JANUARY 20 • 2022 | 35

M

any wonder what is 
the real secret of the 
Jewish nation? How do 
the Jews have so many members 
who invest their entire lives 
in study and scholarship? 
What is the deeper reason 
for motivation to acquire 
knowledge and be edu-
cated? 
More than 3,000 years 
ago, a small percentage 
of people knew how to 
read. Only the most elite 
received education. The 
ruling class specifically 
intended it that way to 
ensure that the common 
folk wouldn’t have the capacity to 
revolt. In ancient Egypt, most of 
the Jewish people were busy a full 
day with forced labor; they did 

not have time to study.
Then came the giving of the 
Torah, which represented the 
complete opposite of Egyptian 
belief. God did not just give 
the Torah to a select few of 
the most honored rabbis, 
but to all men, women 
and children. Ever since, 
Torah study became an 
inheritance; everyone has 
the right and obligation to 
study Torah.
We read in Parshat Yitro 
that prior to receiving the 
Torah, the Jews pledged 
na’aseh, “we will do;” and 
the Torah tells us that they 
all said it together in one voice. 
Later, when they pledged na’aseh 
v’nishma; the verse states, “
And 
they said, ‘
All that God said, we 

will do and we will listen’” not 
“together” and not “in one voice.
”
The meaning of “we will do” is 
simply to do everything that God 
commands. The meaning of “we 
will listen,
” the Lubavitcher Rebbe 
of righteous memory explains 
that it’s not just to hear, which is 
obvious, but to understand and 
grasp God’s words.
When it comes to na’aseh, 
doing/action, then the entire 
nation is unified. Everyone keeps 
the same mitzvot. Everyone lights 
Shabbat candles, puts on tefillin, 
fasts on Yom Kippur, etc. 
When it comes to nishmah, 
the understanding and grasping 
of Torah, there isn’t that same 
unity. Everyone has an individual 
obligation to try to understand 
the words of the Torah. Judaism 
encourages everyone to think 
on their own and not just accept 
things because someone greater 
said so.
That is the secret; the people 

do not accept anything at face 
value. They are all encouraged to 
ask questions and challenge every 
conclusion they read.
In Judaism, we find all 
approaches. Some believe the best 
way to get close to God is through 
happiness. Some are convinced 
it’s only through doing good unto 
others. Many believe they must 
dedicate their entire lives to Torah 
study, and some argue that one 
specifically needs to get out into 
the big world and integrate into 
some practical industry. 
Each has the right to think 
differently, and teachers even 
encourage independent thinking. 
Therefore, in Judaism, study has 
turned into an intellectual expe-
rience, something that people 
enjoy. 

Rabbi Schneor Greenberg is rabbi of 

the Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce, 

rabbi@jewishcommerce.org.

MAZEL TOV!
Mondry 100th
B

ea Mondry celebrat-
ed her 100th birthday 
on Jan. 17, 2022. She 
has been a lifelong Detroit- 
area resident who currently 
resides in West Bloomfield. 
She marked the day with a 
100th birthday party hosted by 
her children, Larry and Susie 
Mondry. She was surrounded 
by her grandchildren, Drew, 
Emily and Carly Mondry, as well 
as by many nieces, nephews 
and dear friends.

Kudlacik-Zlatopolsky
M

r. and Mrs. 
Gregory 
Zlatopolsky of 
West Bloomfield are 
delighted to announce 
the engagement of 
their daughter Ashley 
Zlatopolsky to Joseph 
Kudlacik, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kudlacik of 
Southgate. 
Ashley owns Ashley Zlatopolsky Media and Joseph is 
a regional digital sales manager at Salem Media. 
An October wedding is planned at Tam-O-Shanter 
Country Club.

Nathaniel James 
Emery, son of 
Carolyn and 
Jerrold Emery, 
will be called to 
the Torah as a 
bar mitzvah at Temple Israel 
in West Bloomfield on Friday, 
Jan. 21, 2022. He is the lov-
ing grandchild of Judith and 
William Martz, and Arlene 
Blum. 
Nate is a student at Power 
Middle School in Farmington 
Hills. For his mitzvah project, 
he donated his time at the 
Temple Israel Fresh Food 
Pantry.

Daniel Ilan 
Shapiro will 
become a bar 
mitzvah on 
Saturday, Jan. 22, 
2022. He is the 
son of Evan and Sheri 
Shapiro and brother to 
Meredith Shapiro. Grandpa 
and Savta Paul and Rena 
Gritt, and Bubbie Joan 
Shapiro are proud of his 
achievement. 
Daniel attends Hillel Day 
School in Farmington Hills. 
For his mitzvah project, he 
is raising money for and 
awareness against hatred 
by speaking out and selling 
shirts to benefit the Anti-
Defamation League.

Rabbi 
Schneor 
Greenberg

Parshat Yitro: 

Exodus 

18:1-20:23; 

Isaiah 

6:1-7:6; 9:5-6.

Freedom of Thought 

SPIRIT
TORAH PORTION

HOW TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mazel Tov! announcements are welcomed for members of the Jewish community. 
Anniversaries, engagements and weddings with a photo (preferably color) can appear 
at a cost of $18 each. Births are $10. There is no charge for bar/bat mitzvahs or for 
special birthdays starting at the 90th.
For information, contact Editorial Assistant Sy Manello at smanello@
thejewishnews.com or (248) 351-5147 for information or for a mailed or emailed 
copy of guidelines.

