but the machzor is
speaking spiritually and metaphori-
cally here. The generosity
that we exhibit in our lives
does indeed live after we are
gone.
This Rosh Hashanah,
however, I would like to take
the metaphor just one step
further. Tzedakah is what
will save our Detroit Jewish
community from "death" if
you will, but only if we use
it wisely, given the difficult
economic and demographic
challenges that face us. That is why I
would like to propose these five foun-
dational principles that should be con-
sidered in making any charitable gift.
This year when you make your pledg-
es, ask the following five questions:
• Is this Jewish organization trans-
parent? My hometown of Lakewood,
N.J. has been rocked by revelations
that Jewish charitable organizations
have been used as vehicles for criminal
money-laundering enterprises. This
is a shandeh and underscores how
important it is that our donations go to
Jewish organizations whose financial
books are open and clean.
• Does this organization support the
principle of Clal Yisrael, the inclusion
of Jews from all of our diverse streams?
The ancient Temple in Jerusalem was
said to have fallen due to sinat chinam,
the baseless infighting that sometimes
plagues our Jewish community. If you
want to ensure that your donations
bring life to our community, ensure as
well that they will be used to engender
Jewish unity. We cannot "live" as a com-
munity if we are divided by exclusion
and discrimination.
• Does this organization support the
State of Israel? Of course, not all Jewish
charities are "Zionist" chari-
ties, but neither should any of
our resources go to support
any anti-Zionist endeavors.
• Is this organization effi-
cient in its use of funds?
Charities with unusually high
overhead costs should be
avoided in favor of those that
put your money directly to
work making this world a bet-
ter place. Websites like
www.charitynavigator.org
are available to help you make these
determinations.
• Is this Jewish organization worthy
of my time as well as my resources?
Consider spending time volunteering
at the organization you are support-
ing financially. There is no better way
to get a direct sense and feel for the
efficacy of the contributions you are
making.
So, while I cannot promise that your
generous contributions this year will
keep you out of the hospital or emer-
gency room, I do believe that tzedakah
is God's way of helping us matter
beyond the parameters of our own
lives. Thus, I can assure you that your
charitable contributions, when given
according to these five foundational
principles, will indeed bring life to our
incredible Detroit Jewish community
during this new year of 5773. ❑
OAK PARK BIRMINGHAM NOVI UTICA ANN ARBOR
THE
C ircle affeinowsemosso
You ARE INVITED
The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring
Rosh Hashana
Yom Kippu
FREE OBSERVANCES ALL WELCOM
.
(DONATIONS APPRECIATED)
Meaningful Cultural/Secular Approac
Music, Singing & Readings
Stefan Kukurugya, pianist
Daniella HarPaz Mechnikov, vocalist
At the Jewish Community Center
15110 West Ten Mile Road, Oak Park
Rosh Hashanah - Monday, September 17, 10 a.m.
Yom Kippur - Wednesday, September 26, 10 a.m.
For more information contact 248-432-5677
or micirclel @gmail.com
:
YOU MAY BRING FOOD FOR YAD F7RA
o obirN
s THE WORKMEN'S CIRCLE/ARBETER RING
Dedicated to Jewish Community, Jewish/YiddiSh Culture & SociallJustice
Jewish Community Center, 15110 West Ten Mile Road, Oak Park, MI 48237
www.circlemichigan.org
The Board of Directors, Volunteers and Staff of
Yad Ezra
thank our Jewish community for its
generous support in assisting us
alleviate hunger.
Your help makes a tremendous difference in the lives
of those most vulnerable.
Best wishes for a healthy, happy and
peaceful new year! ir 111
qui
Paul Yedwab is a rabbi at Temple Israel in
West Bloomfield.
Feeding:hungry.Jewish
t4 ies
1701020
September 13 2012
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