▪
Jc c
The Midrash, too, enlarges
upon the story of the plagues
in interpreting it as "measure
for measure." Blood, because
the Egyptians kept Israel's
women from their post-
menstrual immersions and
cast the male infants into the
Nile River. Frogs, because
they made the Israelites clean
and repair the streets. Lice,
because they made the
Israelites sweep Egyptian
homes and markets. A plague
upon the beasts, because the
Egyptians made them catch
wild beasts for their unclean
tables. Pestilence, because
they made them tend their
baths. Hail, because they
made them tend the fields.
Locusts, because them made
them plant trees. Darkness,
so that they would not
witness the burial of wicked
Israelites. And finally, the
death of the first born,
because they enslaved the
Israelites.
One commentator said the
plagues grew evermore
miraculous to "spread the
fame of God's great power
that Israel might realize that
He is the Lord and teacher to
their descendants, so that this
true belief might live on in
Israel forever."
Thus, the plagues became
God's disciplinary chastise-
ment of pharaoh. Ten times
God warned pharaoh; ten
times pharaoh refused to re-
pent. The unfolding scheme
showed the punishment of
pharaoh. Still, the purpose of
the story is not so much to
chronicle every detail of the
plagues as it is to show how
the judgments of God on
Egypt made it possible for the
God of Israel to be establish-
ed. There is no parallel to the
story in all of ancient or Near
Eastern literature.
Natural or supernatural
concepts do not fit in the Bi-
ble's theology. One idea sug-
gested by some theologians
was to assume that miracles
like the plagues only ap-
peared to be divine interven-
tions, when actually they
already had been built into
the process of creation eons
ago. What ancient men call-
ed a miracle may not be a
miracle as such. Ordinary
men may not fully know the
workings of the Almighty.
After all, the purpose of the
story in Scripture is not simp-
ly to tell literally what seem-
ed to have happened in those
days. Rather, it is to interpet
the release of the Israelites
fro Egyptian slavery which
was a miracle in itself. The
credit goes to God. The signs
and wonders of the Egyptian
miracles testify to the special
relationship God had for the
people of Israel. Israel's
redemption was the ultimate
miracle. And it was caused by
God. Out of the story of the
plagues came the birth of the
Jewish people. 0
I SYNAGOGUES I
Family Dinners
Are Slated
The Adat Shalom United
Hebrew Schools branch of the
Agency for Jewish Education
will hold a family Shabbat
dinner 6 p.m. Jan. 26.
The event will begin with
services, followed by a tradi-
tional kosher dinner. The
school's room parents will be
honored.
The service is open to the
community at no charge. At-
tendance at the dinner is by
reservation only.
Temple Shir Shalom will
hold a Shabbat family dinner
followed by a family service
6 p.m. Jan. 26. The following
students wil participate:
Stacey Shy, Cary Rosen, Julie
Gottesman and Holli Faber.
Wine To Review
Woody Allen Film
Rabbi Sherwin Wine of the
Birmingham Temple will pre-
sent the last of four reviews
on the theme "Love and
Death" 8:30 p.m. Jan. 29. He
will review Woody Allen's
Crimes and Misdemeanors.
There is a charge. For infor-
mation, call the temple,
477-1410.
Two-For-One
Seniors, Teens, Tweens, Tots, or the entire family.
Bring your friends . . . or a sister or a brother . . . or your
grandparents . . . you both can save up to 50% off general
membership dues if you join the J.C.C.
during February.
Enjoy a year of swimming, basketball, racquetball, tennis,
fun programming and a variety of classes!!
For more information
contact
the Membership Dept
Good Feb. 1990 only
661-1000 ext. 265
•
• 1 /2 down balance in 90 days
• Must not have been members in the past year
• Two-for-One applies only to equal membership fees
and categories, otherwise smaller discount will be
applied to both memberships.
• Women's Health Club special available in February.
imasc aret
lehurs t
SCUBA * FUN * WATERSKIING * RIDING * TENNIS * SCIENCE *
CRAFTS * THEATRE Ac CAMPING
or spring. Often after a sand-
storm brought on by a ham-
sin, winds blow in heavy
darkness.
But the purpose of scripture
is not to describe or explain
natural phenomena in the
Nile area. Rather, it is to tell
God's wondrous story con-
nected with the liberation of
His enslaved Israelite people.
Generation after generation
retold in detail how the ex-
odus brought about the birth
of the Jewish people. The
Passover seder and the
Hagadah embellished local
color on the story of the
plagues. Down through the
centuries, the plagues
became connected with the
religious celebration of the
exodus in the Passover
festival.
g
Founded 1955 Ar
afir35 Mar/
Family owned and operated for 35 years, Maplehurst
is an American Camping Association accredited summer camp
where traditional values come first. Located on Torch Lake, north of
Traverse City, Michigan, Maplehurst offers 2, 4, and 8 week sessions
for boys and girls ages 7-17. For an application, brochure or videotape, contact:
Dr. Laurence Cohn, Director
Camp Maplehurst
1455 Quarton Road
Birmingham, MI 48009 • 313-647-2646
t Maplehurst, the spirit of play i s fundamental.
DANCE -4( VOLLEYBALL -* GOLF -X, PHOTOGRAPHY
COMPUTERS
RIFLERY
50% OFF
MADE TO MEASURE
ES
DRAPERI
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NOW OPEN
IN MADISON HEIGHTS
MADISON PLACE - 589 3032
-
also ORCHARD PLACE
855-0122
"Where You Come First"
Kosins
Uptown
Southfield Rd. at
11 1/2 Mile • 559-3900
Big & Tall
Southfield at
101 /2 Mile • 569-6930
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
43