I TORAH PORTION 1 BLENDING TOGETHER ALL SEGMENTS OF THE REFORM JEWISH COMMUNITY Just Weights, Measures Are Delights To God RABBI RICHARD C. HERTZ Special to The Jewish News T his week's sidrah, Ki Tetze, deals with a number of diverse laws and rules for honest and ethical conduct. Moses had laid down a set of humane laws to govern the Israelites, at all times and in all cir- cumstances. Then, after listing a number of rules whereby the Children of Israel could deal kindly and honorably with each other and with their neighbors, Moses then said specifically: "You shall not have in your pouch alternate weights, larger and smaller. You shall not have in your house, alter- nate measures, a larger and a smaller. You must have com- Shabbat Ki Tetze: Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19, Isaiah 54:1-10 /- pletely honest weights, and completely honest measures, if you are to endure long on the soil the Lord your God is giving you. For everyone who does these things, everyone who deals dishonestly is abhorrent to the Lord your God" (Deut. 25:13-16). Moses knew that the fine laws and ordinances, the sound creeds and doctrines given to the people of Israel, were simply a means for strengthening character and insuring successful living. A satisfying beneficial life can be secured only by honesty in all dealings with others. Money dishonestly acquired is never worth its cost, but a good conscience never costs as much as it is worth. In today's sidrah, we are cautioned specifically about correct weights and measures in order to teach that God desires not only righteousness on the part of the individual, but protection for the poor and the needy. It is as if to say honesty builds understanding, self-security and friendship. Honesty of thought and action insures personal happiness and pro- duces a state of satisfaction in others. Judaism, we are taught by this Ibrah portion, demands that we live in an upright life, so that we may ever remain worthy of God's Dr. Hertz is rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth El. protection and His love. It seems scarcely anything new or revolutionary to state that a basic principle of religious ethics is honesty. If religion teaches nothing else, it teaches that honesty is the best policy. It was a grand trait of the old Romans that with them, one and the same Latin word meant both honor and honesty. There is a close relationship between honor and honesty. Socrates once observed that the "shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world is to be in reality what we would appear to be. And if we observe we shall find that all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice and experience of them:' 'lb one who says, "I don't believe there is an honest man in the world," you can say, "It is impossible that any one man should know all the world, but it is quite possible that one man should know himself?' The Talmud (in Sabbath 31A) points out that the very first question in the next world will be: "Did you deal honestly with your fellow man?" Elsewhere the rabbis of an- cient times commented wise- ly (Mekilta to Exodus 15:26): "'lb be honest in business is to fulfill the whole Torah?' Long after Moses laid down the rules of this sidrah, we know that honesty embodies other attributes of character: integrity, sound judgement, forthrightness and a genuine humanity. Back in 1850, a letter was written by a man named M.J. Lebensohn in which he used a phrase that has since become the essence of humanitarian idealism. He wrote, "My brother, mankind. My fatherland, the world. My religion, virtue?' It must have been some such thought as that which prompted the great Rabbi Max Lilianthal, who came to America over a century ago, to say: "The best religion is 'humanity: " The best divine service, 'love thy neighbor as thyself: The mot- to we inscribe on our banner, `the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man: " These universalistic sen- timents seem vaguely dated from the 19th century op- timism that surrounded the thinking of Jews who came to these shores. More specifically, the rabbis of ancient times wisely com- PLEASE JOIN US AT OUR OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 1988 or THURSDAY, SEPT. 1, 1988 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. 7:00 to 9:00 p.m TEMPLE KOL AMI 5085 Walnut Lake Road W. Bloomfield, Ml 48033 6M-0040 Celebrating twenty-two years as a strong voice of Reform Judaism in the community. Ernst J. Conrad Norman T. Roman Founding Rabbi Emeritus Rabbi Affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations Advertising in The Jewish News Gets Results Place Your Ad Today. Call 354 6060 - ADAT SHALOM IS FLYING HIGH! The Adult Study Commission, The Membership Committee, and The Social Club of Adat Shalom Synagogue Cordially Invite You To The Third Annual FABULOUS FAMILY PICNIC AND CONCERT ON THE GRASS Sunday, August 28, 5:30 PM. Featuring Gennini • Dress Casual • Bring blankets, lawn chairs, and sports equipment • Program will be held rain or shine • Hot dogs, coney burgers, cold drinks, chips, and brownies will be sold by Rosenberg Caterers • Due to the rules of Kashrut, only food purchased from Rosenberg Caterers may be eaten on the premises Prospective Members Are Invited To Attend As Our Guests. RSVP by calling Executive Director Alan Yost at 851-5100 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 35