TORAH PORTION A First Glimpse Into The Promised Land diet for the best deals & largest selection a I Stud Genisaisky I 471-5353 28200 W. 8 Mile (2 Miles West of Telegraph 1 Mile East of Middlebell Open Mon. & Thurs till 9 Sales, Service & Parts FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48024 THINK FUN IN THE SUN! 30% OFF SAMSONITE FURNITURE Samsonite a REPLACEMENT COVERS AVAILABLE 20% OFF FURNITURE Dine out . . at home for cool. comfortable outside dining enjoy Samsonite Furniture's Body Glove with contoured chairs that fit your body like a glove, and spacious dining table. NO HANDS! • Strong, welded tubular steel frames • Rust-resistant Samson-Gard' frame,finish • Super-Tuft 5 PC. GROUP 55" TABLE CHAIRS $103 each TABLE S244 Samsonite' Lean back and relax. Lie fiat for siesta FURNITURE or suntan. Sit' up to sip a cold one. Reg. NoHands, the self-adjusting chaise $266.25 from the Samsonite Body Gloves SALE collection. PRICE • Strong, welded, tubular steel frames • Rust-resistant Samson-Gard® frame finish ' $186.37 marmel Between 12 and 13 Mile Rd. 28857 orchard lake rd. Farmington hills, mi. 48018 Love Seat $197 1 Seat Wider $181 2 Seat Glider $269 48" Table $195 553-3250 AMIE ■ MIMa New Studio Now Open In Harvard Row Mall The B SPOT 50°/0-70°/0 OFF ALL NAME BRANDS • Vertical Blinds • Levolor Blinds • Pleated Shades • Wood Blinds 21728 W. Eleven Mile Rd. Harvard Row Mall Southfield, MI 48076 Free Professional Measure at No Obligation Free in Home Design Consulting 30' Friday, July 4, 1986 Daily 10:00-5, Thurs. till 8 Saturday 11:00-3:00 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 352-8622 RABBI MORTON F.YOLKUT Special to The Jewish News n this week's sidra we read the story of the 12 spies who were sent by Moses to survey the Promised Land, and report on its condition and its inhabitants. They were to travel throughout the land and bring back a detailed report concerning whether it was rich and prosperous and plentiful; whether the people who dwelt in that land could easily be overcome and driven out. The 12 spies fall into two classes. In the first are two men who later distinguished them- selves as Jewish leaders: Joshua and Caleb. In the second class are the other men who brought back a report which struck terror into the hearts of the Israelites; the cities were well fortified and their defenders giants in stature. The intent of their report was that a hopeless task confronted the people and they were destined to fall, and even to perish, in the attempt to fight against so for- midable a foe. Only two men — Joshua and Caleb — tried to reas- sure them, by reminding them that God would fulfill his promise to their ancestors and would be with them and ultimately secure their victory. The rabbis present us with some crucial insights into this famous biblical narrative. We are told in the text that in their jour- ney through Canaan, the spies came to the sacred and ancient city of Hebron. For Jews, the fame of this place is tied to the fact that it is the site of the Cave of Machpelah where the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were buried. And the Talmud narrates that one of the spies — not all of them, but only Caleb — visited the sepulchre to pray at their bu- rial place for strength and cour- age in the perilous 'undertaking. I The Talmud accordingly suggests that it was the effect of this visit to the grave of the Pat- riarchs which enabled Caleb to escape from the despair which later seized the hearts of the other spies. From that hallowed spot he derived the confidence and inspi- ration which carried his vision beyond the strong fortifications of the enemy to God who had been a shield to his ancestors. As he stood at the cave which held the earthy remains of the founders of his people, the divine promises which had been made to the Patriarchs came to mind and strengthened his belief that there was no cause to fear, because God would re- deem his promise (Sotah 34b). This rabbinic commentary teaches us a vital lesson which we need to remember and imple- ment. Only the Jew who reveres and respects his past can be classed with a Caleb. Only when we choose to stand by the sepul- chre in which are deposited the records of our people in ages gone by, reflecting upon their achievements, their aspirations, Rabbi Yolkut is spiritual leader of Cong. B'nai David in Southfield. their devotion to a divinely- entrusted cause — only then will we possess the spirit that kindles into flame our enthusiasm for, and our confidence in, the future. We must care for our past in order to care for what is yet to be. But the Jew who can leave that sepul- chre unvisited, or think of it with- out emotion, lacks the vitality , which alone assures the vitality of our people. Here, then, is an important les- son for us in rearing and training our children whose responsibility it will be to continue the story of the Jewish people. Do we wish them to be faithful to that duty, loyal to the cause, undismayed by Shabbat Shelach Numbers 13:1-15:41 Joshua 2:1-24 the difficulties? They will have \/ the mighty fortifications of anti- Semitism to storm, the giants of bigotry to overcome. Will they have the courage for this task or will they despair at the thought of the difficult struggle that awaits them? Will they be like Caleb, or like the majority of the spies? The answer to these questions will be largely determined by us, will de- pend upon the training we shall give to those who are to succeed us. "Remember the days of old, re- flect upon the years of past gener- ations; ask you father and he will tell you, your elders and they will declare unto you" (Deut. 32:7): \ This final advice of Moses to his people is the cornerstone of Jewish life. Our ancestors acted upon it and they live on in us; may we too put it into practice so that we may live on in the generations which will follow us. BBW Launches Disease Program Washington — A nationwide program launched by B'nai B'rith Women in cooperation with the March of Dimes is providing fr.: ,.=\ information on Tay Sachs and other genetic diseases prevalent among Jews. Called Project GENE, the pro- gram also provides audio visual and printed materials as well as seminar programs and activities to educate the general publiw about genetic counseling and the prevention of birth defects. To obtain any of the Project Gene materials or to request a program presentation for your ( school, workplace or community, contact B'nai B'rith Women, Pro- gram and Public Affairs Depart- -` ment, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20036, -/ or call (202) 857-6675.