30 Friday, August 14, 1981 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Movie Sparks Interest in Biblical Legend Nobody e \ lls} diamo for les s - By GILA BERKOWITZ (Copyright 1981, JTA, Inc.) 4. Shop around and compare. Then bring us your best price. We'll beat it. You will soon discover who has the lowest price and the largest selection of diamonds anwhere. Hundreds of settings to choose from. HOWARD S. NISKAR • G1A ACCREDITED DIAMOND APPRAISER VISA' You'll Need Us — To Be Sure!! CARTIER WATCHES AND FINE.JEWELRY Expert 1'.'atch & Jewelry . Repatt PIANto. "THE DIAMOND PEOPLE FOR OVER 50 YEARS" 30555 Southfield Rd. • Congress Bldg., Suite 100 Southfield. Mi. • 1 block south of 13 Mile Rd. • 645-9200 What's the biggest ques- tion facing Jews this sum- mer? Whether the Iraqis will rebuild their nuclear plant? Whether the Palestine Lib- eration Organization will break the cease-fire? Whether the Israeli gov- ernment will pass a new Who is a Jew" law? No, no, and no! By far and the most-asked question, from Jew and gen- tile alike, is: What was the Ark of the Covenant really like? The question is being .11 5 LBS. OF MATZO If I Can't Beat Your Best Deal Margolis Household Furniture 6 Mile, 1 Blk. W. of Schaefer ARNOLD MARGOLIS INTERIOR DECORATOR SERVICE MATTRESS SALE Featuring: Beauty Rest by Simmons and all other national brands Furniture and Bedding •SCHOOLFIELD •SELIG 'SIMMONS •SEALY •SERTA •SPRING AIR •LA-Z- BOY •STIFFEL LAMPS -•KROEHLER •AMERICAN •BURLINGTON •BASSETT •BARCALOUNGER •LANE •UNIQUE 13703 W. McNichols 342-5351 Mrs. Mon thru Sat. 9:30 til 5:30 JOIN THE CENTER ...GET SOME "CLAS FREE! RECEIVE UP TO $ 45 TOWARD ONE CLASS OF YOUR CHOICE OVER 200 CLASSES OFFERED PARENT/TODDLER CLASSES 40-100 THROUGH 40-109 AND 40-200 THROUGH 40-210 EXCLUDED WITH THE PURCHASE OF A JCC MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES ALL JCC FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS (HEALTH CLUB NOT INCLUDED) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CALL THE MEMBERSHIP DEPT. 661-1000 deuvish Gymmunity center - OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT asked by hundreds of thousands, thanks to the hit - movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark." While the film is pure fun and fantasy, its depic- tion of the Ark is close enough to the Bible's to set the audience wondering what it was, what powers it had, and what ever became of it. Jewish legend is rich with speculation about all of this. The Ark of the Covenant is described in the Bible as consisting of three boxes, the outer and inner ones of pure gold, sandwiching one of acacia wood. Inside-were the Tablets of the Law that Moses brought down from Sinai. Legends differ as to whether these were the broken tablets the whole ones, or both sets. Two poles ran through the sides of the 'Ark, by which it was carried from place to place. Golden cherubim whose wing-span was twice the length of the Ark were affixed to the top. All of it was covered with a sky-blue cloth. Miraculous properties and events are attributed to the Ark. It preceded the Children of Israel through- out their journey in the des- ert. When the time came to move to a new camp, the Ark would soar into the air in the direction God wished them to take. The Ark cleared the path of all snakes and scorpions, burned any thorns, and emitted a cloud of delicious incense for the comfort of the Israelites. It further smoothed their way by leveling mountains. The enemies of the Jews waiting in ambush in the hills were crushed in the process. Enemies that at- tacked on level ground were destroyed by fiery jets radiating from the poles. When Solomon moved the Ark into its permanent home, the Holy of Holies in the Temple, the wings of the cherubim fluttered out, ex- tending the ceilings. The Ark's dimensions existed outside of physical reality — it was said that the avail- able space in the Holy of Holies was the same whether the Ark was in it or not. The premise of the movie is that the Ark can make any army invinci- ble in war. The Bible it- self rejects this opinion; the powers of the Ark were for the Israelites only and worked for them only when their moral status pleased the Lord. Instant death awaited the person foolish enough to touch the Ark or even insult it from afar. So powerful was the Lou i- Blessings we enjoy daily, and for the most of them, be- cause they be so common, men forget to pay their praises — But let not us, be- cause it is a sacrifice so pleasing to him who still protects us, and gives us flowers, and showers, and meat, and content. ness of the Ark that catas- trophe 'ensued from over-' looking the least detail of its handling. Only Levites of the family of K'hat, were permitted to carry the Ark, and they had to be espe- cially careful. A K'hati glimpsing part of the Ark from under its cloth cover would experience such di- vine rapture that his spirit would fly out of the world and he would lose his life. A man called Uzzah who, seeing the Ark was about to fall, reached out to support it, was zapped by a lethal spark. While his motive seemed worthy, he demon- strated a lack of faith. In any event it was forbidden to touch the Ark under any circumstance. Once in the Temple, the Ark was approached only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, and then only by the High Priest. He would enter the Holy of Holies dragging a long chain. If he was not worthy of representing the Jewish people he would drop dead in the chamber and his col- leagues would have to pull him out by the chain. - There was no longer an Ark in the Second Tem- ple. Neither is the Ark listed among the booty taken from the First Temple. When did the Ark disappear and where was it taken? Some say that Jeremiah, foreseeing the destruction of the Temple some 20 years later (in 586 BCE trans- ported it over the Jordan to the secret mountain where Moses is buried. Another legend has it that it is buried in a cave beneath Jerusalem, along with the almond-blossom rod of Aaron, a packet of manna, and a vial of sacred oil. The latter will be used to anoint the Messiah, who is destined to restore the Ark to its people. !! WHY WORRY !! 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