SPIRIT
TORAH PORTION
Schwarcz-Stetser
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enneth and Mildred Schwarcz of Lake Orion announce the engagement of their daughter Dr. Brianna Schwarcz to Thomas Stetser of Royal Oak. Brianna earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan, and her medical degree at Marian University. Thomas earned his degree in finance and economics at Michigan State University. He works as an investment analyst at Merrill Lynch.
Schwarcz-Hamill
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enneth and Mildred Schwarcz of Lake Orion announce the marriage of their daughter Alyssa Schwarcz to Andrew Hamill, the son of Robb and Sandra Hamill of Wixom. Alyssa earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Andrew has his master’s degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The two were married in a beautiful, small ceremony in the garden of The Whitney in Detroit. Alyssa’s sister, Brianna Schwarcz, was the maid of honor. Other participants in the ceremony included their daughter, Emerson, and Andrew’s brothers, Timothy and Patrick Hamill.
Spark of Goodness
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ecently, the world experiMr. Avner asked, “Has the enced the COVID crisis. Rebbe lit my candle?” He It will never be the same. answered, “No. I have given you I have seen the deep toll — the match. Only you can light no one came away unaffected. your own candle.” Looking back at this deeply There is a fundamental premscarring year, we may ask ourise in Judaism that everyone selves a simple question: has a spark of goodness Do we, as human beings, and justice within them, have what it takes to cona unique energy that front this kind of adverempowers them to impact sity? Or for that matter the world for the good. any kind of difficulty that Unfortunately, this spirit challenges us to our core? Rabbi Yeshai of goodness can someEliefja The answer, I believe, times be dimmed and is yes. There is somedifficult to reach or even Parshat thing embedded in the recognize, but the potenMattot/ human psyche that, if tial remains. Massei: tapped into properly, can It was this spark of Numbers serve as an anchor for goodness that the Rebbe 30:2-36:13; every human being to Isaiah 66:1- sought to empower every 24. (Shabbat individual to reveal. The overcome adversity and confront the unexpected Rosh Hodesh) Rebbe believed and taught changes we experience. that the essence of goodThe late Yehuda Avner served ness and morality within every on the personal staff of five person can survive under all Israeli prime ministers. In 1977, circumstances and only needs to he had a private meeting with be revealed. the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi We are now in the three Menachem M. Schneerson, the weeks of mourning for the leader of the global Chabaddestruction of the Holy Temples. Lubavitch movement. During This is a time to reflect upon the conversation, Avner asked the root cause of the destructhe Rebbe what exactly the role tion, namely, the baseless hatred of a rebbe is. that was prevalent at that time. “I will tell you what I’m tryThe way to rectify this is with ing to do,” the Rebbe replied. “baseless love” by focusing on “Imagine you are looking at a the holy spark embedded within cupboard, and you see a candle each of us, thereby ensuring that there; but I tell you that it is not our own candle shines brightly a candle — it is a lump of wax and helps others light their with a piece of string inside. own. This will prepare our little When do the wax and the wick corner of the world for an era of become a candle? When one true world peace and tranquility brings a flame to the wick. That with the coming of Moshiach is when the wax and the wick and the rebuilding of the third fulfill the purpose for which Holy Temple; may it be speedily they were created. in our days. “And that is what I try to do Rabbi Yishai Eliefja is the youth director — to help everyone fulfill the at The Shul–Chabad Lubavitch in West purpose for which they were Bloomfield. created.” JULY 8 • 2021
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