SPIRIT
TORAH PORTION
Epstein-Peri
A
nita and Avi Peri and Suzi and Stuart Epstein are thrilled to announce the marriage of their children, Neilly Peri and Jason Epstein. The marriage ceremony took place in September 2020 at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills. Due to the pandemic, a celebration party was held later, in October 2021. Neilly and Jason were thrilled to have their grandmother Nanny Dorie Wallace participate in their wedding ceremony. Jason received his undergraduate degree from U of M and his J.D. from Florida State College of Law. He is the co-founder of CTC, a recruiting and consulting firm. Neilly graduated from MSU and works for a digital advertising agency. The couple look forward to spending many more happy years together.
Willens 100th
B
orn and raised in Detroit, Jean Willens lives an active life with family and friends in Franklin. She will be celebrating her milestone on Feb. 6, 2022, in her winter home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Enjoying this exciting event with her will be her daughter, Joan Abraham, and her significant other, Ken Matasar; her daughter and son-in-law, Amy Willens and Ben Rosenberg; her grandchildren, Geoffrey and Jill Abraham, and Leslie Rosenberg; and greatgrandchildren, Joey Rose and Sam Abraham. Joining them will be nieces and nephews from Modesto, Calif., and family from Los Angeles, including Jeffrey and Roya Sklar. At 100, Jean is still reading the Jewish News every week.
Finding Success
W
hen one lives in a us to recognize two paradoxical time of mass inno- realities: 1) That we are tasked vation, it becomes with putting in the requisite increasingly easy to believe we effort, and 2) That no matter can do things all by ourselves. how much effort we exert, Gone are the days when one we cannot succeed without would have to travel help, whether it be from to a store or call up an HaShem or from others. expert to find a soluThe Sfas Emes’ grandfation for day-to-day ther, the Chidushei HaRim predicaments. “Just (Rav Yitzchak Meir Alter) Google it,” “look it up similarly comments on on YouTube,” and “ask Rabbi Shaya the Talmudic dictum, “If Katz Siri” have replaced “go someone says, ‘I toiled and check out a book from found no success,’ do not Parshat the library,” “call a believe him; ‘I have not Terumah: plumber” and “watch toiled and found success,’ Exodus the weather on the do not believe him; ‘I have 25:1`-27:14; evening news.” toiled and found success,’ I Kings Besides the war of believe him” (Megilah 6b). 5:26-6:13. attrition against everyBut why does it say “found one’s humility, this success”? Should it not phenomenon breeds an altohave said “I achieved success,” gether new challenge: distrust. since they’ve toiled for it? In HaShem instructs Moshe, truth, explains the Chiddushei “You shall make the menorah HaRim, every success we enjoy out of pure gold, from one is due to others’ contributions, piece it shall be made” (Exodus no matter how much effort 25:31). At first, the menowe exert; some of it is always rah was meant to be actively “found.” formed, “you shall make,” but The more technology then the process seems passive, advances, the more we feel “it shall be made.” Rashi (Rabbi like we’re in control. But as Shlomo Yitzchaki, 11th centudriving on the roads, meeting ry, France) explains that Moshe our deadlines and fighting first attempted to make the COVID has taught us, we menorah on his own until he have to trust and rely on othrelented due to the difficulty of ers if we want to truly “find the task; after which, HaShem success.” If we can avoid the created the menorah Himself. instinctive trappings of our The Sfas Emes (Rabbi modern-day lifestyles and Yehudah Leib Alter, 19th find room to seek out others, century, Poland) asks why, if including HaShem, to rely HaShem was willing to make on, then we will not only find it Himself, did He instruct success and develop caring Moshe to do so in the first communities, but we, too, can place? Surely, Moshe could illuminate the world, like a have been involved with other menorah. pursuits that needed his attenRabbi Shaya Katz is rabbi of Young tion! The Sfas Emes explains Israel of Oak Park. that HaShem asks from all of FEBRUARY 3 • 2022
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