In This Issue… Beth Israel's Social Action Committee Will Host Brunch
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Washtenaw Jewish News Presort Standard In this issue… c/o Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor U.S. Postage PAID 2939 Birch Hollow Drive Ann Arbor, MI With fires Main Jewish Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Permit No. 85 out, its Event educators time big learn to rebuild success using Torah Page 2 Page 13 Page 20 December 2016/January 2017 Kislev/Tevet 5777 Volume XVI: Number 4 FREE Beth Israel’s Social Action Committee will host brunch and film premiere Elliot Sorkin, special to the WJN n January 22, at 10:30 a.m., of God in Search of Man, and The Prophets. Beth Israel Congregation will Yet Heschel was compelled by his religious O host the Michigan premiere of beliefs to leave the confines of his study to parts of a documentary in progress about fight for human dignity, immersing himself Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Praying in the struggle for civil rights, the religious With My Legs. Filmmaker Steve Brand will opposition to the war in Vietnam, and join attendees via Skype. Rabbi Alana Alp- the dismantling of two thousand years ert, who is among those interviewed in the of Catholic anti-Semitism at the Second IMAGES AP OF COURTESY PHOTO film, is the rabbi at T’chiyah in Detroit, Vatican Council. The task, he believed, was guest rabbi at the Ann Arbor Reconstruc- to “humanize the sacred and to sanctify tionist Congregation, and leader of Detroit the secular.” A pioneer in inter-religious Jews for Justice, will also make remarks. As dialogue, he taught, “We must choose Steve Brand notes, most Americans—and between interfaith or internihilism... no Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, second from the right, and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma 1965. even most American Jews—know little if religion is an island.” His call for reverence anything about Heschel’s life and work. for the innate dignity of every human and Rabbi Heschel’s friendship. Heschel’s RSVPs are requested. RSVP by January 17, Some may recall Heschel’s friendship with being and his warning against the dangers yahrtzeit is on the 18th of Tevet, which is to [email protected]. Dr. Martin Luther King, and their pres- of religious fundamentalism are searingly on January 16 this year, the day Dr. King’s Attendees will also have the opportunity ence at the front of the line on the 1965 relevant in our world of bitter partisanship birthday is observed. to make donations to support completing the Selma march. and demonization of the other. Heschel’s is In addition, the brunch will honor Beth film and/or to the vital work of Detroit Jews Brand continues: a voice of conscience for all time. Israel volunteers past, present and future, for Justice. Co-sponsors for the program are He was among the most widely respected The program’s proximity to MLK Day who make the community a better place. still in formation, and will be announced as Jewish thinkers of the 20th Century, author provides an opportunity to honor Dr. King There is no charge for the brunch, but the event draws closer. n One mitzvah, one candle, one community Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company returns Jessica L. Gillespie, special to the WJN ne mitzvah leads to another. If you to Ann Arbor for two performances give of yourself you can help each Mallory Shea, special to the WJN O other. One mitzvah leads to an- niversity Musical Society (UMS) will other. To be righteous is very good.” Those welcome the Batsheva Dance Com- words are a powerful quote from a well-known U pany for two performances: Satur- children’s song, “One Mitzvah,” by composer day, January 7, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, January Susan Shane-Linder that is meant to help chil- 8, at 2 p.m. in Ann Arbor’s Power Center (121 dren understand that performing mitzvot is Fletcher Street). about choosing to do good things and be good Batsheva Dance Company has been critical- people. Of the many mitzvot Jews are called to ly acclaimed and popularly embraced as one of do, tzedakah is one of the most powerful and the foremost contemporary dance companies certainly one of the most popular, but tzedakah in the world. The company draws dancers from is not charity, as it is all too often translated. Israel and abroad. It maintains an extensive per- tion, revolutionized the company’s training, and Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson says, “Tzedakah is formance schedule locally and internationally emerged as a growing international force in the not about giving; tzedakah is about being. Let’s with over 250 performances and over 75,000 larger field of movement practices for both danc- reflect together about who we truly are.” Tzeda- spectators per year. ers and non-dancers. kah is the concept that one is obligated to give of The company was founded in 1964 by the In Ann Arbor, the company will perform the oneself to show kindness to fellow human be- Ira and Andrew Horowitz Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild, who enlisted North American premiere of Last Work, Naha- ings and hence improve one’s inner self, but not can understand. How do adults teach children Martha Graham as its first artistic adviser, a role rin’s new evening-length piece performed by 18 to seek or receive praise for doing so. Children about giving tzedakah and honoring tikkun that she held until 1975. Ohad Naharin assumed dancers. With its shifts from sustained, medi- learn at some point that tzedakah is related to olam? How do parents teach their children the role of Artistic Director in 1990 and propelled tative movement to frenzied bursts of energy, another Jewish concept, tikkun olam or repair- that their participation in mitzvot impacts the company into a new era with his adventurous this exploration of human motion—and emo- ing the world. These complex and reflective the world around them and strengthens their curatorial vision and distinctive choreographic tion—generates powerful images that will not ideas are not learned overnight, but learning Jewish identity? How are these values passed voice. Mr. Naharin is also the originator of the soon be forgotten. about them begins in childhood. on to the next generation?” innovative movement language, Gaga, which has For ticket information, go to ums.org or call Adults share these ideas in ways children continued on page 2 enriched his extraordinary movement inven- (734) 764-2538. n I Community 2935 Birch Hollow Drive Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 With fires out in Israel, it’s time to rebuild voice: 734/971-1800 e-mail: [email protected] by Donna Breitbart www.washtenawjewishnews.org ovember 28, New York. Following six Yoram Levy, national spokesperson for the days of devastating fires that ravaged Israel Firefighters and Rescue Services said that Editor and Publisher Let Encore Sell It For You: Israel, Jewish National Fund (JNF- this series of fires were some of the worst the Electronics • Musical Instruments N Susan Kravitz Ayer Designer Items • Antiques & Collectibles USA)is stepping up fundraising efforts to raise Sterling Silver • Sporting Goods the many millions of dollars needed to help Calendar Editor Camera & Audio/Visual Equipment the nation recover. Since Tuesday, November Claire Sandler 22, approximately 10,000 acres of forests have been destroyed by fires. Some 137 people have Advertising Manager suffered fire-related injuries. At least 569 homes Gordon White burned down throughout Israel and in Haifa Design and Layout alone, more than 700 homes were damaged, Dennis Platte 37 were destroyed, 400 are uninhabitable, and 75,000 residents were evacuated. MUSHKIN DAVID CREDIT: PHOTO Staff Writers “For a week our beloved homeland was en- An Israeli firefighter in Haifa Mary Bilyeu, Sandor Slomovits, Rochel Urist gulfed in devastating fires forcing hundreds of country ever experienced. “What made this families to abandon their homes on the front incredibly difficult to fight, more so than the Contributing Writers lines,” said JNF-USA CEO Russell F. Robinson. Carmel fire in 2010, was the number of blazes Barb Banet, Donna Breitbart, Rabbi Robert Dobrusin, Shrina Eadeh, “We are on the ground in Israel every day im- that took place simultaneously all across Israel,” Jacob Ehrlich, Karen Freedland, Rosemary proving lives, but now we are needed more than said Levy. “We had every firefighter across the Frenza Chudnof, Jessica L. Gillespie, Rabbi ever. To answer the great need, we have launched country fighting the fires and witnessing ex- Aharon Goldstein, Sora Gordon, Linda Greene, a special campaign for the intensive reforesta- tensive damage to infrastructure, housing, and Peretz Hirshbein, Rachael Hoffenblum, Leah tion of areas destroyed by fires, as well as criti- land from the north to the south and east to Josephson, Rachel Leung, Andrei S. Markovits, cally needed firefighting trucks and equipment.” west. Thankfully, we experienced no casualties SooJi Minn, JenniferRosenberg,Ayelet Shapiro, JNF-USA’s partners involved in the fire- among our members and are now returning to Mallory Shea, Clara Silver, Deborah Silver, On sale fighting efforts include Keren Kayemeth normal conditions but now we have to look to Elliot Sorkin, Larisa Zade at local bookstores LeIsrael (KKL-JNF), Israel Firefighters and the future and order many tons of new equip- The Washtenaw Jewish News is published and through Rescue Services, Green Horizons, Gush Etzion, ment to replace what we lost.” monthly, with the exception of January and July. Amazon Halutza, HaShomer HaChadash, JNFuture Is- JNF-USA’s fundraising efforts include rais- It is registered as a Non-profit Michigan Corpo- rael, LOTEM, Makom, Nefesh B’Nefesh, Tor ing $10,000,000 to purchase firefighting appa- ration. Opinions expressed in this publication do Hamidbar, Western Galilee Now, and others.