86 Friday, March 25, 1983
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Jewish Life Before the Exodus
By DVORA WAYSMAN
World Zionist Press Service
JERUSALEM — Every
year we celebrate Passover
by retelling the story of the
Exodus from Egypt, how
God delivered us from bitter
slavery and bondage by
means of the miracle of the
Ten Plagues and brought us
to freedom. The concept of
freedom is so important that
it is the first of the Ten
Commandments:
I am the Lord thy God who
brought you out of the land
of Egypt, out of the house of
bondage .. .
But what do we know of
the life of the Jews before
the Exodus? Not too much.
There are three periods of
history in ancient Egypt;
the Old Kingdom, the Mid-
dle Kingdom and the New
Kingdom. The Old King-
dom and its first 10 dynas-
ties of pyramid builders
ended in 2500 BCE, while
the Middle Kingdom lasted
from 11th-17th dynasty,
2500-1587 BCE, when the
Hyksos, Bedouin invaders
from the Arabian desert,
ruled Egypt. They were ex-
pelled by the founder of the
18th dynasty in 1587 BCE,
which marked the New
Kingdom until the end of
the 20th dynasty in 1100
BCE. Later Egypt came
under Libyan, Persian,
Macedonian and Roman
rule.
Biblical interest in
Egypt begins during the
Middle Kingdom. Joseph
served one of the Hyksos
kings, who restored and
enlarged the temples and
encouraged learning. Not
long after the death of
Joseph, the Hyksos were
`driven back into Asia and
a native ruler regained
the throne.
This nationalist dynasty
was a calamity for the de-
scendants of Jacob. As
friends of the overthrown
Hyksos kings, they lost
their favored position and
their past services to the
state were ignored. From
prosperous settlers,in the
Eastern delta of the Nile,
they were gradually re-
duced to serfdom as each
successive ruler issued
harsher decrees.
These rulers were great
architects, famous for the
number and magnificence
of their monuments. This
great frenzy of building
naturally called for forced
labor, and the feared and
hated Hebrews seemed the
natural choice. The
Pharaohs condemned them
to cruel slavery as
bricklayers and manual
laborers. This was utterly
alien to their nature and
their shepherd traditions.
It is difficult to know who
the "new king" was who in-
itiated their oppression.
Scripture does not tell us —
"Pharaoh" just being the
royal title for the reigning
monarch. The Bible aims
more to emphasize God's
guidance of His people.
The hieroglyphic monu-
ments give little data,
maybe because not much
excavation has taken place
in Goshen, the Eastern
Delta where the Jews lived.
But even when ancient
Goshen was revealed, the
Egyptian chronicler might
have taken little notice of
an alien serf-class like the
Israelites. Keeping sheep
was considered at that time
to be a lowly occupation:
"Thy servants have been
keepers of cattle from our
youth even until now, both
we and our fathers; that ye
may dwell in the land of
Goshen; for every shepherd
is an abomination to the
Egyptians . . ." (Gen. 46:34).
There are few references
on the monuments to
"Apuriu" — the Egyptian
name for Hebrews. But in a
report addressed to an offi-
cial in the reign of Rameses
II, it is written: "Give corn
to the native soldiers, and
also to the Apuriu, who are
bringing up stones for the
great tower of Pa-Ramessu
. . ." This is a rare reference
to the Hebrew serfs doing
forced labor for the Egyp-
tians.
Egyptian records pass
over the entire Exodus in
silence, their invariable
custom when defeated by
any ruler or nation. For
This lithograph was published in 1816 in "Travels
of All Bey 1803-1807."
r
Youth News
instance, the Hyksos
conquest of Egypt is the
most important political
BETH ACHIM Lahav
event in Egyptian his- United Synagogue Youth
tory, yet no mention is will work at the men's club
made of this catastrophe games night Saturday.
in the monuments, al- Members should meet at the
though it shook the whole synagogue at 7:30 p.m.
social structure to its
Forms for regional con-
foundations. Only the Bi- vention are still available in
blical writers, among all the youth office.
the Oriental chroniclers,
Bnai Mazal will visit the
describe defeats as well residents of Prentis Manor
as victories.
Sunday, meeting at the
The majority of scholars synagogue at 1:30 p.m. For
identify the Pharaoh of the details, call Bonnie White-
oppression as Rameses II, man, 352-5640.
extravagant and tyranni-
Junior Congregation
cal, whose dates are given will have its annual
as 1300-1234 BCE by Pet- luncheon April 23. Per-
rie. "He was a vain and sons who wish to partici-
boastful character, who pate should contact
wished to dazzle posterity Barry Lippitt, 353-5577. .
by covering the land with
Shabat youth services are
constructions whereon his held 10 a.m. Saturdays.
name • was engraved
* * *
thousands of times, and who
BNAI DAVID Ruach
prided himself in his in- (Grades three-five) will
scriptions upon great con- have a Shabat luncheon
quests which he never immediately following serv-
made" (Naville). The ices. The luncheon program
Exodus is believed to have will include songs and
taken place under his son._ Passover study.
The memory of Israel's
Masada will go to a game
bondage and deliverance is arcade. Sunday, meeting at
woven into the words of the synagogue youth loimge
legislator, historian, psal- at 1:30 p.m. There is a nom-
mist, prophet and priest; inal charge, and drivers are
throughout the ages and it needed. For reservations,
it was above all the remem- call the youth hot-line,
brance of the Exodus which 557-8325.
heralded the birth of Israel
Shabat youth services are
as a nation. No people would held 10 a.m. Saturdays.
have invented the stain and Traditional prayers, stories,
dishonor of slavery in a songs and a snack are in-
foreign country . . . it was cluded. Children age 4-14
completely contrary to tra- are invited.
dition at that time.
* * *
The whole story of Israel
BNAI
MOSHE
is one long protest against Rishonim (grades
one-
idolatry and inhumanity. three) and Chalutzim
Whereas Egypt's religious (grades four-six) will go
life revolved around wor- five-pin bowling in Windsor
ship of the dead, to which Sunday, meeting at the
the pyramids are a testa- synagogue at 1:30 p.m. For
ment, Judaism has always reservations, call the syna-
been a religion of life, dec-
laring man's humanity to gogue, 548-3123; Elissa
Driker, 369-9401, after 6
man as the most acceptable p.m.;
or Barbara Ravitz,
form of worship to the 542-6968, after 6 p.m. there
Creator.
a fee. Drivers are re-
Israel in Egypt wa-slike- /is
quired.
a child. Only out of Egypt
Rishonim will have a
could it grow, uncon-
Passover
fun day April 3,
taminated by the poison-
ous influence of a deca- meeting at the synagogue
dent civilization. When youth lounge at 2 p.m.
we re-tell the story-of our There is a fee. For reserva-
tions, call the synagogue, or
bondage, it has a greater Ms.
Driker.
significance hearing it in
* * *
Israel, in our own inde-
pendent land.
Bible Contest
Now, we do not say: "Next
'Finalist
Named
year in Jerusalem," for we
Marci Finkelstein, 13, a
in Israel are already here.
We say: "Next year in seventh grader at Birney
Jerusalem the Rebuilt ;" re- Middle School, has won the
ferring to the Messianic district finals of the Na-
vision of the reconstruction tional Bible Contest. She is
of the Temple in Jerusalem. now eligible- to compete in
Isaiah calls it the "city of the national finals to be
righteousness" and Lamen- held in May in New York.
This is the fourth con-
tations says it was "full of
people- ... great among the secutive year that a
nations, princess among the member of the Finkelstein
cities and the reflection of family has been eligible to
beauty, the joy of all the compete in the national fi-
nals.
earth."
Senior United Synagogue
Youth will have a movie
-party 9 p.m. April 2 in the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul
(Sharon) Levine, 23025 Ki-
pling, Oak Park. There is a
fee. For information, call
Adam Gottlieb, 352-2351,
after 6 p.m.
Shabat morning services
are held for all youth at 10
a.m.
* * *
ICHUD HABONIM will
have a meeting of its Garin
Harif today through Sun-
day at the main' Jewish
Community Center. The
group is comprised of per-
sons who will make aliya
, between 1986 and 1987,
The meetings will begin
at 9 a.m. today.
The dance troupe will not
meet this weekend.
For information, call
Clyde Glen, 851-5181.
* * *
YOUNG ISRAEL OF
GREENFIELD will have a
minyan for boys and girls
age 6-11 at 10 a.m. Satur-
day.
At 5:15 p.m., the 613 Club
for boys age 8-12, for the
study of Sefer Hachinuch,
will meet at the synagogue.
Kvutzat Shebat, nursery
through second grade, will
meet at 5:25 p.m. Saturday
at the synagogue.
BBYO Activities
Gen. Maurice Rose
AZA will sponsor a semi-
formal spring dance 8 p.m.
Saturday at Southfield-
Lathrup High School. All
Jewish youth are invited.
Disc jockey Marvelous
Mary of WGPR radio will
provide music. There is a
charge. ,
Competition for the AZA
Basketball League con-
tinues Sunday at Oakland
Community College, Or-
chard Ridge campus. At 9
a.m., Samson will play
Goode and Rose will play
Wallenberg. At 10 a.m..,
Akiba will play Kennedy/
Benny and L'Chaim will
play Hart. At 11 a.m., Herzl
will play Jolson. Rose AZA
leads Division I with a 4-1
record while Goode and
Wallenberg AZAs are tied
for the lead of Division II
with 5-1 records.
The BBG Volleyball
League also will play Sun-
day at Oakland Community
College. At 9 a.m., Machar
will play Shoshanna/
Shemesh. At 10 a.m., Sav-
age will play Shalom Aviv.
At 11 a.m., Brice will play
Shira. Machar BBG is in
first place in the volleyball
league with a 9-3 record.
Rishonah BBG is seek-
ing members, age 13-18,
from the Oak Park and
Berkley school systems.
To join, contact Barbara
Jacobs, 546-8886; or
Francie Lopatin, 541-
7477.
Sen. Philip Hart AZA
will sponsor a roller dance 7
p.m. Thursday at Bonaven-
ture Roller Rink. All Jewish
youth are invited. There is a
charge.
The AZA and BBG Coun-
cils announce the appoint-
ment of Harold Silverman
of Samson AZA and Marla
Peiss of Shoshanna BBG as
overall coordinators for the
upcoming BBYO Machon
(Inter-Regional Conven-
"Over 65 years of traditional service in the Jewish community with dignity and understanding."
HEBREW MEMORIAL CHAPEL
tion). The program will take
place June 19-23 at the Bnai
Brith Beber Camp in Muk-
wanogo, Wis.
BBYO announces the
appointment of Wendy
Freedman as adviser to the
Ohr Hashemesh BBG.
Additional openings for
volunteer advisers exist for
chapters in Oak Park,
Southfield and West Bloom-
field. For information, call
the BBYO office, 552-8260.
The AZA and BBG Coun-
cil meetings have been re-
scheduled. The AZA Coun-
cil will meet 7 p.m. April 11
and the BBG Council will
meet 7 p.m. April 12, both at
the Bnai Brith Building.
Rabbi Named
Jerusalem Fellow
PHILADELPHIA —
Rabbi Henry M. Schreib-
man has been selected as a
recipient of the Jerusalem
Fellows, a newly estab-
lished program sponsored
by the World Zionist Organ-
ization and Bank Leumi
Le-Israel.
The award will enable
Shreibman and his family
to live and study in
Jerusalem for three years
beginning September 1983.
Limp Currency
JERUSALEM (ZINS) —
Last year, the Israeli shekel
dropped in value 54 percent
compared to the U.S. dollar
and 50 percent compared to
the West European curren-
cies.
Orthodox Bastion
NEW YORK (ZINS) — A
recent study shows that
only 40 of the 6,000
synagogues in Israel are
affiliated with the Reform
or Conservative move-
ments.
543.1622
SERVING ALL CEMETERIES
26640 GREENFIELD ROAD
OAK PARK, MICHIGAN 48237
Alan H. Dorfman
Funeral Director & Mgr.
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