por tion

MITZVAH
2016
DAY

Looking
Back To
Move
Forward

W

hen God alerts him of
plans to destroy the “sin-
ful” cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah, Abraham pushes back. Our
ancestor proclaims, “Will you sweep
away the innocent along with the guilty?
Far be it from you to do a thing like
that!”
Famously, he negotiates God
There is another possible
down: “What if there are 50
interpretation of Rabbi Levi’s
righteous people? 10?”
position: He will place his body
I have always looked to this
in God’s way because he simply
as the ultimate inspiration
does not buy into God’s para-
— our foundational example
digm. Perhaps the rabbi believes,
of speaking truth to power.
as I do, that there is no such
My childhood rabbi, the late
thing as a sinful city or wicked
Harold Schulweis, called this
Rabbi Alana
people, but only damaging poli-
chutzpah clappei shamayim — Alpert
cies and practices.
challenging the heavens.
No matter how we understand
I was recently startled by a
them, Rabbi Levi’s words force
Chasidic teaching that goes a step fur-
us to recognize the possibility that what
ther. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
happened was unjust — a possibility that
said he would never have acquiesced to
Abraham sets up for us right at the start.
the destruction. For lack of a minyan of
Far too often, the narratives I hear
the righteous, he would have negotiated
about the demise of Detroit blames peo-
down to one — and if there were not
ple instead of systems. It is much easier
even one, he himself would have moved
to blame the victims for their fate rather
to the city.
than consider the possibility that some-
Coming across this text around the
thing truly unjust has occurred to them.
time of the High Holidays, I had to think
The approaching 50th anniversary of
of Jonah, whose prophecy leads the
the rebellion has already spurred collec-
people of Nineveh to repent. Therefore,
tive remembering — Detroit Jews for
my first interpretation of Rabbi Levi’s
Justice will be offering several ’67 learn-
position was that every wicked person
ing opportunities over the course of the
must be given the chance to make teshu- year. May our turning around to face our
vah — to return or repent.
history be in service of forging a future
I have long been fascinated by the first worth living in.
half of this iconic story — the bargain-
ing, and not much paid attention to the
Alana Alpert is the director of Detroit Jews for
latter — the rescue of Lot and some of
Justice (detroitjewsforjustice.org) and the rabbi of
his family from a hail of fire and brim-
Congregation T’chiyah in Oak Park.
stone. But living in Detroit, I cannot help
but notice that Vayera is actually a story
Conversations
of fleeing a burning city.
And this year, especially, preparing my
• How might our understanding
community for the anniversary of 1967,
of the events surrounding 1967
I find myself drawn to the character of
impact the way we relate to the city
Lot’s wife. After looking behind her and
today?
witnessing the destruction, she is turned
• What are some of the policies
into a pillar of salt. What are the con-
and dynamics that created the con-
sequences of remembering? Does our
ditions for 1967 to occur?
remembering serve to bring us closer to
• What is one commitment you
our neighbors? Or does it calcify preju-
are making to deepen your under-
dices and justify divisions?
standing?

Parshat Vayera:
Genesis 18:1-22:24;
II Kings 4:1-4:37.

*

The tradition continues.
Sunday
December 25

Together we will celebrate the
strength of our community.

Select and participate in a volunteer
service project at one of many
locations in metropolitan Detroit.

L

» to rah

A H AN D
D
!
EN

Registration:
November 18 - December 18
mitzvahdaydetroit2016.eventbrite.com

Questions?
Call the Mitzvah Day Hotline:
248-642-2656 or
email: nlevine@jfmd.org

Mitzvah Day Co-chairs:
Micki Grossman
Milt Neuman
Illana Stern

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November 17 • 2016

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