THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

40—BUSINESS CARDS

J.R. ENTERPRISES

ARON'S
PLUMBING-
HEATING. Plumbing repair.
New installation. Electric
sewer cleaning. Sump pumps.
557-6318, 573-0924.

TORAH PORTION

A HOUSEHOLD NAME

HAVING AN AFFAIR? Call
us to address the envelopes.
Calligraphy - beautiful hand-
writing. 356-2247, 357-3426.

Experienced home
repairs, appliance
repairs, lighting and
ceiling fans installed
and much more.

HAND ADDRESSED invita-
tions, etc. All occasions. Form
of script. Phone: 544-3859.

Call 398-7009
Jerry

For Free Estimate

Bach to Boogie, Jazz
& Classical.

Parties and all occa-
sions.

Satisfaction Guaranteed
Free Estimates

352-2612

398-1053

MUSIC FOR LIFE

Solo pianist or duo-
trio-quartet.

Complete Painting Services.
Plaster and Drywall Repair
Wallpaper Removal
Reasonable with References

Furniture Refinisher

Scriptures Inculcate
Pride In Heritage

BY RABBI JAMES I. GORDON

Residential & Commerical

Call LARRY PAUL

... ■ •• ■ •1

Special to The Jewish News

QUALITY CUSTOM PAINTING 1/4

DINING ROOM
TABLE TOP
SHABBY?

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851-3574

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GUTTERS AND
DOWNSPOUTS

T.V. & V.C.R.
REPAIR

New Installation or Repair

Reasonable rates

Flashing Repairs

Fast service.

Free Estimates

Days, Eves., Weekends

967-0754

John

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irs

Np

REUBE

CUSTOM PAINTING
EXTERIOR SPECIAL

Ranches $245
Colonials $345

Aluminum Siding
Refinishing.
Oil Base Materials
Free Estimates
Work Guaranteed
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4N 399-4265

Expert Plumbing
and
Drain Cleaning

References Available

L
IN THE-

MORREY

53ENTERTAINMENT

PIANO BAR ENTERTAINMENT

You plan the party, I'll
bring my own piano
and hundreds of
tunes. Sing-a-long!
Dancing!

All Your Requests.

JEFF LINDAU,

Piano-Song Stylist
646-9531 eves.

Clark Family Players

BIRTHDAY
PARTIES
and other special oc-
casions.
Clowns, juggling,
magic, music, dance,
puppets, balloon
sculpture.
Call Mary Ellen
273-6716

r— CAR ■ GAIUR6S,„

SPACE AGE
COMPUTER PICTURES

CARToou.s

4'

Call 863-7736
for info

fCR PARf

293- 172:5

BY RON COHEN

•
•
•

•

•

Custom
Formica
Work
Rec Rooms
Suspended Ceilings
Basement
Floors
Tiled
Closet Organizing
Misc. Repairs

Very Reasonable.
Professional. De-
pendable. Over 15
Yrs. Serving This
Community.

Call 661-4576

By
47 0111.105

Taken of your guests
at Bar Mitzvas, wed-
dings, promotional
parties, etc.

3545584

CARPENTRY

ND IT

968-3949 Eves. 352-5384

R & R PLUMBING

Friday, June 21, 1985

AlLallJ

CIASSIFIEDS

For All
Your Needs

C

This week's reading from
Scripture details the story of the
attempted revolt against Moses
and Aaron by Korah and his fol-
lowers. Korah belonged to the
tribe of Levi, and as such was
privileged to share in the serv-
ice of the Tabernacle. But the
highest place in that service was
reserved for one family of that
tribe, Aaron and his descen-
dants.
The fact that Korah had a
subordinate place made him
overlook that he enjoyed a
privilege which was denied the
other tribes of Israel. He was an
ambitious man and aspired to
the supreme leadership of the
people. He also seems to have
possessed all the arts of the de-
magogue. To conceal his true
aim, he pretended that he only
sought equality throughout the
tribes of Israel. "All the congre-
gation are holy," he cried to
Moses and Aaron publicly, "ev-
ery one of them, and the Lord is
among them; wherefore then lift
ye up yourselves above the as-
sembly of the Lord?"
That is how revolutions are
brought about. The ambitious
schemer, who is thinking all the
while of his own aggrandize-
ment, deceives the masses into
thinking he is working in their
interest. With their help, by
leading them to believe that he
means to secure them liberty
from oppressive rulers, he over-
throws the existing government.
Usually, when it is too late, the
deluded people awaken to the
fact that they have passed from
bad to worse, that the de-
magogue in power is a more de-
spotic tyrant than the govern-
ment they have discarded.
Moses saw through the de-
signs of Korah, and understood
that the whole future of Israel
was at stake. And that is why.
God adopted such drastic meas-
ures to suppress the revolt.
What is truly remarkable
about the incident is the fact
that Korah was not able to win
over his own children to his
side. His sons did not join him,
and they did not suffer his fate.
"The sons of Korah died not,"
the Scriptures record.
Why did Korah's sons hold
aloof from their father's plot
against Moses and Aaron? Why
did they live on to render hon-
orable service to God in the
Sanctuary? How were they
different from Korah?
If we desire an answer to the
question, we must call in the aid
of the rabbis. The rabbis assert
that when the patriarch was on
his deathbed and his sons were
gathered around him to receive
his farewell blessing, the dying
man looked into the future and
foresaw what was to happen.
When, therefore, the turn of
Levi came, he exclaimed: "In
their assembly (i.e. when Levi's
great-grand-children will be as-
sembled to lead an agitation
against the appointed leaders of
the community) let not my
honor be associated therewith."
In other words, the dying pat-
riarch's exhortation was that

whenever one of his descendants
was engaged upon an unworthy
project, when the action was
such as to to involve dishonor,
that man was not deserving of a
place in the family of Israel. He
was disgracing the name borne
by the great patriarch; he was
forsaking the high standard of
conduct which had been be-
queathed to him; consequently
the name of the patriarch
should not be associated with
him.
The rabbinic explanation
suggests another interpretation.
Korah was what he was, a self-
seeking schemer, reckless of the
welfare of his people so long as
he secured his unworthy ambi-
tions, because he deliberately

Korah:
Numbers
16:1-18:32.
I Samuel
11:14-12:22

blotted from his mind that he
was, a son of Israel. The Bible
does not insert "ben yisroel" in
his genealogical list because he
himself ignored that vital fact.
With his sons, it was other-
wise. They remembered who
their great ancestor was; they
recalled that they had the blood
of the patriarch, Jacob, in their
veins. They were proud of their
eminent forefather, and they
wished to be worthy of him. For
that reason, they declined to fol-
low Korah in his project; they
would have nothing to do with
his project; they would have
nothing to do with his scheme.
Thus, the memory of their an-
cestor gave them strength to re-
sist temptation; it made them
steadfast in their faith; it kept
them true to the path of honor
and duty. It enabled them so to
act that their names are re-
corded in the annals of their
people for glory and not for
shame.
Would that this truth struck
home in the heart of every Jew..
Would that he always kept be-
fore his mind that he is ''a son
of Israel." There is an expressive
phrase in frequent use, noblesse
oblige, which means "rank im-
poses obligation." The heir of a
noble family is carefully trained
in the traditions of his house;
his heart is impressed with the
achievements of his ancestors,
so that he might feel that much
is expected of him and that his
duty is to uphold the prestige of
his name. Family pride and
family obligation are great fac-
tors in the preservation of the
aristocratic houses. Noblesse ob-
lige is a controlling maxim with
many of them. Their exalted
rank places responsibilities upon
them which, if neglected, seri-
ously affect their standing.
Exactly so is it with us who
belong to the family of Israel.

77