spirit
FRANKLIN ATHLETIC CLUB
torah portion
SUMMER
The Beauty
Of Our Tents
Parshat Balak:
Numbers 22:2-25:9;
Micah 5:6-6:8.
JOIN NOW
AND ENJOY FULL
MEMBER PRIVILEGES
VISIT FRANKLINCLUB.COM/SWIMCLUB
OR CALL 248.352.8000 EXTENSION 235
EVENTS
POOLSIDE
T
here’s a special feeling that
comes with entering a Jewish
space.
I guess before I go on, I should
probably clarify what I mean by
“Jewish space,” because it is not
at all a monolithic designation. It
doesn’t look the same to everybody,
and it doesn’t require religious over-
Mah tovu oheleicha Yakov, mishke-
tones. It could be a synagogue, a beit notecha, Yisrael.
midrash (a place of study),
How beautiful are your
a Judaica shop or simply a
tents, you people of Jacob,
Jewish home during Shabbat
your dwelling places, chil-
dinner or lunch. But it might
dren of Israel. (Numbers
also be your favorite res-
24:5)
taurant along Emek Refaim
We didn’t need the pyra-
in Jerusalem; the rock wall
mids of Egypt or the tem-
or the lakeside stage at
ples of Babylon. We needed
Tamarack; maybe it’s one of
each other. While the rest of
Rabbi Yonatan
the devastatingly moving
the ancient world built with
Dahlen
exhibits at the Holocaust
brick and stone, we built
Memorial Center in
with charity and loving-
Farmington Hills. Whatever
kindness. While they built
the purpose, whatever the
arches and monuments, we
context, Jewish space is space that
built psalms and prayers. The “eter-
feels Jewishly significant, space that
nal cities” of Rome and Persepolis
feels different.
have fallen along with the entirety of
It’s hard to articulate exactly
their empires, but the Jewish family
what that difference is, but it’s
remains.
But the beautiful tents of our peo-
there, undeniably and palpably. For
plehood, the dwelling places of our
thousands of years, Jews, who have
great communities still need main-
been constantly denied a perma-
tenance and reinforcement, still
nent home, have somehow created
need the dedication and care that
comfort, depth and meaning in the
made them the envy of King Balak
spaces that others have taken for
and his prophet. If our foundation is
granted. They all feel, even to the
family, if our beams and pillars are
most removed and distant Jews,
the love and support we have for one
known and familiar. I believe, that if
we look carefully, we will see that the another, then it is up to each and
common denominator in all of those every one of us to fill in the cracks
that threaten our structure, to paint
spaces is a sense of community, a
the inside and outside of our tents
sense of family, a sense of belonging
with warmth and joy, and to lay out
that is sui generis in this world of
mats of welcome for any and all.
divisiveness and individualism.
Jewish space is not really space
From the moment that our ances-
at all. It is a holy oneness that we
tors gathered together at the banks
build every day. As we approach
of the Yam Suf, the sea of reeds, our
this Shabbat, the ultimate edifice of
home has been wherever we can be
sacred community, let us challenge
together. Before the glory of King
ourselves to do more than just sus-
David’s Jerusalem, before the rabbinic
academies of Tiveria and Yavneh, Sura tain our beautiful tents. Let’s build
and Pumbedita, before the great syna- them even higher, make them even
more vibrant and meaningful, and
gogues of Amsterdam and Krakow
fill the air with the songs of the day
or the busy neighborhoods of Boro
of rest, our space, our palace … our
Park and Crown Heights, the prophet
home. •
Balaam, gazing from the cliffs above
the Israelite camp, opened his lips to
Yonatan Dahlen is a rabbi at Congregation
curse this foreign people but instead
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
sang words of blessing:
FAMILY SWIM CLUB
MAY 25TH
JUNE 2ND
JUNE 18TH
JUNE 24TH
JULY 11TH
JULY 22ND
JULY 28TH
AUG 5TH
AUG 19TH
AUG 27TH
CYCLE UNDER THE STARS
HIP HOP YOGA ADULT POOL PARTY
BINGO + ICE CREAM PARTY
KIDS NIGHT OUT SWIM PARTY
BOOTCAMP & BBQ
KIDS NIGHT OUT SWIM PARTY
MOVIE UNDER THE MOONLIGHT
ZUMBA DAY PARTY
KIDS NIGHT OUT SLEEPOVER
FAMILY FUN DAY
7PM
7PM
2PM
5PM
6PM
7PM
7PM
9AM
7PM
2PM
FRANKLIN ATHLETIC CLUB
29350 NORTHWESTERN HWY
SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034
FRANKLINCLUB.COM
FRANKLINCLUB.COM
#GETFITWITHFAC
jn
July 6 • 2017
25