The Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC
is pleased to invite you to join us
as we present the
2018
spirit
torah portion
Activist
Award
Embodying Empathy
O
Dr. Melvyn Rubenfire and
Karen Rubenfire
Thursday, May 31 | 7:00 p.m.
Adat Shalom Synagogue | Farmington Hills
Dessert Reception
following the event
Featured Speaker
Hon. Steven Rhodes
Retired, United States
Bankruptcy Judge
To register or learn more about
sponsorship options and
opportunities to pay tribute to
Dr. Melvyn Rubenfire & Karen Rubenfire,
please contact:
Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC
248-642-5393 or visit jcrcajc.org
Honorary Co-Chairs
Lillian & David Broner
Marcy & Ian Burnstein
Shari & Stanley Finsilver
32
May 3 • 2018
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Sally & Dr. Richard Krugel
Shirley & Cornelius Myrick
Shelly & Mark Rubenfire
ur actions in the world can
either bring sanctity (kiddush
HaShem) or desecration (chil-
lul HaShem) to God’s name.
In portion Emor, the Torah is clear
that how we act in the world has a
direct effect on the level of holiness
present in each of our relationships.
In Leviticus 22:28 we are encouraged
of Lubavitch who often
to examine and evaluate our
spent hours receiving visi-
behavior in relation to one
tors in private. During this
another: “No animal from
time, he would perspire
the herd or the flock can be
profusely and on occasion
slaughtered for food on the
even excused himself in the
same day with its young.”
middle of an interview to
The biblical commentator
change his garments. When
Maimonides asserts that the
asked for the reason he said,
essence of this command-
Rabbi Joseph
“When I receive a visitor,
ment is to show that in
Krakoff
I am wearing my own gar-
Judaism there is no distinc-
ments. But to understand
tion between the suffering
his comments from his per-
of the person and that of an
spective I must remove my
animal. As such, this mitzvah
garments and don his. At this point,
makes a foundational statement
I must consider the problem from
that empathy must be cultivated in
my own perspective; and, for that,
the heart of every Jew.
I must put on my own garments
Empathy is the action of being
again. Having developed a suitable
aware, being sensitive to and vicari-
response, I must dress my advice in
ously understanding/experiencing
words suitable to my visitor’s ears
the thoughts/feelings of another
and for that I must once again put
while sensing their deepest, inner
on his garments. Knowing this, are
emotions. Empathy is being able to
you surprised that I perspire?” Such
put ourselves in another person’s
is authentic empathy!
shoes. It emerges in a situation
Empathy may well be the most
where “I and you” becomes “I am
valuable resource we have for resolv-
you” or “I might be you.”
ing conflict and making room for
True empathy exists when we feel
forgiveness, acceptance and uncon-
sad because the people around us
ditional love. When we allow our-
feel sad; when we are upset to see
selves to see things from the other
someone being treated disrespect-
person’s point of view we create the
fully; when we are “in tune” with
opportunity for profound validation
other people’s moods; when we
and healing. We do this when we lis-
look at every side of a disagreement
before we make a decision; when we ten non-judgmentally with our ears
and eyes, our heart and soul.
get a strong urge to help after com-
Empathy is both demanding and
ing across someone who is upset;
overwhelming at times, but it is cer-
when we see someone being taken
tainly the gift that keeps on giving! •
advantage of and feel protective of
them; when we truly enjoy making
Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff is the senior director of
other people feel better.
The Midrash tells of Rabbi Shmuel the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network.
Parshat Emor:
Leviticus 21:1-24:23;
Ezekiel 44:15-31.