spirituality » to rah por tion

PROGRAM FOR
HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
AND FAMILIES

Invites You to an Evening of
Purim Laughter and Delight

AT

310 S. TROY STREET, ROYAL OAK, MI 48067
FEATURING

Your Inner Menorah

Parshat Tetzaveh: 27:20-30:10;
Ezekiel 43:10-27

A

nd you shall command the
menorah begins to shine.
children of Israel to bring
The verse ends with “to illuminate
you pure olive oil, crushed
the menorah eternally.” How do I reveal
for lighting, to illuminate the menorah
my inner essence eternally? How can
eternally.”
one always be clutch? Do we not thrive
This verse, which opens this week’s
upon competition to bring about the
Torah portion, discusses the oil needed
best that is within us? Be it in regards to
for illuminating the menorah of the
business, sports, community crisis, just
Temple.
as it is in a physical conflict?
Each of us is referred to as a
Yet, to me, that is the goal
Mikdash Miat — a mini-tem-
and mission of each one of us.
ple. Just as the menorah gave
While it is easier to connect
light to the Temple and to the
with prayer in times of need, I
streets of Jerusalem beyond, so,
must strive to attain that same
too, our inner menorah glows
level of connectivity during
within us and shines to those
less active, more complacent
around us in our lives.
times.
The verse then goes on to
While it is easier to rise up
Rabbi Yarden
guide us on how to ignite and
and
fight the current when
Blumstein
illuminate the menorah within
there is a flood around me, I
us, namely with pure olive
must meditate on the value of
oil that is kasis lamaor — crushed for
every moment of life and strive to take
lighting.
advantage of all of the opportunities I
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, am given.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not
I need to inspire myself with that
where he stands in moments of comfort clutch mentality to everything I do. I
and convenience, but where he stands
need to stop waiting for brushes with
at times of challenge and controversy.”
death in order to finally embrace the
There are times when I find myself
vitality of life.
stressed, struggling or even crushed by
And, by doing this, I embody the
the different pressures and challenges
message of the menorah. I crush the oil
of life. Sometimes those weights hold
within me and produce an oil of self-
me down; yet sometimes it is those very motivation that shines forth a light that
adversities that ignite me forward and
truly radiates, inspires and guides all of
get me to shine. The darker it is outside, those around me.
the brighter the stars twinkle and shine.
How do I know when my candle is
The light and strength that break
truly ignited? When other candles are
forth when one feels crushed can be
lit from me.
argued to be of the purest form of our
Rabbi Yarden Blumstein is the spiritual director
essence; to be the core of who we are.
at the Daniel B. Sobel Friendship House in West
And, when we connect with (and fur-
Bloomfield, an organization focused on building
thermore reveal) that core, it not only
inspires and drives us forward, it ignites a community of people helping those affected by
isolation and other life crises, such as addiction.
those around us as well. Our inner

*

COMEDIAN

HONORING
Joel Dorfman
Chuck Domstein
Molly Chernow
Deborah Rosenthal
Advisory Committee
Chairpersons

Sunday, March 20, 2016
6:30 PM

Program emcee, Rabbi Aaron Bergman

13TH ANNUAL BENEFIT

Dessert Reception Follows

*Dietary Laws Observed

For Sponsorship or Ticket
information, contact Renée Fein
rfein@jslmi.org or (248) 592.5028

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February 18 • 2016

2077620

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