spirit

JEFF & MATT BARKER

torah portion

Associate Brokers

No Room
For Hate

6025 Upper Straits Blvd - Upper Straits Lakefront
4 BR, 4.1 BA, 5,023 SF, 3 Car Gar, 1.4 Acres
100’ on Private, All Sports Upper Straits Lk - $1,849,900

T

1151 Greensted Way ~ The Hills of Lone Pine
Detached Ranch Condo, Daylight LL, 3 Car Garage
Bloomfield Hills Schools, Community Pool & Tennis - $775,000

2009 Hazel St ~ Birmingham
3 BR, 3.2 BA, 3,576 SF, 2 Car Att. Gar, High End Finishes
Live/Work Townhouse w/ 1st Flr Commercial Space - $749,900

27740 Lakehills Dr ~ Franklin Village
4 BR, 3.2 BA, 4,834 SF, 1st Flr Master, Custom Millwork
Walking Distance to Franklin Hills CC - $599,900

248.425.6000

jeff@jeffbarkerhomes.com
www.jeffbarkerhomes.com

275 S. Old Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI 48009

2151390

34

August 31 • 2017

Parshat Ki Tetze:
Deuteronomy 21:10-
25:19; Isaiah 54:1-10.

he Black Lives Matter move-
ment released its first compre-
hensive paper outlying their
policies. While the majority of the
document addresses issues other
than Israel, the section on foreign
policy describes Israel as “a state
that practices systematic discrimina-
tion and has maintained a military
great unifier. The multitude of cul-
occupation of Palestine for decades.”
tures, religions and ethnicities that
It criticizes no foreign country other
have experienced this magic beside
than Israel and argues that
me enriched my prayers at
the U.S., because of its alli-
the Kotel. I have prayed next
ance with Israel, is “com-
to a barefoot Indian man in
plicit in the genocide taking
his kneeling position on one
place against the Palestinian
side of me, a Reform Jew,
people.”
who is looking up and medi-
The White Lives Matter
tating on the other side. A
Movement or the alt-right
Chassid behind me prays
don’t hide their anti-Semi-
from a siddur, and a tourist
tism behind Israel, but came Rabbi Simcha
next to him is on a pilgrim-
Tolwin
right out and called for
age from Africa.
killing Jews who are “steal-
The Kotel is the farthest
ing land and jobs that were
thing from a dividing wall,
meant for their children.”
and we have become our
And so I’m reminded of the
own worst enemies by turn-
lyrics from a Tom Lehrer song, “and
ing it into a place of disunity. Never
everyone hates the Jews.” But the
mind that the arguing is ludicrous
one thing that is worse than the
since there already is an egalitarian
hatred of others against us is when
plaza that has been in existence for
we start to hate each other.
years, and never mind that this is an
In this week’s Torah portion, we
Israeli political issue and not ours,
are advised about the rules of going
Detroit has been sucked into a false
out to war against your enemy, and
war that is not even ours.
the Talmud is quick to point out that
Of course, we will have disagree-
the enemy is yourself. We can be our ments, but we cannot lose our
own worst enemies. As an Orthodox respect for each other. We need
rabbi for non-Orthodox people, I
to respect and love every Jew and
have brought more than 1,000 non-
sometimes compromise. This is
Orthodox Jews to Israel, including
exactly what has always existed at
close to 300 from our community.
the Kotel: love, respect and compro-
About 90 percent of the participants, mise. People from all lands, cultures
when reflecting on their trip, felt
and beliefs coming together and
that the Kotel was the highlight of
praying as one. Everyone hates the
their Israel experience. The Kotel is
Jews, but we love each other. •
the place where Jewish people of all
Simcha Tolwin is executive director of
stripes come and pray together.
Aish Detroit.
Since 1967, the Kotel has been a