spirituality » to rah por tion

The Jewish Community Relations Council
is pleased to invite you to join
The Jewish Community Relations Council
us as we present the
is pleased to invite you to

join us as we present the

2016

Activist
2016 Award
Activist Award

Pass On The Message

to Drs. Lynda
and Conrad Giles

Parshat Emor: Leviticus 21:1-24:23;
Ezekiel 44:15-44:31.

I

t is a fine balance to fulfill our
common hazard or danger.
desire to grant our children the
The hazard of mishandled values is no
freedom to forge their personal
less severe. We are just as prone to suffer
destinies, while also equipping them
from misguided values as we are physical
with the tools to make that a reality.
hazards.
Some argue for no
If we leave our children to search
indoctrination of any slant
for their own moral compass and
and strive to clean the slate
priority scale, their trial-and-error
completely so their kids can
experiments risk becoming fatal
paint it purely with their
exercises. People die from natural
own discoveries. Others are
causes, yet they also perish from
inclined to drill their dear
irresponsible decisions. Many
dogma into the hearts and
people are also riddled with a long,
Rabbi Chanoch dark life lost in turmoil and confu-
habits of their children.
Hadar
What is the Torah’s pre-
sion.
scription?
It is unjust to expect the next
Parshat Emor opens up with Moses
generation to “reinvent the wheel” of
being commanded by God to guide
moral cause and effect. It stunts our chil-
the adults and then to have them relay
dren’s growth when we don’t hand over
those values to their children. The lead-
the torch of their heritage.
ing commentator Rashi explains: “The
But the bland facts and ideas cannot
adults shall caution their young.”
speak for themselves.
Neglecting to pass on our precious val-
The biblical word zahir, to caution and
ues to our children is naive, at best.
guide, also holds the meaning “zohar” —
Humans are empowered with the gift
to illuminate.
to educate the next generation to boost
Our inherited values are gifts entrust-
their success and security with a heritage ed to us to pass on with grace.
of wisdom.
Our message must shine with pas-
The animal kingdom also mentors
sion. What we communicate must be
their young. The lioness teaches her
packaged with warmth and love. The
cubs how to hunt for survival. The bird
teachings must be infused with trust and
models how her fledglings can fulfill
confidence. They should be arranged
their potential to fly. Overall, their role
with sense and logic, yet also radiate
is simply to hone instinctive talents that
with faith.
are naturally granted to their species.
Chanoch Hadar is rabbi of the Woodward
The young might survive — hunt, fly or
Avenue Shul in Royal Oak.
swim — with greater success, but they
will not innovate or find fresh talents
undiscovered by their ancestors.
Conversations
We are endowed with the ability to
• What is a valuable life lesson you
communicate a recipe for progress.
received
that provided you with the
Our history has armed us with an
greatest
guidance
or tools for navi-
enormous stockpile of wisdom and an
gating
your
life?
infinite base of knowledge. We are able
• From your personal experiences,
to provide our children with experiences
which
would offer the most essential
and information that can jumpstart
advice
or wisdom you could pass on
them to reach lofty heights and rich ter-
to
others?
rains untraveled.
• The Torah portion concludes with
We would agree that it is irresponsible
details
of all the biblical holidays.
to allow children to endanger themselves
Which
holiday
do you identify with
in order to sample their own experi-
most
and
why?
ences, and that is why we instruct our
children about safeguards to avoid any

*

Marcy Feldman

Wednesday, June 8
7 pm

Monday,
Adat Shalom Synagogue
*UNEs
PM
Farmington
Hills

Dessert Reception following the event
Couvert: $18

Adat Shalom Synagogue
Farmington Hills
Featured
Dessert Speaker:
Reception
Dr.
Mark S. the
Schlissel
following
event
President
Couvert: $18

University of Michigan

To &EATURED
register and 3PEAKER
to learn more about sponsorship
options
and opportunities
to pay tribute to Lynda
Rochelle
Riley
and Conrad, please contact the Jewish Community
#OLUMNIST $ETROIT &REE 0RESS
Relations Council:

248-642-5393,
ext. 5, or visit detroitjcrc.org
To register or to learn more about sponsorship

options, and opportunities to pay tribute to
Honorary Co-Chairs
Marcy Feldman, please contact the
Community
Margie Dunn Jewish
& Mark
Davidoff Relations Council
248-642-5393,
ext. 5 or visit detroitjcrc.org
Linda & Tom Klein
Shelley & Joel Tauber
Honorary Co-Chairs
Malka & Gary
Torgow
-ICHAEL
&ELDMAN s #HERYL AND $AN 'UYER
,OIS AND 2OBERT +APLOW s 'ILDA AND *OHN *ACOBS
$ULCIE 2OSENFELD

2099210

May 19 • 2016

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