THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS TORAH PORTION Modern Parallels For Wife Of Lot BY RABBI M. ROBERT SYME Anyone who attempts to teach the Bible to children soon covers that it is not an easy task. The reason - why is that they want to know: "Did it (, really happen?" If the teacher 1 makes the mistake of trying to prove that every story in the Bible is literally true, that / teacher will soon come to grief. For example, I do not know \= whether Cain and Abel actually existed in ancient times — 1 whether one brother hated an- other brother, so much so, that he wanted to kill him. But I do know that there are many Cains We ought to ask ourselves from time to time: "Am I growing up, or am I growing old?" and Abels living today, and that brotherly love is not always a reality. I do not know whether there was ever a man by the name of Noah in biblical times. But I do know, that when the floods of corruption sweep over the earth, many Noahs today understand that the greatest safety lies in the Ark, in the home, in strengthening family life, in giving our chil- dren a worthy example, whereby they might withstand the floods of modernity. Apply that thought to this week's portion of the Torah. We read the story of Lot's wife. We are told that she committed the sin of "looking back" and con- sequently was turned into a pil- 1 lar of salt. Now, I do not know -. whether she actually existed or - hot, but I do know that there are many people today who einulate Lot's wife, who refuse t9,..go forward, who are reluctant . to grow up, who keep looking 'back to the scenes of their childhood. Psychologists tell us thit. the story of Lot's wife is really the story of "arrested de- velopment." "And if we are in- terested in personal growth, we = ought to ask ourselves from time to time; "Am I growing up, or am I growing old?" Let us consider some in- stances of immaturity. It can be seen in organizational life. A lit- tle child says: "If I cannot have my way, I will not play with you." The childish adult says: "If cannot be the leader, I will not be part of this organization." Another mark of childishness is self-centeredness. Children usually believe that the whole world exists for their benefit alone! They are always expect- ing to receive. Our 'responsibil- ity as parents is to teach them also to give, so that when they grow up they will be giving and generous human beings. Another mark of immaturity CHARTER HOUSE HAIR SHOPPE George Ohrenstein Jewelers, Ltd. • CONFIDENTIALLY PRIVATE CONSULTATION • CUSTOM HAIR PIECES FOR MEN • HAIR CUTTING & STYLING Fine quality Jewelry and Service all year-round. 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