34 March 21 • 2019 jn I n the classic movie History of the World, Mel Brooks plays King Louis of France during the 18th-century French Revolution. Exemplifying the excesses of the pre-statehood French monarchy, Brooks finishes many a scene with the now-famous expression, “It’ s good to be the king. ” The irony, of course, is that it was good to be the king until the French Revolution took place and the king lost his head. I can’ t help but think of the French Revolution as we come to this week’ s Torah portion. Tzav informs us that, calling forward Aaron and his sons, Moses himself bathed these soon-to-be kohanim: priests of the Jewish people. He dressed them, armed them with the appropriate ritual tools and anointed them formally. They were not kings, but perhaps even more important. The priests’ job was to maintain the prac- tice of sacrifices: the system by which our people connected to God. Their honor and that of all the priests who followed derived from their lineage. If Aaron’ s descendants continued to have children, the priesthood of Israel would continue. Indeed, it was good to be the Kohen. Yet, like France of the late 19th cen- tury, the kohanim were also victims of a revolution. With the destruction of the Holy Temple, the sacrificial service came to an end. In an act of renais- sance and transformation, the rabbis replaced sacrifices with prayer, and the value of learning replaced the impor- tance of lineage. The rabbis, to keep Judaism follow- ing the destruction, essentially behead- ed the priesthood (though not priests). No longer were the leaders of the Jewish people simply born; now they had to be made. Since then, Jewish leaders earn their positions based on knowledge, skills and their commit- ment to Jewish values. Because of the rabbinic revolution, the roll of kohanim has changed dra- matically. Today, they primarily per- form ritualistic functions. In fact, the Conservative rabbinate has lifted some of the ancient prohibitions on kohanim, and the Reform move- ment has disbanded with the priestly caste system altogether. Indeed, the role of the modern kohen bears little resemblance to that of his ancestors. But it also means that there is no inherent system for the transition of leadership from one generation to the next. Rather, in each generation, our community turns to passionate, commit- ted and learned individuals to assume the mantle of leadership. This is true for our people, especially within our communal agencies and synagogues. Having shifted focus millennia ago from lin- eage to learning, we can no longer assume there will always be people to fulfill leadership roles. Each of us must do his/her part so that Judaism may continue to shape our lives and that of our children so that we might continue to serve as a light to the other nations. May God bless each of us that we might step forward to serve our people and our community with wisdom, pas- sion and compassion. The priesthood is gone. It’ s up to us, now. ■ Rabbi Aaron Starr is spiritual leader of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. CONVERSATIONS • What can you do to strengthen Judaism and the Jewish people? • To what leadership role might you aspire within your favorite agency or synagogue? • What aspects of leadership must we look for in today’ s Jewish lead- ers? Rabbi Aaron Starr Parshat Tzav: Leviticus 6:1-8:36; Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23. spirit torah portion Jewish Leadership Evolves JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE Spot l i ght Ev ent Chairs – Diane and Randy Orley AN EVENING WITH LIZA LONG, MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE AND AUTHOR The Price of Silence L ng A Mom’ s Perspective on Mental Illness The Price of Silence Liza Long Foreword by Harold S. Koplewicz, MD A Mom’ s Perspective on Mental Illness “A courageous, determined, radical book.” —ANDREW SOLOMON, PhD, author of The Noonday Demon and Far from the Tree PLUME 6:30 PM REGISTRATION | 7 PM PROGRAM CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK WEDNESDAY MAY 29 2019 Admission $36/ 2 for $60/ Students $10 After the 2012 Newtown school shooting, Liza wondered if her son, who has bipolar disorder, was capable of committing a similar act in her blog post, “I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother.” Don’t miss Long’s moving story of helping her son and fighting stigma. To register or sponsor, visit jfsspotlightevent.org GE T READY for the event by attending our book club discussion. April 12 | 10 am - 12 pm Please register at jfsdetroit.org/priceofsilence SHINING A LIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY Book signing to follow the event with books available for purchase. One social work CEU available.