18 Friday, April 29, 1983 THE: DETROIT JEWISH NEWS The Holiday of Lag b'Omer suddenly stopped. This World Zionist Press Service was one of the reasons for JERUSALEM — Falling commemorating the fes- as it does between Passover tival. and Shaviiot, Lag b'Omer Another cause for com- tends to be overshadowed by memoration is linked to the those two major festivals. It great teacher Shimeon Bar falls on 18th Iyar, and its Yochai, who lived at the name simply means 33rd same time. His life was in day of Omer which is a bi- danger because he refused blical measurement of to obey the Roman decree grain. against studying the Torah The source of the celebra- and continued to teach his tion goes back 18 centuries. students. He was forced to escape to Sixty years after the Ro- mans destroyed the Temple, a cave in the mountains of the country lay in ruins. Galilee where he hid with The Jews revolted, hoping his son for 13 years, living to free themselves from on the fruit of the humble tyrannical rule. They were carob tree. Each year, on led by Bar Kochba and Lag b'Omer, his students Rabbi Akiva — one an out- visited him, disguising standing general, the other themselves as hunters, with bows and arrows. It is be- a great scholar. They were successful at lieved he died on Lag first, but Rome was too b'Omer, his last request to mighty and battering rams his disciples being that the eventually broke down the day of his death be cele- walls of Bethar, Bar Koch- brated and not mourned. ba's last stronghold. Rabbi Lag b'Omer raises some Akiva was tortured until he interesting issues regard- died. Nothing, however, ing reward and punishment could force the Jews to give in Judaism. Bar Kochba, up their Torah, despite the Rabbi Akiva and Bar perils_ involved. Yochai were three right- During Bar Kochba's eous men, yet they all seem revolt, a terrible to have suffered. But epidemic struck Rabbi Judaism teaches that Akiva's students and obedience to the will of God 24,000 young men lost is rewarded and disobedi- their lives. But on Lag ence punished. It is a fun- b'Omer. the epidemic damental Jewish belief that By DVORA WAYSMAN r To The Jewish News 1 75 1 5 W. 9 Mile Rd. wrif JUST _ Suite 865 Southfield,Mich. 48075 From Paste in old label : NAME Effective Date 1 the Almighty is the God of justice, and therefore He will not treat the righteous and the wicked in the same manner. So it seems paradoxical that such worthy men underwent great suffering while so many of the wicked seem to flourish in every,_genera- don. First, we should realize that a reward, whether a material blessing or a spiritual one, should not be the motive for virtue. Everyone knows the pro- verb "virtue is its own reward." The motive must be love of God and His commandments and a free enthusiasm for doing His will. So why did Moses throughout . the book of Deuteronomy continually exhort the Is- raelites that there would be material reward for obedience and punish- ment for disobedience? Moses had a lofty, spiritual nature but realized that the people he was leading could not rise to his plane, and would be influenced by promises and threats. Rabbi Yanai wrote: "It is not in our power to explain either the prosperity of the wicked or the affliction of the righteous." The faithful believe that rewards will be given in the immortal life after death. The Babylonian teacher, Rab, stated: "In the world to come there is neither eating nor drinking . . . but the righteous enjoy the radiance of the Schekhina (Holy Presence)." Our rabbis have never lost sight of two things. One is that suffering is not an absolute evil: it educates, it purifies, it can be an in- strument of Divine love. Through suffering, Israel came into possession of great gifts — the Torah, the land of Israel and eternal life. Those who have never been afflicted cannot know the highest spiritual ex- perience of God's chosen ones. The second thing is that just as one sin begets another, the reward of a good deed is that it leads to another good deed. We are taught to disregard reward and fulfill our duty for its own sake. Perhaps the lesson we should learn from Lag b'Omer is that even if we begin to serve God for a re- ward, we will end by serving Him without such a motive, but in order to perfect our- selves spiritually. The fruit of my tree of knowledge is plucked, and it is this, "Adventures are to the adventurous." —Disraeli Hadassah Mourns Lindenbaum, Notes Many Gifts to Hospital Hadassah leaders this week paid tribute to the memory of Harry Linden- baum, whose gifts to Hadas- sah Hospital in Jerusalem and to the movement's serv- ices were among the most generous on record here. Mr. Lindenbaum died April 23 at age 92. He is survived by a niece, Mrs. Sarah Smith of Livonia, and other nieces and nephews. In paying honor to his memory, Hadassah spokesmen linked the Lindenbaum gifts to those LINDENBAUM of his late wife, Reva. Two years ago, Lindenbaum created a Ha- dassah vocational guidance institute in Jerusalem with a $250,000 gift honoring his late wife and the couple's parents. In 1967, the Linden- baums donated $150,000 for a three-story Hadas- sah Nurses' Home in Ein Karem. Rose Schiller, who was the intermediary between the Linderibaums and Hadassah when their gifts were announced, said that for Mrs. Lindenbaum Hadassah was a way of life, that she pursued her inter- est as a family tradition. At the same time, Dr. John Mames, chairman of the Michigan Region of American Red Magen David for Israel, the Israel counterpart of the Red Cross, honored Mr. Linden- baum's memory, stating that his interest in Magen Photo Exhibit on Jerusalem NEW YORK — Jerusalem is the subject of photographer Stanley I. Batkin's exhibition on view through June 10 at the Yeshiva University Museum in New York. Batkin of New Rochelle, N.Y., has pieced together hundreds of color photo- graphs into 360 degree photo montages depicting every area of the city. Secret Talks? TEL AVIV (ZINS) — Is- rael and Syria may be hold- ing secret talks on the \ Lebanese situation, accord- ing to an interview with Uri Avneri in Haaretz. Avneri cited rumors cur- rently circulating through- out Europe to the effect that Shafat Assad, a brother of Syria's president, had a secret meeting last year with Ariel Sharon, who was then serving as Israel's De- fense Minister. David Adorn, when he con- tributed an ambulance for the Israel medical service, indicated his devotion to programs to support Israel. The Lindenbaums also contributed to the out- patient clinic of the Oncol- ogy Department at Hadas- sah Hospital. They funded the Isadore Duskoff Schol- arship Fund through the Jewish Welfare Federation to aid students at the Mid- rasha College of Jewish Studies and at Wayne State University. They also established the library at United Hebrew Schools. The Family of the Late The Family of the Late SADIE ERNSTEIN SAMUEL MOLITZ Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 12 noon Sunday, May 8, at Machpelah Cemetery., Rabbi Groner will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 10 a.m. Sunday, May 8, at He- brew Memorial Park. Rabbi Arm will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late The Family of the Late BEVERLY MELLIN Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 12 noon Sunday, May 8, at He- brew Memorial Park. Rabbi Gordon will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. IDA SHAYNE Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 11 a.m. Sunday, May 1, at Machpelah Cemetery. Rabbi Daniel B. Syme will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. THE UNVEILING OF WILLIAM YAKER WappRNMW, Will be held May 1st at Mission Hills, California, Eden Memorial Cemetery. His passing was 15 minutes before Kol Nidre on the eve of Yom Kipur, Sep- tember 26, 1982. He is survived by his wife, Adele; his sister, Minnie; brother Hymie; his sons, WILLIAM YAKER Larry and Jerry; his daughters, Sheila and Lois; and four grand- children, Kenny, Robb, Debbie and Rhonda. His parents, Philip and Fannie Yaker were co-founders of Chesed Shel Emes Cemetery on Gratiot Avenue. William was from the old school, a man of great charity towards others, a man who could never say no to someone in need. In the old days in Detroit, throughout the thirties, he was known as "Little Bill," although there was nothing lit- tle about him. He owned the Cinema Bar on Lafayette Street and a metal shop on Willis Ave., and other businesses in Pontiac. After moving to Los Angeles he became the gabai for a 10-year-period at Temple Beth-Am in Los Angeles. He was a member of the Prime Minister's Club of Israel and a supporter of numerous charities both in Israel and America. Even though he is gone, he will always be with us, always in our hearts. "Over 65 years of traditional service in the Jewish community with dignity and understanding." HEBREW MEMORIAL CHAPEL 543.1622 SERVING ALL CEMETERIES 26640 GREENFIELD ROAD OAK PARK, MICHIGAN 48237 Alan H. Dorfman Funeral Director & Mgr.