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Rabbi Bigman's Letter 1924 Coolidge Road, East Lansing, Michigan 48823 • Ph: 517‐351‐3570 • Fax: 517‐351‐5909 • www.shaareyzedek.com MAY 2021 IYAR /SIVAN 5781 Pre‐registraon is required: hp://bit.ly/Shavuot21 RABBI BIGMAN’S LETTER It is customary between Pesach and Shavuot to read from Pirkei Avot, "The Sayings of Our An- cestors." Avot is a section of the Mishnah, which is essentially a legal text. The Mishnah takes the laws found in the Torah and arranges them in order by topic. It consists of six orders (s'darim) which contain a total of 63 tractates. Avot is different than the other 62 tractates of the Mishnah in that it contains the sayings of the rabbis -- the moral, ethical, and philosophical teachings of about sixty rabbis -- rather than citing specific laws. It was compiled by Rabbi Yehudah Ha-Nasi (Judah the Prince) around the year 200 C.E. This year during our Friday evening Shabbat worship since the beginning of Pesach, I have cho- sen one or two texts from Pirkei Avot to study using a new-ish book titled Pirkei Avot: A Social Justice Commentary by Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz. While Rabbi Dr. Yanklowitz is an Orthodox rabbi, this book's publisher is the CCAR Press (Central Conference of American Rabbis Press), which is affiliated with the Reform Movement. A very interesting combination indeed! The first two chapters of Pirkei Avot trace the uninterrupted transmission of the Torah from the first rabbis to the disciples of these original rabbis and through the generations of rabbis who followed. By placing themselves in a line of transmission that begins with Sinai, the rabbis of the Mishnah define themselves as the possessors of the authentic tradition. One of my favorite teachings from Pirkei Avot comes from the last two mishnayot of the second chapter. Rabbi Tarfon, who lived in the middle of the first century and into the second century, is cited in Pirkei Avot 2:20 and 2:21 (sometimes numbered as 2:15 and 2:16): Rabbi Tarfon says: The day is short, the task is abundant... He [also] used to say: You are not required to complete the task, yet you are not free to desist from it. Rabbi Dr. Yanklowitz notes that there is much to do and that it is difficult to balance the different parts of our lives: "But we must find balance; it is commanded of us." [p. 116] He goes on to note that: [S]piritual and cultural changes take a long time to shift. Slavery was prohibited in America, but more than a century and a half later, we're still dealing with the racial injustice that the practice of slavery set in motion. And to be sure, the fact that injustice continues to fester shows that the work to im- prove the world can never cease. We must engage deeply in the issues that affect countless people and propel the world toward justice. [p. 117] ...Going forth into the world to promote change and seek harmony is a sacred task. [p. 120] Working towards making our world a better place is our responsibility: As the first-century Hillel said: "One must not separate oneself from the community." [Pirkei Avot 2:5; some editions 2:4] This is our challenge. This is our sacred duty. 2 Commentary MAY 2021 IYAR /SIVAN 5781 CELEBRATING JOYOUS OCCASIONS Please join us on Friday, May 7 at 7 p.m. for Please join us on Friday, May 21 at 7 p.m. Shabbat worship and the for Shabbat worship and the Graduation Ceremony for our 2020 and 2021 Conirmation Ceremony for our 2021 classes: Class: Class of 2020 Alex Adam Juliana Cohen Child of Miriam and Razvan Adam Child of Shannon and Matthew Cohen Sara Cook Ethan Olds Child of Rebecca Bahar-Cook and Todd Cook Child of Shawn and Jeff Olds Forrest Colson Josie Shapiro Child of Janet and Mark Colson Child of Karen and Erik Shapiro Bonita Yoder (in absentia) Registration for both services is required Child of Monica and Lewis Resnick and Ken Yoder and can be found at https://zoom.us/j/96901881729? pwd=Y1VxY2h0WFIzNnBITVErQ1ZsejNOQ Class of 2021 T09 Myles Behar This link is for BOTH the May 7 and the Child of Stephanie Constan and Jack and Jenifer May 21 service. We look forward to Behar sharing our congregation's joyous occasions with you! Ella Horgan Child of Cindy and Brian Horgan Rachel Olds Child of Shawn and Jeff Olds 3 Commentary MAY 2021 IYAR /SIVAN 5781 4 Commentary MAY 2021 IYAR /SIVAN 5781 GIFTS, HONORS AND MEMORIALS Congregaon Shaarey Zedek is grateful CANTOR PAMELA SCHIFFER CARING RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND for your generous contribuons to our COMMUNITY FUND In memory of Linda Woodrow designated funds. These funds enable In memory of Naomi Rachman Mike Woodrow and family the congregaon to offer services and Carol and Ron Horowitz In memory of Naomi Rachman programs that would not otherwise be Jami, Sami and Josh Weinberg The Rachman Family available. While donaons of any Lisa and Tom Aronson In memory of Wesley R. Fishel amount are most welcome, due to rising Robin Marcus Larry Fishel Lynne and Jon Shapiro costs, a minimum donaon of $18 will be required in order to receive a lisng in JOE AND MABLE MEITES RELIGIOUS DAVID AND CARROL KAHN CULTURAL SCHOOL FUND the “Commentary” and acknowledgment FUND In honor of my grandson, Asa Wheeler, to a recipient. This policy applies to the : In memory of Naomi Rachman becoming Bar Mitzvah Judy Minkin • Jeanee Abeles Scholar‐in‐ Wendy Kahn and Susie Stern In memory of Linda Woodrow Residence Fund GENERAL FUND Sue Safir Bee Sue Riman All Children Are Special Fund In memory of Linda Woodrow In honor of Asa Wheeler becoming Bar In memory of Naomi Rachman Mitzvah Bernard Friedland Educaonal Fund Gail Eisenberg Bubbe Lynn Rycus Beauficaon Steve and Mitzi Goldstein Fund A donaon in memory of Linda HENRY FINE AND ANNETTE FINE BURKE Building Fund Woodrow and Naomi Rachman was LIBRARY FUND Cantor Pamela Schiffer Caring made. An Oneg will be held in their In memory of Naomi Rachman Community Fund memory when we are able to do so. Sue Safir Elaine Cherney Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund In memory of Linda Woodrow David and Carrol Kahn Cultural Fund ESTHER AND JUSTIN MORRISON FUND In memory of Naomi Rachman Henry Fine and Annee Fine Burke Happy Birthday to: Elaine Cherney Memorial Library Fund Ezra Morrison Joseph & Jeannee Lutvak Fund Jerry Fine ETHEL WOLFE KITCHEN FUND Winnie Rome Joseph and Mable Meites Religious Alan Wolfe In memory of: School Fund Happy Anniversary to Carol and Ron Linda Woodrow Jerry Cohen Photography Fund Horowitz Naomi Rachman In memory of: Esther and Jusn Morrison Fund Harold DeJong Landscape Fund Gerson Bernstein Alan and Gail Wolfe Prayer Book Fund Linda Woodrow Naomi Rachman Rabbi’s Discreonary Fund Esther Morrison Robert Goodman Music Fund Rabbi Morton and Aviva Hoffman SOPHIE RADWAY PJ LIBRARY FUND Tzedakah Fund In honor of the recovery of Richard Sophie Radway PJ Library Fund Mermelstein In memory of Linda Woodrow In memory of Naomi Rachman Also included are these endowed funds. Marlene and Burt Altman Please make separate checks payable to these funds: A generous donaon was received from Mahew Aldridge Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund ● Maureen Gladstone Flower Fund In memory of Naomi Rachman In memory of Linda Woodrow Ruth E. Rome Endowed Music Fund Ros Covey Florence Rudman Educaon Fund Carol Welch Shapiro Endowed Religious School In memory of Naomi Rachman Fund Judy Robins CSZ Endowment Fund Naomi and Blake Casher L’ Dor Vador Fund In memory of Linda Woodrow Bonnie, Dick and Andy Radway ROBERT GOODMAN MUISC FUND Gloria Epstein I’m looking forward to the next phase of In memory of Linda Woodrow MAUREEN GLADSTONE FLOWER FUND our wonderful 100+ year old congre- In memory of Naomi Rachman In memory of: gation and TOGETHER we can Maureen Gladstone Joan and Don Gochberg make it wonderful! Harold Gladstone RUTH E. ROME MUSIC FUND Jon Ezzo In memory of Naomi Rachman Marty Ross Marv Gladstone Susan and James Kostaroff 8 Commentary MAY 2021 IYAR /SIVAN 5781 REMEMBRANCES YAHRTZEITS May 28‐29 MEMORIAL BOARD April 30 and May 1 Jack Davis, Max Feintuch, Stanley Gold, Raymond Grigg, Ethel Jack Baker, Anne Bigman, Peter PLAQUES Kirschman, Blanche Oxer, Charles Blyveis, Andre Elia, Charles Ruben, Judith Smookler Fenberg, Helen Handelsman, Eva Haner, Jim Johnson, David Kaplowitz, Margaret Kramer, Irving B. Kremer, Thelma Saper, CONDOLENCES Leonard Silk Condolences are sent to Nancy May 7‐8 Benne and family on the death of Rebecca Dinetz, Edna Dyme, John her father, Joseph Bradley Becker, Eliasohn, Shirley Gaynor, Audrey on March 27. Gienapp, Arthur Hendrick, Marlene Condolences are sent to Chrisna Hoffman, Milton Kaufman, Robert DeJong and family on the death of Memorialize your loved one and Kramer, Harriet Lieberman, Joseph her father, Harold DeJong, on April 3. Marton, Mildred Molner, Leanor honor their name with a plaque in Reizen, Rose Smith, Avi Teles Condolences are sent to Mike the Shaarey Zedek sanctuary. Woodrow and family on the death of May 14‐15 his wife, Linda Woodrow, on April 4. Please contact Pay Warshaw in Gerson Bernstein, Robert Blau, Jules the Shaarey Zedek office for Danowitz, Augusta Dorfman, Max Condolences are sent to the family of Drelich, Irene Ely, Louis Eyl, Art Falk, Naomi Rachman, who died on further informaon. April 4. Francis Fine, Judy Frank, Aviva Hoff‐ man, William Rosenthal, Jerold Sa‐ per, Mildred Spalter, Leonid Spivak, Agnes Wepman, James Wilson May 21‐22 Isadore Bloom, Edith Reid Flaster, Tom Gochberg, Toddy Gold, Bernice Israel, Alexander Kahn, Bernice Kaufman, Lillian Maes, Norman Pollack, Bekah Rosenfeld, Jerrold Selman, Simon Silverman, Louis Zidell ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeng of Congregaon Shaarey Zedek will be held on Sunday, May 16 at 10:00 a.m.
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