I TORAH PORTION
I
FOR DIAMONDS, ESTATES
AND PRECIOUS GEMS...
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able and discreet manner. Immediate cash for all
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by appointment for estates of all size& Inquiries from
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•
Even Centuries Later
We Were At Mt. Sinai
RABBI IRWIN GRONER
Special to The Jewish News
T
he term Brit or cove-
nant is one of the key
words in the Ibrah. It
expresses the unique con-
sciousness of the presence
of God in the life of the
people. God and Israel are
linked together in a pact, a
mutual commitment with the
Almighty as party of the first
part, and the Jewish people
as the party of the second
part.
This covenant theme is
dramatically portrayed as
Moses delivers his farewell
message to Israel: "You stand
this day, all of you, beforethe
Shabbat Nitzavim:
Deuteronomy
29:9-30:20,
Isaiah 61:10-63:9
Lord, your God: your tribal
heads, your elders and your
officials, all the men of Israel.
Your children, your women,
even the stranger within your
camp, from woodchopper to
water drawer — to enter into
the covenant which the Lord,
your God is concluding with
you this day . ."
The midrash notes the
equality manifested through
the act of covenant. The peo-
ple are divided into tribal
heads, elders and officials, but
when they stand before God
they are equal, "all the men
of Isarel," even the "women,
children and strangers?'
Moses then continues: "Not
with you alone do I make this
covenant, but both with those
who are standing here with
us this day before the Lord,
our God, and with those who
are not with us here this day."
This is one of the most
remarkable, indeed startling,
verses of the Ibrah. The cove-
nant bound all the genera-
tions that were to come. The
Bible implies that although
we lived 30 or more centuries
later, we can say, "We were
there." The direct line of com-
mitment runs from Sinai to
us.
This is more than an ex-
travagance of imagery. Our
personalties, our values, and
in many instances, the for-
tune and fate of many in-
dividual Jews, were determin-
ed by the tradition that em-
bodied the covenant. The past
is present in us. •
Irwin Groner is rabbi of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
As we stand before God, we
arise not as one-dimensional
private persons, but as men
and women joined by a great
tradition. We can claim that
we are original and integral
parts of that tradition. We are
founders, not simply in-
heritors. We are descendants,
but also ancestors.
The covenant means that
our national difference is
transformed into moral and
spiritual distinctiveness. The
covenant is based on the con-
viction that we cherish ideals
and truths for whose sake it
is supremely important to
stand apart.
• We are separate from the
world, for the sake of the
world.
• Jews are more than an
ethnic group, linked together
by a variety of enemies.
• Jews are more than an
ethnic group, linked together
by a variety of enemies.
• Jewish history is more
than a curious survival of an
ancient culture.
• Jewish religion is greater
than a form of ethical
monotheism.
• Jewish culture cannot be
understood in purely secular
terms.
If we take the biblical/rab-
binic view of Jewish law
seriously, we view it as the
response of the Jewish people,
through its prophets and
sages, to the demands of God
whom it seeks to serve in both
communal and individual
existence.
This theme is articulated
and affirmed during the High
Holy Days. Our prayers are in
the plural. Why? We pray not
only with the community
around us, but with all the
generations that preceded us.
One question haunts me.
What about the unborn souls
of the future?' Are we ex-
cluding them from the cove-
nant? Are we giving every op-
portunity to the future whose
past we are? Our today will
soon become yesterday —
what morrow are we helping
usher in? Will our children
inherit the heritage be-
queathed to us? Will they be
able to say, "We were there?"
Sidney Krandall & Sons
JEWELERS • TROY, MI (313)362-4500
Who said there's no such thing as a free lunch?
We didn't.
We want to buy lunch — FREE - FOR A WHOLE MONTH — for a
college student in the Metropolitan Detroit Area.
Send us the name and address of a Jewish student (undergrad
or grad) at a 'Metropolitan Detroit school of higher education
Wayne State University, Oakland University, Oakland Community
College, Detroit College of Law, Lawrence Institute of Technology,
Schoolcraft College, Walsh College, etc.)
We will draw a winner from all entries on September 19, 1988.
Enter this student in the free lunch drawing:
School
Name
Street address
Phone
City, Zip
Send to: B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundations
667 Student Center Building
551 Gullen Mall
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI 48202
Phone (313) 577-3459
u WHY BETH SHALOM'S
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL?
• AFFILIATED WITH A CONSERVATIVE SHUL
• AFFILIATED WITH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
• ACTIVE PARENTS GROUP
Located at OAK PARK and WEST BLOOMFIELD
Non Members Welcome
Correction
A item in last week's
Jewish News should have said
that Mariusz Ziomecki of the
Detroit Free Press will speak
at the Hillel Foundation at
Wayne State University on
Sept. 15. The item also should
have said that the Hillel
phone number is 577-3459.
Contact School Office:
547-7972
David A. Nelson
Cy Servetter
Rabbi
Education Director