Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/900775
Nutcracker The Sat., Nov. 25 at 2:30 & 7:30 p.m. Sun., Nov. 26 at 2:30 p.m. Matinees Feature Family Friendly Activities Featuring The Cincinnati Ballet with LIVE Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra "The Nutcracker" is now a 21 st Century spectacle! Bright, high-tech and filled with imagery!" Conducted by Carmon De Leone –David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer MichiganOpera.org or 313.237.7464 at the Detroit Opera House 2017-2018 Dance Season Sponsor (335,> 796+<*;065 November 16 • 2017 39 jn November 16 • 2017 39 jn A nd the children struggled within [Rebecca], and she said, "If it be so, why am I like this?" And she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two kingdoms will separate from your innards, and one kingdom will become mightier than the other kingdom, and the elder will serve the younger." (Genesis 25:22-23) We all have our moments. Sometimes we are genu- inely inspired. We feel uplift- ed. We feel spiritual. We feel that we have what it takes. A Chasidic way of expressing this feeling is a tefach hecher, an inch above worldly mat- ters. More often than not, how- ever, we feel earthly, materi- alistic and unrefined. Most of the time, we also act upon this feeling and say things that could be considered unrefined or do things that are not spiritual. We also have the ability to follow that unrefined action with a totally focused moment of spiritual uplift- ing. We could be gossiping, and a couple seconds later we could be engrossed in prayer. So we ask ourselves: Are we schizophrenic? Or worse, are we just hypocrites? Who is the real "me"? How could a mouth that just uttered angry words to a fellow, switch over to read God's praises? "This refutes a common error. When a foreign thought occurs to some people during prayer, they mistakenly conclude that their prayer is worthless; for if one prayed properly and correctly, no foreign thoughts would arise in his mind. They would be correct if there would be but one soul within a per- son, the same soul that prays being also the one that thinks and ponders on the foreign thoughts. But, in fact, there are two souls, each waging war against the other in the person's mind," wrote Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Tanya, chapter 28. In other words, defin- ing ourselves by the type of thoughts we think is a grave mistake. Our "self " will never be clearly defined as long as the battle is raging. We can't call one part of ourselves the winner just because it scored a home run. Until the game is over, there are two talented teams who are fighting for the prize. In our bodies, we have two souls who are trying to win control over our thoughts, speech and actions. There is always a team that is ahead and one that is catching up; but there is never a winner. Until we exhale our last breath, we are still in the game. So now we know that it is not schizophrenia, nor are we being hypocrites. It's just about winning the next hand, one hand at a time. Who are you rooting for? • Rabbi Yisrael Pinson is founder and director of Chabad of Greater Downtown Detroit and a chaplain with Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network. Rabbi Yisrael Pinson At War With Ourselves spirit torah portion Parshat Toldot: Genesis 25:19-29:9; I Samuel 20:18-42. (Shabbat Machar Chodesh) THANKSGIVING DINNER Roasted Turkey Breast off the bone, Pan Gravy, Challah Stuffi ng, Choice of Mixed Vegetables or Carrots, Choice of Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes or Roasted Redskin Potatoes, Cranberry Chutney, Challah Bread, House Baked Sour Cream Coffee Cake or 7 Layer Cake. Order must be placed by November 21 and picked up between 10am and 6pm on the November 22. $ 14 99 Per Person. Carry-Out Only Plus Tax 6724 Orchard Lake Rd. West Bloomfi eld 248-737-3890 www.picklesandryedeli.com www.facebook.com/picklesandrye Thank you for your support during construction. 20% Discount Dine-in Only. One coupon per table. Not valid with any other offer. Exp 12-31-17