spirit

torah portion

Life:
A Treasured Legacy

F

Parshat Vayelekh:
Deuteronomy 31:1-
30; Hosea 14:2-10;
Micah 7:18-20;
Joel 2:15-27.
(Shabbat Shuva)

or the first time since he
came to America nearly 70
years ago, my 98-year-old
grandfather, Wolf Gruca, spoke
to a group of adults about his life
before, during and after the Shoah
of World War II:
“I was the youngest in the house
[in Poland],” Grandpa told them
in his heavily-accented English. “I
had three brothers and two sisters.
My father had three brothers
and one sister, all of whom were
married and had families.
down “this song” and
My mother had four
Moses complies, writing
brothers and one sister;
the words of HaTorah
also, all were married and
HaZot – this Torah – “to
had families. When I could
the very end.”
count all the relatives from
None of knows when
both these families, I would
our last hours will come;
say there were between 60
though, if we are honest,
and 70 members. Most of
we know that each day
Rabbi Aaron
these relatives the Germans Starr
we are inching closer.
sent to the gas chambers.”
In the midst now of the
Because of how amazing
High Holiday season, we
the membership of Congregation
are reminded of our finitude. We
Shaarey Zedek is, 100 people
are also given the opportunity to
attended my grandfather’s
reflect on our lives, and we are
presentation. One hundred
blessed with the opportunity to
people came to hear the story of a
share with those we love the most
Holocaust survivor in their midst.
our learning and our losses, our
One hundred people gave of their
suffering and our celebrations,
time to hear about the life of their
our accomplishments and our
rabbi’s grandfather.
joys. Some may choose to do so in
For my grandfather, and thus
conversation; others, even better,
for our entire family, the telling
will choose to share their lives
of the story was more personal. “I
with their loved ones by writing
know I will not be here forever,”
down their songs — their Torahs, if
Grandpa explained. “I would like
you will — “to the very end.”
my children, grandchildren and
We celebrate this week Shabbat
great-grandchildren to know a
Shuvah: the Sabbath of Turning/
little about my life … I am writing
Returning. This is our time to
because I would like my family
prepare for the future by looking to
to know who I was when I was
the past. This is our time to strive
young … until now.” Thus began
to be better and to do better in the
a 90-minute presentation that
coming year. This is also the time
captured only a snapshot of who
to gather our loved ones close, to
my grandfather is: what he has
share with them our stories and to
suffered, sure; but also, what he
make sure that they are part of our
has celebrated and what he has
legacies. May we be so wise as to
accomplished.
not let these moments pass.
In our Torah portion this week,
G’mar chatimah tovah: May you
Moses, at the age of 120, learns
be sealed in the Book of Life for
that he is approaching the end of
life. •
his life. “The Lord said to Moses:
‘The time is drawing near for you
Rabbi Aaron Starr is spiritual leader of
to die’” (Deuteronomy 31:14). God
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
then instructs Moses to write

Philadelphia Orchestra

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, music director
Lisa Batiashvili, violin
Thursday, September 27 // 7:30 pm
Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium

Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin brings the orchestra back to Ann
Arbor with a stunning program: a suite from Nico Muhly’s sensational opera
Marnie, which receives its US première this fall at the Metropolitan Opera;
6EGLQERMRSJJŠW7]QTLSRMG(ERGIWXLIGSQTSWIVŠWƪREPTMIGI[VMXXIRJSVXLI
Philadelphia Orchestra in 1940; and Tchaikovsky’s spectacular Violin Concerto,
performed by the Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili in her UMS debut.

Presenting Sponsor:

Supporting Sponsors:

Media Partners: WRCJ 90.9 FM and WGTE 91.3 FM

734.764.2538
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jn

September 13 • 2018

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