Weekly Quiz
BY RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
(Copyright, .1965, JTA, Inc.)
Why is the letter "Shin" found
on one side of the head Tefillin
made with four stems instead of
the usual three?
A number of reasons are ad-
vanced for this, although the tradi-
tion is an ancient one dated back
from the days of Moses at Sinai.
Some claim that the extra stem is
like the letter "Yod" and therefore
it is as if there were two letters,
the "Shin" and the "Yod" which
spell "Yesh" which is the word
for existence. This symbolizes the
Almighty as the source of existence.
Others say that the reason for the
additional stem is that this would
indicate a raised letter which would
have four margins, even though it
has three sterns. This indicates
either the outstanding feature of
the script which should be indelibly
engraved in our hearts or the fact
that the words of faith should be
thoroughly felt through our whole
being.
Why must the hand Tefillin
be put on first before the head
Tefillin and then taken off last
after the head Tefillin is re-
moved.
The Rabbis explain that since
the verse of the Bible which speaks
of the head Tefillin refers to it
in the plural, this meant to infer
that whenever the head Tefillin
are on the person they should
never be there without having the
hand Tefillin on too, so that when-
ever the Head Tefillin is worn
there are always two Tefillin on the
person. Some take this to signify
that one should never entertain
thoughts in his mind unless they
are fit and proper to put into
action and unless one means to
put them into action. Judaism
has always been a positive dynamic
religion rather than a theoretical
and metaphysical system of con-
flicts alone.
Is it necessary to have the
Hebrew name of the individual
on the tombstone marking his
grave?
One of the purposes of the tomb-
stone is so that whoever visits the
grave will offer a prayer on behalf
of the deceased. This being the
case the Hebrew name of the
deceased should be on the tomb-
stone so that the prayer which is
offered in the Hebrew will include
his name, as is the traditional way
of praying for a deceased person.
Futhermore, since living persons
are usua 11 y named after their
deceased relatives, the H e b r e w
name inscription on the tombstone
is often the only clue to the iden-
tity of the name originally given
the child at a time when the He-
brew name is forgotten, as is so
often the case in recent times.
Why is it a custom to an-
nounce the exact moment at
which the new moon will appear
during the Saturday morning
service before its appearance?
This is reminiscent of the an-
cient times in which the Jewish
tribunal in Jerusalem would re-
ceive word from the witnesses who
were sent to observe the moon
identifying its moment of appear-
ance on the horizon, since it was
the appearance of the new moon
which signified that a new month
was to be counted on the Jewish
calendar. Even today when all this
reckoning is done mathematically
by computation, we at least know
the exact moment on the Sabbath
before the appearance of the new
moon so that the worshippers will
be mindful of the fact that a new
moon is soon to appear as a dem-
onstration of the Almighty's in-
finite wisdom and providence. It is
related that in days of old the
populace used to assemble before
the doors of the Holy Temple
when the new moon was expected.
By a miracle the doors would
open by themselves and the gather-
ing would understand that that
was the pr e c i s e moment of the
appearance of the new moan
(Pirke D'Rabbi Eliezer, chapter
51).
Why is this particularly done
on the Sabbath?
Originally as it appears from
the Seder of Rabbi Amram Gaon
this announcement was made on
the day of the new moon itself.
However, in later times, including
our own, the greatest assembly of
worshippers were present in the
synagogue on Sabbath morning
and thus the announcement was
made during the Sabbath morning
services so that as. many people as
possible could hear it. The first
day of the month. (Rosh Chodesh)
apparently diminished in observ-
ance and, importance through the
years.
Israel Seeks to Secure
$50,000,000 in Surplus
Commodities From U.S.
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Israel
has opened discussions with the
United States on the renewal of
sales to Israel involving an esti-
mated $40- to $50,000,000 in sur-
plus commodities.
Israel Ambassador Avraham
Harman met on this topic with
Orville Freeman, U.S. secretary of
agriculture. No details have yet
been specified on the categories
involved.
Sen. Jacob K. Javits, New York
Republican, warned that the State
Department may try to resume
massive aid to Egypt during the
congressional recess. "The admin-
istration," he said, "is rendering
a disservice to all foreign aid pro-
grams end seriously impairing its
relations with the Congress if it
attempts a post-adjournment end
run on Egyptian economic aid."
He urged the administration to
disclose the extent of current ne-
gotiations with Egypt "and consult
with the Congress and the Amer-
ican people." He asked what as-
surances America had that Nas-
ser's efforts to prepare an exter-
mination war against Israel would
not be facilitated by American aid.
........
Sean Connery, who has
achieved international fame in
his series of secret agent por-
trayals, now enacts the most
powerful role of his career as
the degraded warrant officer
in Kenneth Hyman's production,
"The Hill," directed by Sidney
Lumet. A searing drama of the
experiences and emotional con-
flict of a group of British soldiers
confined to a stockade in North
Africa during World War II, the
picture is presented by Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer and Seven Arts.
Now at the Fox Theater.
Israeli - Danish Exports
Israel's exports to Denmark
totaled $4,100,000 last year com-
pared with imports from that coun-
try amounting to $6,200,000. Israel
supplies Denmark with citrus fruit
and its by-products, tires, cotton
and woolen yarns, bathing suits
and polished diamonds.
THE DETROIT JEWISH• NEWS
Friday, October 29, 1965-11
'XMAS- NEW YEARS
Golf and Country Clubs/Hollywood
'
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each
GREAT ENTERTAINMENT! The sensational JAY AND THE AMERICANS,
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PLUS! magnificent buffets, cocktail parties, feature movies, children's
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and
so much morel
F ILL YOU
BE A HOLLYWOOD BEACH HOTEL FAMILY?
$20 50*
5 EXCITING FALL
VACATIONS!
7 DAYS •-• B NIGHTS
/ a per person,
from $ 1.3.7
(IN MAIN BUILDING) (GOLFERS' LODGE)
FOR GOLFERS, FISHERMEN,
HONEYMOONERS,
HEALTH-SEEKERS *
and SUN '14 fUNNERS!
For reservations,
Dec. 17
$ 25 50*D".17
to Jan. 2 $2850* to Jan. 2
double occ.
through Dec. 17, 210 of 500 rooms
SEE YOUR TRAVEL AGENT
DETROIT:
961-6003
Dec. 17 to San. 2
(BEACH CLUB)
INCLUDES 3 DELICIOUS MEALS DAILY
*Daily per person, double occ.
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INTRODUCING OUR NEW
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...the finest test of volt in
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tee to guests of the Holly.
or call
BEN TOBIN, President
wood Beach Hotel.
■ ••••••
JACK PARKER,
Managing Director_
Effective Dec. 15 except as noted.
Winter after Winter after Winter!
Most people
jet Delta
to Florida
The onlyJets
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From fireside to poolside before lunch! Fish all
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This second FanJet also gets you there before noon.
Serves Louisville and Atlanta en route.
•
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Your most convenient mid-morning non-stop, from
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•
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Miami - 12:35pm
Exclusive mid-day non-stop with Gourmet lunch-
eon. Arrive just after 3 pm. Begins Feb. 6.
Miami - 6:10pm
End-of-day express fits here-all-day, there-to-night
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Miami - 10:00pm
Thrifty night fares start here—just $57.60. And 2 & 3
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•
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Another pet Jet of the thrifty set. Non-stop this time.
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Tampa - 8 . .15am
Join. us for brunch and you can fish before lunch!
Convenient Metro departure. Just one-stop.
Breakfast your way south. Arrive well before noon.
Have a full afternoon for golf or the races.
NON-STOP
Tampa - 6:10pm
Premier evening Jet . Cocktails,hors d'oeuvres, wines,
filet mignon or sirloin in First Class. 2 hrs. 11 min.
Tampa - 10:00pm
EVening economy flight with a cheerful $50.60 fare.
Only one stop. You're there by 1 :00 am. Eff. Feb. 1.
.
Miami Day Jetourist $73.40, Night $57.60
Tampa Day Jetourist $63.60, Night $50.60
—
i.
—
add tax to all fare*
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the air line with the