B'NAI B'RITH FAMILY NIGHT WV AT TIGER STADIUM Jewish Information Service Wednesday, June 24, 1987, 7:30 p.m. I Vs. TORONTO BLUE JAYS Torah Outlines 'Laws' Not Judged By Man RABBI IRWIN GRONER Special to The Jewish News The 19th chapter of the Book of Leviticus is unsurpassed in the Torah for moral depth and insight. While the Thn Com- mandments are the fundamen- tal statement of the moral law, this chapter states laws that are not simply a repetition of those contained elsewhere, but offer a new refinement and sen- sitivity. They go beyond the purely legal, to the moral and spiritual implications of the de- mand for justice. Consider these two illustrations: "Thou shalt not murder" is the Sixth Commandment. What if a person sees his neighbor drowning, or attacked by wild beasts, or the victim of Shabbat Acharei-Kedoshim: Leviticus 16:1-20:27, Amos 9:7-15 assault? Does he have a moral obligation to intervene and rescue his fellow? Verse 16 declares "Thou shalt not stand idly by the blood of thy neighbor." We have a moral responsibility to save one in distress. Verse 14 states: "Do not put a stumbling block before the blind." The sages say that means do not abuse the ig- norance of a person by misleading him. Do not expose a person who is vulnerable to those temptations which may cause him to sin. Do not lend money to a borrower without witnesses, because he might then be tempted to deny it. Do not leave your valuables lying about in the presence of your servants, the temptation may be too much for them. These laws will not be found on the statute books of Western society because the act is dif- ficult to define, the intent can- not be proven and punishment is not easy specified. It would be almost impossible to summon witnesses and objective evidence. These are not the kind of crimes punishable by law, because the Torah ad- dresses moral ideals. Chapter 19 reaches the peak of ethical striving in declaring: "Thou shalt not hate thy neighbor in thy heart" and "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." The sages of the Talmud say that all these are Devarim Hamesurim Lalev, matters of the heart, promptings of the Irwin Groner is rabbi of Cong. Shaarey Zedek. Tickets Available Thru B'nai B'rith 25835 Southfield Rd., Sfld., MI 48075 Bus Transportation — Nominal Fee For Additional Info. — 552-8177 Monday-Friday _ 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. conscience, which cannot be dealt with in the public arena. If you violate these standards, no judge will subpoena you, no court will summon you, no ear- thly punishments will be levied upon you. One awesome phrase punctuates these ethical demands, "Fear the Lord" "The more you express yourself as a Jew, the more you can do for other people." Natan Sharansky TORAH PORTION because He alone knows the secrets of the soul, and only before Him are revealed the mysterious ways of our hopes, fears and intentions. Know, therefore, that in your love or hate of your fellow man, there is only One above, Who exer- cises judgement. This 19th chapter should lay to rest once and for all the classical libel directed against our faith that Judaism is a religion of "Law" concerned on- ly with outer form and not with inner character. Torah is mistranslated as "Law." Law cannot govern every aspect of life, but Torah is intended to refine the human spirit, inform the conscience, and elevate moral awareness. This lesson needs to be shared with all Americans. We must recognize that although the law as an instrument of justice is very important, ultimately the whole structure of our society rests upon at- titudes, loyalties and moral con- victions. If these are not univer- sally upheld and instilled, no political system or legal process can save us. Consider the problem which has been at the forefront of Metropolitan Detroit's con- sciousness in recent months. We are profoundly concerned about crime, particularly in Detroit schools. Granted that law enforcement agencies must be strengthened, that greater security measures must be im- plemented, but these alone are not sufficient to address this tragic condition. Even were there policemen in every wing of every school, and on every street corner of Detroit, if the masses of people were intent upon crime, all the police of- ficers multiplied by ten could not prevent assaults upon per- sons and property. It is not the policeman on the corner who prevents crime. It is the parents who raise their children in conformity with the rules of right and integrity. It is the teacher who is able to elicit from her students an awareness of moral authority. It is the community that sets standards about the meaning of respect for human life and for decency. Ultimately, a social order is created out of ethical sensitivi- ty and moral direction. In a message to ZOA convention delegates September 26, 1986 The more you express yourself as a Zionist, the more you can do for Israel and American Jewry. ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA 4 East 34th Street, New York, NY 10016 212 481-1500 N Metropolitan Detroit Maccabi Club 6600 WEST MAPLE ROAD • WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICHIGAN 48033 • (313) 661-5240 ANNOUNCING SPECIAL TRYOUT SCHEDULE FOR 1987 MACCABI REGIONAL GAMES AUGUST 16-19, 1987 CLEVELAND, OHIO EVENT COACH DATE & TIME LOCATION SOCCER BOYS BASKETBALL GIRLS BASKETBALL GABRIEL ATTAR BURT HURSHE STEVEN WEISS 5/17 2-4 P.M. 5/17 5-6:30 P.M. 5/17 4:30-6 P.M. JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER 6600 W. MAPLE RD. WEST BLOOMFIELD BOYS SOFTBALL GIRLS SOFTBALL TRACK TONY SPOKAJNY KAREN WEISS MERLE EPSTEIN & JOEL KASHDEN 5/17 4 P.M. 5/17 2 P.M. 5/24.2 P.M. WEST BLOOMFIELD HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND DIAMONDS TENNIS RACQUETBALL SWIMMING GYMNASTICS MARIANNE RING JOHN COHEN HERB BERNSTEIN CALL 661-5240 FOR INFORMATION Must be 11 years old as of 8/16/87. Must not have attained 17th birthday by 8/16/87. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 661-5240 35