TORAH PORTION I

The Men's Club

of Adat Shalom Synagogue
invites you to attend an

What Would Abraham
Do If Alive Today?

vimmi ■
RABBI SHMUEL IRONS

Special to The Jewish News

very bar mitzvah boy
knows it by heart. It
is repeated every
Passover at the seder, when
one is called up to read the
Torah, and at daily prayers:
"Asher Bachar Banu" — God
has chosen the Jewish people
and has given them His
Torah.
The belief that the Creator
of the universe gave the
Jewish people a specially
designed guide (Torah) that
ennobles and sanctifies every
aspect of human endeavor
and behavior is the principal
tenet of Judaism.
The events that led to
receiving this guide, the ex-
tent to which the Jews lived
according to the Torah, and
the attendant consequences
of their successes and fail-
ures, comprise the historical
sections of 'Panach, the Jewish
Bible.
But wy the Jews? Why
among all nations were the
Jews singled out to receive
the precious gift of Torah?
A verse from this week's
Torah reading suggests one

E

Shabbat Vayera:
Genesis 18:1-22:24,
II Kings 4:1-37

compelling reason: "For I
have given him (Abraham)
My special care so that he
will continue to command his
children and his household
after him that they keep the
way of God to do benevolence
and justice" (Genesis 18:19).
Rashi points out in his com-
mentary that the special care
shown to Abraham was due to
his unique commitment and
ability to ensure that the
message of Torah — benevo-
lence and justice — be passed
on to succeeding generations.
Herein lies the special
nature of our peple: we pass
it on. Great men have arisen
from other nations, but only
Abraham created a family
and a nation predicated on
the principles of justice and
benevolence. Even today,
more than 3,600 years since
his passing Abraham's
teachings and ideas continue
to be faithfully preserved and
passed on by his descendants.
This is only one part of the
legacy of Abraham. The
Torah documents the many

Shmuel Irons is co-director of
the Kollel Institute in Oak
Park.

tests of Abraham. Despite
great trials, he remained firm
in his commitment and faith.
We, his children, have also
been put to the test: The
destruction of two Temples,
countless massacres, po-
groms, dispersions, and most
recently the horrors of the
Holocaust, have severely tried
our faith and dedication.
Today we face a test more
insidious and dangerous than
those of the past. The great
appeal of the values and
pleasures of Western society
has damaged the spiritual
well-being of the Jewish
people.

In previous generations, the
dream of every Jewish mother
and father was to raise
children who would become
giants of spirit and Torah
scholarship. The dreams of to-
day's Jewish parents are
generally far different.
Despite the stress placed on
obtaining a well-rounded
secular education, the
average Jewish child receives
almost no schooling in Bible,
Talmud or Jewish history.
How many Jews in this
country can walk into a
synagogue and fully unders-
tand the service, let alone ex-
plain the beauty and deeper
meaning of the passages and
poetry to their children or
fellow congregants? How
many have experienced the
rich atmosphere of a Shabbat
meal, filled with song and the
spirit of Torah? How many
have decided, on the basis of
their limited knowledge, that
Judaism has nothing to offer
them, and have opted for total
assimilation? The answers to
these questions are only too
obvious.
The midrash (Tana Dvai
Eliyohu Ch. 25) states that all
Jews are required to ask
themselves the question,
"When will my deeds reach
the heights of the deeds of my
forefathers, Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob?"
The midrash implies that
we, the descendants of the
patriarchs, are not only
capable of great deeds, but are
expected to accomplish them
as well. How would Abraham
react if he were alive today?
What steps would he take to
ensure the spiritual survival
of his progeny in a hedonistic
and materialistic
environment?
If the past is any indication,
Abraham would reach out to
us, his grandchildren, just as
he reached out to his family,
and the world at large. He
would invite them to his

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Saturday, November 5
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General Preview
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Auction 8:30 p.m.

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Location:
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29901 Middlebelt Road
Farmington Hills

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For Information, call 851-5100

ZOA PRESIDENT MILTON S. SHAPIRO ASSAILS
UNWARRANTED CRITICISM OF AIPAC BY
"MAINSTREAM" ORGANIZATIONS AS
DETRIMENTAL TO ISRAEL'S INTERESTS.

The New York Times of October 18, 1988 reported that three major American
Jewish organizations, namely, the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith,
the American Jewish Committee and the American Jewish Congress, join-
ed together in criticizing AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee).

Shapiro stated that "one of Israel's most effective advocates, with an ex-
traordinary record of success, is being challenged by these organizations
on the ground that AIPAC is 'out of step' with the organized American Jewish
community on some important Middle East issues:'

According to the N.Y. Times, the issues upon which the three organizations
disagree with AIPAC's position are: (1) American arms sales to Kuwait, (2)
the effort to shut down the PLO Mission at the United Nations and (3) refus-
ing Yassir Arafat entry into the United States to address the United Nations.

Said Shapiro: "it is these organizations, which are 'out of step' with the sen-
timents of the American Jewish community, who would solidly support
AIPAC's position on these issues:'
The Times report implies that the three organizations are considering set-
ting up a "second Jewish lobby" in Washington more in tune with the views
of these organizations.
"At a time when Israel faces a mounting Arab propaganda campaign in
the U.S. geared to exploiting thte negative media fallout generated by the
Arab unrest in the territories:' said Shapiro, "it is inconceivable that those
who consider themselves 'friends of Israel' would take such precipitous ac-
tion. Whatever the explanations, the only beneficiaries of this divisive
disagreement will be Israel's enemies:' (text condensed)