TORAH PORTION The Vision THE EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN SPRING FASHION COLLECTIONS FOR 1989 BY Continued from preceding page EMANUEL UNGARO GIANFRANCO FERRE . GENNY PAUL LOUIS ORRIER PATRICK KELLY AND MANY MORE AVAILABLE AT ANNA BASSETTS SOMERSET MALL • TROY, MICHIGAN 48084 • 313 643-0770 4301 ORCHARD LAKE RD. CROSSWINDS MALL 626-3360 11th Anniversary PAINT/SPIN TEES. AND SWEATS — PLAN A BIRTHDAY PARTY — GIFT CERTIFICATES (Bar/Bat Mitvahs) SPIN ART COUPON L $2.00 YOUNG ISRAEL OF SOUTHFIELD ANY SHIRT PER FAMILY Chesed Award 1 Expires 4-3-89 SIX 30-MINUTE VISITS ONLY $22 Anniversary Banquet Sunday, May 7, 1989 at the Jewish Community Center West Bloomfield For Reservations Phone: 352-8832 or 356-8867 NEW MEMBERS ONLY WITH THIS AD SPECTACULAR DRESSES, EVENINGWEAR AND ACCESSORIES FOR: .IAICK Mother-of-the-Bride Proms and Pageants Gift Certificates Available LA MIRAGE MALL 29555 Northwestern (N. of 12) Southfield, MI 48034 350.2430 WOLFF SYSTE M IN VOGUE 1919 Telegraph Rd. • Vogue Plaza JN 48 FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1989 . ed against urban decay, disease, homelessness and hunger; when the need for the war against drugs is pro- claimed; when programs for education and research are proposed, then every penny is scrutinized from a miser's perspective. The cost becomes the dominant consideration, and budgetary concerns are paramount._ Moses was correct in draw- ing up a detailed inventory of the Mishkan. It was not mere- ly a question of stilling the shrill complaints of con- genital fault-finders. The stock-taking has a far deeper significance; it was a lesson in value. Moses made it clear to the children of Israel that whatever the sum of their material possessions, their real assets, their enduring resources, were primarily spiritual. We of the modern age need to absorb the full meaning of this unchanging truth. The strength of our country rests on its democratic values. America is measured not on- ly by its gross national pro- duct but by its spiritual foun- dations. The values of our na- tion are justice, compas- sirn,hope and freedom. In- sofar as these ideals are translated into public policy and embodied in institutions, we have fulfilled the American dream for our peo- ple. It is this vision Moses set forth not only to his genera- tion, but, through the cen- turies, to our as well. SYNAGOGUES B'nai Israel Weekend Features Rabbi Kaganoff Morris and Helen Weiss Recipients of the OFF is right, good and worthy. A venerable Talmudic sage was asked by his disciples, "To what do you attribute your long life?" The key word in the answer is "never." "I never went back on a pro- mise; I never was angry in my house; I never honored myself through the disgrace of another; no one ever preced- ed me to enter the House of Study' Another interpretation may be offered about this reckon- ing of Moses. The sages refer to a widespread demand on the part of the Hebrew people to be given detailed- informa- tion, a financial report on the construction of the national shrine. In the words of the Midrash: "Moses said, I know that many Israelites are mur- muring against me; hence, I shall give them a clear reckoning of the work of the Tabernacle." It is noteworthy that when the children of Israel ordered the making of the golden calf, they did not ask Aaron for an account of the precious metal employed. How characteris- tically human! We have, com- - paritively, but little concern over the cost of evil things. We almost take for granted the high price of the negative, destructive factors of life. Who can calculate the vast sums spent for drug abuse, alcohol consumption, gambling, por- nography and other forms of illicit, unworty,illegal and ad- dictive pursuits. But when the standard of battle is rais- Bloomfield Hills, MI 338-9400 Rabbi Benzion C. Kaganoff will be the scholar in residence for the first annual Frances Avadenka memorial weekend sponsored by Con- gregation B'nai Israel of West Bloomfield. Rabbi Kaganoff will deliver his first lecture, "From Pharoah's House to Maxwell House," during services April 7. He will also speak on April 8. At 10:45 a.m. April 9, Rabbi Kaganoff will discuss "Your Jewish Name Is the Key to Your Jewish Identity." A buffet breakfast at 10:15 a.m. will precede the talk. Rabbi Kaganoff is spiritual leader of Congregation Ezras Israel in Chicago, the largest traditional synagogue in the Midwest. He is an authority on the history and origin of Jewish family and first names and is the author of A Rabbi Benzion Kaganoff Dictionary of Jewish Names and Their History. The community is invited to the weekend program. There is no charge. For information, call B'nai Israel of West Bloomfield, 681-5353.