APRIL 9 • 2020 | 5
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W
e would all like to
pride ourselves on
being well read, versed
in music and avid theatergoers.
We are all that, as can be shown if
we listen to the terms that pepper
our conversations.
We have been
told, “All the world’
s
a stage.” Remember
that when things
don’
t go well; buck
yourself up with
the advice that the
show must go on. If all
your plans for an activity are ready, then
you must get the show on the road. Of
course, anyone who tries to grab the
spotlight will be identified as a ham
and will undoubtedly refuse to share
the limelight. You will note also that
he/she may try to take center stage and
upstage everyone else, especially if there
is recognition to be offered. That will be
your cue to bring the curtain down on
those antics. Know that you are dealing
with a character.
Concertgoers be advised. When you
learn that a favorite group or performer
will be coming to town, it will be music
to your ears. Be sure that you are fit as
a fiddle and hit the right note for your
family by purchasing tickets. When
someone complains often, like a broken
record, you must face the music,
march to your own drummer and
all that jazz.
Do you wear your emotions on
your sleeve? Then someone can
read you like a book. Are you at
all secretive? No? Then you have
nothing to fear since your life
is an open book. In your daily
actions you tend to go by the
book; that is admirable. If you are
ever unsure as to how to proceed,
take a page from someone’
s book,
someone you admire. Try every
trick in the book to make something
work in your favor; when it’
s over, close
the book on it. Do not belabor anything.
Remember, however, that if you are
found to be in the wrong, someone will
throw the book at you.
Whoever said that culture was
confined to the walls of a theater,
auditorium or library? Surely not us, the
creatures of culture!
for openers
Cultural
Talk
Sy Manello
Editorial
Assistant
L
ast week’
s Torah portion, Tsav,
dealt with the ritual of “Korbanot,”
the intricacies of animal sacrifices.
It would seem this practice is no longer
relevant in today’
s world, but the root
of the word “Korban” is “Karov,” which
means closeness. The act of sacrifice is,
in fact, an opportunity for each of us to
re-ignite our closeness with God.
In Genesis, the Torah tells us that man
has mastery over the animal kingdom.
Through the act of sacrifice we give
up our mastery of the world and real-
ize that we are not in control; God is
our creator. The sacrifice is actually a
platform on which we relinquish our
control and re-affirm our closeness with
God.
Our closeness to God compels us to
reflect on the purpose of why God has
placed us here in His world. It encour-
ages us to think about the resources
God has blessed us with and motivates
us to share it with others.
This brings us to the special chal-
lenge we face today in confronting the
coronavirus, the modern-day plague.
We have a choice: We can be paralyzed
by anxiety and fear. We can brood over
the losses in our economy and how it
affects us personally. It is easy to forget
God during this difficult time.
The other choice is to learn the lesson
of the “Korban”: It is through the act
of giving to others in deepest humility
that we truly understand we are not in
control. By giving from our heart we are
re-connecting with God.
Today our Jewish community is
facing great challenges: Many of our
elderly require food deliveries and addi-
tional care giving. We need personal
protective equipment for these care-
givers. Many who are out of work will
require emergency financial assistance.
Our people with disabilities are isolated
at home and need personal support ser-
vices. Parents can no longer pay tuition
at our schools. Our Jewish Federation
has launched an emergency campaign
to respond to these needs. Now is the
time to act by giving to this campaign.
Bari Weiss, in her recent New York
Times column “The Coronavirus Preys
on Jews’
Biggest Strength,” writes: “If
Jewish history has a theme, it is resil-
ience — the ability to renew and revive
community during our darkest hours.
Now, as ever, the people poised to show
us the way forward are those who have
been most connected all along.”
It is time now for each of us to act,
as we have always done in the past. It is
our collective action which defines our
great Jewish community of Detroit.
Robert Aronson is former CEO of Federation and its
chief development advisor. Lisa is his wife.
guest column
Sacrifi
ce and Action: What we should think about today
ROBERT AND LISA ARONSON