s pirit t orah portion The Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders is proud to introduce Dr. Lauren Aymen. Dr. Aymen is a neurologist and headache medicine specialist who has joined us as the Director of the Headache Center. Perfecting Imperfection M Are there any specific tests that can diagnose a migraine headache? No. The diagnosis of migraine is based on one’s clinical presentation and exam. There are several tests which can help rule out secondary causes or identify other illnesses which may be contributing to head pain. Most often, migraine is due to enhanced nervous system activity and treatments are performed to reduce this overactivity. When headaches are impacting a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living, patients should seek treatment from a physician. My goal is to develop an effective treatment plan for patients so that headaches are not preventing them from missing out on their lives. CONTACT US TODAY TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT! Farmington Hills 28595 Orchard lake Road, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-553-0010 www.mindonline.com 44 April 12 • 2018 jn Parshat Shemini: Leviticus 9:1-11:47; I Samuel 20:18-42. (Shabbat Machar Chodesh) y great-grandfather Avrum Nachman, of blessed mem- ory, was accustomed to starting seder in a unique manner. Picture a table set with spotlessly clean white linens and the fine china that only appears for seder: a table that is clearly ready for the perfect order of the Pesach meal. After the order of the seder is sung and Kiddush chanted, my great-grandfather would Quoting Sifra, a work of immediately spill his wine Midrash, Rashi offers us — deliberately upsetting an interesting explanation the perfect order of the for this. The reason Moshe evening from the outset. and Aharon enter the Ohel Before anyone could have Moed together and offer an made any kind of potential additional blessing is that error, he had already set the Aharon knew that some- Rabbi Jeremy tone that this would not thing was wrong. He had Yoskowitz and could not be a “perfect” offered all of the proscribed evening. Now no one could sacrifices as commanded, be embarrassed by his own and yet God’s presence had spills, literal or figurative, not appeared. Despite the as the host had already made clear perfection of his actions, he was the imperfections were not only per- acutely aware of the perfection of missible, but also anticipated and the moment. He said to his brother, welcome. “You know that I have done as I have This lesson that my great-grandfa- been commanded according to your ther taught generations ago informs words, and yet I am ashamed (at my my thoughts on Parshat Shemini perceived lack of worthiness); please this year. After an intense week of do this with me (so that I may fulfill my obligation).” Then Moshe and preparation, Aharon and his sons Aharon entered together, offered are finally ready to serve God and our people in their appointed duties prayer together and only then did God’s presence appear to all of us. by offering the sin offering, the What then was Aharon’s imper- burnt offering and the offering of fection? In that moment he was well-being. A duty that is performed ritually pure and as well prepared as perfectly, precisely as commanded he could have been. Yet somehow by God. Almost immediately there- he knew that was insufficient to after, God’s presence appears before that time and place. Only when he all of our people (Leviticus 9:23) and accepted that “perfect” service may fire comes forth from God and con- not be what God needed or wanted sumes the offerings on the altar. from him in that moment; when Yet there is something curious he embraced his imperfection and that takes place immediately before sought his brother’s aid was his ser- God’s presence appears. After vice perfected and fulfilled. Aharon has made the commanded When we accept that it is within offerings and blessed the people, our own imperfections that we can he and Moshe enter the Ohel Moed, sometimes offer the best parts of the Tent of Meeting, together. When they come out, they bless the people ourselves, those are the moments in which we can achieve greatness. together, and it is only then that May we all be blessed to recognize God’s presence appears. Until this those imperfect moments for the point, Aharon has been the primary gift that they can be. • actor, fulfilling God’s will as con- veyed to him through Moshe, includ- ing blessing the people. Why is there Rabbi Jeremy Yoskowitz is an educator at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit in suddenly a need for Moshe to offer Farmington Hills. an additional blessing with him?