BAR MITZVAH

FROM TODDLER TO TORAH READER

TEMPLE KOL AK!

5085 Walnut Lake Rd., West
Bloomfield, 661-0040. Rabbis:
Norman T. Roman, Rabbi Emeritus:
Ernst J. Conrad. Services: Friday 8
P.m.
Chevrat Torah Study Group will meet
on Saturday at 9:15 a.m.

TEMPLE SHIR SHALOM

5642 Maple, West Bloomfield,
737-8700. Rabbi: Dannel I. Schwartz.
Services: Saturday 11 a.m.
9:30 am. Saturday, Rabbi's Tish.

CONGREGATION SHIR
TIKVAH

3633 W. Big Beaver, Troy, 643-6520.
Rabbi: Arnie Sleutelberg. Services:
Saturday: 11 a.m.
Picnic Service — Rabbi Sleutelberg

m

'aummwmumm

"Zayde was pleased,
Bubbe kvelled,
Mom beamed with pride,
Dad was moved to tears,
Beth Shalom Religious School
Made it possible."

officiating. For information phone
643-6520 and ask for Iry Wengrow.

HUMANISTIC:

THE BIRMINGHAM TEMPLE

28611 West 12 Mile Rd., Farmington
Hills, 477-1410. Rabbi: Sherwin T.
Wine. Services: Friday 8:30 p.m.

RECONSTRUCTIONIST:

T'CHIYAH

1035 St. Antoine at Monroe, Detroit,
393-1089. Services: Saturday 10
a.m.
Services conducted by Lester
Weitman and Pearl Lipner.

UNAFFILIATED:

SEPHARDIC COMMUNITY
OF GREATER DETROIT

15751 W. Lincoln. Southfield.
557-8551.

l TORAH PORTION

GRADES K THROUGH 7, TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:
OAK PARK and W. BLOOMFIELD

Attractive Non-Member Rates
CYRL C. SERVETTER
DAVID A. NELSON

PHONE: 547-7970

Who Is Exempt
From Serving Israel?

SHLOMO RISKIN

Special to The Jewish News

frat, Israel — The di-
vision between the
secular and ultra-
Orthodox in Israeli society is
comprised of several
historical factors, but its
strongest surviving wall is
based on a simple issue —
draft in the army.
And this issue itself reflects
conflicting interpretations of
the role of Levites in the Tor-
ah: Were the Levites given a
permanent army exemption
because of their service in the
Holy 'Ibmple?
One proof that they were
cites the opening pages of the
Book of Numbers in which
God commands Moses to take
a census of all men over the
age of 20 fit for service, or
tzava (the modern Hebrew for
army). The Torah tallies the
men, going from tribe to tribe,
but when we come to the
Levites we read that they
were not tallied " . . . together
with the rest of the Israel-
ites," [Numbers 1:49] causing
Biblical commentaries such
as the Sforno to conclude that
the Levites were involved
with a service of a different
sort — holy service and not
holy wars. And that's why
they weren't counted with
everyone else.
Based on the Midrash, how-
ever, Rashi interprets their
exclusion from the census for
a different reason. He ex-
plains that the Levites
weren't counted with the rest
of the tribes because "it is cor-

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin is chief
rabbi of Efrat, Israel and is
dean of Ohr Torah
Institutions of Israel.

rect that a king's legion
should be counted separate-
ly." [Rashi, Numbers 1:49]
The use of the Roman mili-
tary term, legion, is strong
evidence that not only did the
Levites fight with the rest of
the nation, but that their
skill, strength, and iron will
had to be on the highest level
in order to be called the king's
battalion, and thus confirms
the Midrashic view that the
Levites were involved in
military actions.
Whether or not the Levites
fought along with other tribes
was an academic issue for
nearly 2,000 years, but with
the establishment of the
modern state of Israel, the
Levite question has taken on
tremendous ramifications.
The yeshiva students who do
not serve in the Israeli army
claim spiritial descendance
from the Levites since they, as
the Levites of old, labor in the
Torah vineyard of God. More-
over, they insist that their
Torah study is just as vital for
the survival of Israel as is the
Israeli army.
Even if their claim is cor-
rect, it may really mean that -
they should be in the king's
battalion as well, the
toughest units, ready to risk
their lives for the Jewish
people.
Other problems arise, be-
cause 20,000 exemptions cre-
ate a backlash of resentment
towards Torah study and very
traditional Jews by the rest of
the nation as they sit by and
watch their sons, brothers,
fathers fall on the battlefield.
Can Jews around the world
claim exemption from ignor-
ing the plight of modern
Israel?
The dialogue between
Moses and the tribes of Gad

Educational Director

Rabbi

ilI

An Independent, Conservative, Congregational School

CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM

14601 WEST LINCOLN ROAD • OAK PARK, MICHIGAN 48237 • (313) 547-7970

CONGREGATION 13 NAI MOSHE

Invites you to attend

SHADDAT SERVICES

Every Saturday, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Shiffman Hall
Maple-Drake Jewish Community Center

PROGRESSIVE - CONSERVATIVE SERVICES

For information call 788-0600

IF YOU COME ONCE, YOU'LL COME AGAIN!

CONSIGNMENT
CLOTHIERS

specializing in women's
sizes (3-26), children's
(0-14) designer fashions
and accessories.
• Quick turnover
• Contemporary spacious
environment
• Easy • Profitable

Convenient Free
House Coll Service!

347-4570

43071 W. 7 Mile
Highland Lakes Shopping Cu.
Northville (2 ml. wit-275)1

VALLIE TAYLOR

FASHION RESALE
„t o Exclusively Women's Clothing

and Accessories -
Current Fashions Sizes 2-14

ebb 1844 S. Woodward

Birmingham

1 block North of 14 Mlle Rd

540-9548

"We Pay Cash for Fine
Clothing and
Accessories"

Mon-Fri 12 noon-6 pm
Sat 11 am-6 pm
Closed Sunday

DESIGNS IN DECORATOR
LAMINATES

For High Quality Formica
Always At A Great Discount

SPECIALIZING
IN:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Wall Units
Bedrooms
Dining Rooms
Credenzas
Tables
Offices
ALSO

SPECIALIZING:

• Woods • Glass
• Stones • Lucite

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COST A
FORTUNE ... ONLY LOOK LIKE IT!

CALL LOIS HARON 851-6989

Allied Member ASID

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

41

