THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, November 16, 1984 Oak-Woods synagogue, and is open every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The Machon L'Torah Library features a large collection of cas- sette tapes on Jewish philosophy, Jewish law, and other subjects, as well as a variety of commentaries in English on classical texts, such 69 as the Artscroll Publications and the Me'Am Lo'Ez Torah Anthol- ogy. Books by Rabbi Avigdor Miller, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Rabbi Shi- mon Eider, also are included in the collection. For information, contact Rabbi Avraham Jacobovitz, 968-4835. TORAH PORTION The immortal mother "Only The.Best For Our Best Friends" BY RABBI M. ROBERT SYME Special to The Jewish News The Torah portion for this Sab- bath reminds us of the matriarch Sarah. I remember, as a child, lis- tening to my father pay tribute to my mother every Friday night, at the Sabbath table. He would read the passage from the Book of Proverbs, which describes "The Woman of Valor." In that 31st chapter, the writer sums up the three-fold role of the Jewish woman in ancient times: First, there was her function within the home: She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idol- ness." Second, there was her re- sponsibility to the community: "She stretcheth out her hand to the poor. Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." Third, there was her relationship with God: "Grace is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who revereth the Lord, she shall be praised." Unfortunately, the Jewish mother today has been subjected to the sneering and sarcastic at- tacks of many a modern writer. Their "complaint" is that the Jewish mother refuses to let go of her son, even after he is married; the Jewish mothers enslave their grown sons with subtle, and some- times not so subtle, bonds of guilt. These criticisms have been re- peated so many times that they have come to be accepted as truisms, with the result that "Jewish mother" has taken on a perjorative connotation, and any man who expresses care and con- cern for his mother is accused of having a "mother complex." I think that the time has come to rid ourselves of such nonsensi- cal mumble jumble. Many a suc- cessful Jewish professional man can trace his success to a mother who stressed the value of educa- tion, who emphasized the impor- tance of expanding the bound- aries of one's God-given mind. Many a successful Jewish busi- nessman can attribute his philan- thropic interests to a mother who taught him the significance of the pushke (the little tin donation box) which reminded him that a Jew must learn to care and share. True, as the Romans said: "Tempora mutantur . . . times change, and we change with the times." The Jewish mother today is a far cry from the mother of the past. In many cases, she is the beneficiary of a formal education, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Al- though technology has emanci- pated her from many household chores, she is nevertheless bur- dened with chauffering her chil- dren to Hebrew school, to bar and bat mitzvah tutors, to dancing classes, to skiing lessons. In most instances, she spends more time with her children than do their fathers. Consequently, like the Jewish mother of old, she has the privilege of implanting within her children worthy values and goals that will sustain and guide them on the path of life. In a recent novel, two little boys are talking. One says: "Billie's mother died today." The other lit- tle boy replies: "I don't believe you. Mothers don't die." What a beautiful thought! It happens to be true! "Mothers don't die!" Speaking for myself, my mother died when I was 15. She died physically, but not spiritu- ally. To this day, I can still visualize her lighting the Sabbath candles, praying for the well-being of her children, and hoping that they might always practice rachmones, compassion and mercy. To this day, instead of imposing a curfew on her children, I can still her say to us: "Don't stay out late. I worry about you." Now you can understand why the Torah portion for this Sab- bath, which deals with the death of Sarah, is called the life of Sarah. Such a mother never dies. She remains a living and loving presence. 24901 Northwestern Hwy. At Evergreen Fidelity Bank Building • Southfield 352-9190 Open Mon.-Sat. 10-5 SHOE TIME re-Thanksgiving Shoe Sale GOBBLE UP OUR FABULOUS FALL & WINTER SHOES & HANDBAGS AT SAVINGS FROM 20 to 40% Hurry while the pecking is still good!! LOCAL NEWS •• •• • • • • •• Numismatic society gathers on Nov. 27 The Israel Numismatic Society of Michigan, Inc., will meet 8 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Jimmy Prentis Morris Branch of the Jewish Community Center. Milt Shapiro will speak on "Medallic History of Great American Jews." Refreshments will be served. The meeting also will include the election of officers. • • • • • O OO O OOOOOO O OO • • • • • • • • • • , 6-Xce 7e;fr3te • • • • • • • • • • • ALL PREVIOUS SALES EXCLUDED VISA & MASTERCARD WELCOME HARVARD ROW 21712 West 11 Mile Rd. Southfield AMPINITIII•••••• ■ •••• 352-8888