spirituality >> torah

ST. JOHN PROVIDENCE PHYSICIAN NETWORK

Not Just A 'Bimah'Jew

F

Pa rshat Toldot: Genesis 25:19-28:9;
Malachi 1:1-2:7

The St. John Providence Physician Network is a network of 500 primary

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Many of our primary care physicians offer:

arshat Toldot teaches us that,
temple library stock?"
ultimately, our children deter-
It's nice that on High Holidays you go
mine what will ensure Jewish
to services, but what does your home
continuity — and what will not.
look like during Rosh Hashanah and
Is your Judaism transmittable to your Yom Kippur? Abraham did not carry
children, or is each generation less and
a temple membership that defined his
less interested in the continuation of the relationship with God; he and Sarah
Jewish people?
had a home that defined that relation-
In Judaism, we measure progress
ship.
with how similar we are to our parents
The synagogue is the least important
who were ultimately one generation
Jewish building, after the mikvah and
closer to the very beginning of our
schools. Let go of the bimah mentality
faith. These were the toldot of Abraham and grab onto a mezuzah mentality.
... his children who lived as he lived.
Think in terms of your home and not in
A friend of mine in
terms of your temple.
New York asked me to
This, perhaps more than
debate another friend, a
anything else, can explain why
Reconstructionist rabbi from
the Orthodox community is 60
Washington, D.C. I said, "No,
times less likely to assimilate
thank you," but I will put in
than other denominations. If
writing that my grandchildren
you want to see Orthodox life,
will debate his grandchildren.
don't go to a synagogue; they
It's not about right or
are generally small, stuffy and
Rabbi Simcha
wrong; we can argue all day,
uninspiring.
To see Orthodox
Tolwin
and it may even be fun. The
Jewish life you need to go into a
question you have to ask
home. The home is where you
yourself is, "Are you successfully passing see a vibrancy that is young, exciting
Judaism on to your children?"
and being passed on to the next genera-
Many people today define their
tion.
Judaism by who can go up on the
As a community, we struggle for the
answer to Jewish continuity in light
bimah. Does your congregation allow
women on the bimah? What about
of devastating Pew Research Center
someone who is intermarried? The
reports — and in the face of our chil-
bimah has become the unfortunate rally dren who demand to know "Why
table to define where we stand Jewishly. should we care?" The answer is in your
Defining Judaism by your temple,
home. Build a home that creates toldot,
and making temples the focus of your
and your family will also be part of the
Jewish identity is a mistake. The future
story of the Jewish people.
of Judaism is your children, and your
We have a guarantee that 'Am Yisroel
children are defined by what goes on
chat," the nation of Israel lives. We are
in your home and not what happens
eternal; Jewish continuity is guaranteed.
on the bimah. Jewish life is your home
The question you must ask yourself
because that's what gets transmitted to
is that there is no guarantee that your
your children.
family will be a part of the story of the
The Passover seder is the No. 1 cele-
Jewish people. This week's Torah por-
brated Jewish ritual ... it happens in the tion tells us that you can be a part of the
amazing nation by making your home a
home. Ask questions like "What does
Friday night look like in my house?"
Jewish home. *
and not "Do you go to synagogue:'
Rabbi Simcha Tolwin is director of Oak Park-
"What books are on the shelves in
based Aish Detroit.
my den?" not "What authors does the

care physicians and specialists who believe it is important for you and

your family to have access to high-quality care whenever you need it.

• Same-day appointments

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• Evening and weekend hours

To find a St. John Providence Physician Network Physician near you or

to schedule an appointment, call 1-866-5oi -DOCS (3627)

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November 12 • 2015

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