TORAH PORTION
The American Friends of the Hebrew University
Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
and The Jewish News
present
Purification Rituals:
Theme Of Holiness
RABBI RICHARD C. HERTZ
featuring
Special to The Jewish News
EDY KAUFMAN
EITAN YEFENOF
Executive Director,
Harry S Truman Insti-
tute for the Advance-
ment of Peace, Hebrew
University; Visiting
Professor, American
University and Univer-
sity of Maryland,
College Park
Professor, Lautenberg
Center for Immunolo-
gy, Hebrew University
of Jerusalem; Visiting
Professor, University of
Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas
discussing
discussing
T
Sunday, May 3, 1992 / 7:30 p.m.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek — Adler Hall
Bell Road at 11 Mile, Southfield
Refreshments
Dietary laws observed
No registration fee
No solicitation of funds
General Chairman:
Harold Berry
Co-chairmen:
Harvey Grace Dr. Nicholas Kerin Erwin Ziegelman
Jack Liwazer,
David Litwack,
President,
Michigan Chapter, AFHU
Regional Director
— New Members Welcome —
THE WORKMEN'S CIRCLE
announces its
Health Care Enrollment
for Workmen's Circle Members
May 1-22, 1992 — Effective July 1, 1992
Available are — HEALTH ALLIANCE PLAN
plans from: — OMNI CARE HEALTH PLAN
Health Alliance Plan is open to new members of
Workmen's Circle at other times of the year as well.
Omni Care is open to new and existing members
only during OPEN ENROLLMENT.
For further information call 545-0985.
ww
rinin
AV lk A AV .1 4r1Arl
AL HARRIS
NO. 1 IN SALES
FOR DETROIT AREA
Telegraph & 12 Mile
353-1300
he portion of this week
gets its name from the
opening words that
deal with the death of Nadab
and Abihu, who had offered
"strange fire" on the altar of
the sanctuary (as recorded in
Chapter 10). This week's
sedra deals with several mat-
ters: first, a ritual for the
purification of the sanctuary.
The sanctuary was the visi-
ble presence of God, but His
presence was- there only on
condition that the sanctuary
be maintained in a state of
purity, the subject of Chapter
16, describing the role of the
high priest, the main
celebrant in the purification
of the sanctuary. -
After the high priest had
completed the purification by
means of certain blood rites,
he turned his attention to the
scapegoat. By placing his
hands on the scapegoat, the
high priest transferred to it
the sins and defilements of
the people and its priesthood.
The scapegoat was then
driven off into the wilderness,
never to return. Its death was
thought to have an expiatory
effect. The goat carried the
name of Azazel, considered to
be an evil spirit dwelling in
the wilderness.
After regulations for the
slaying of animals and why
blood was not to be eaten, we
continue with the designation
of the annual Atonement Day,
a Sabbath of complete rest
and self-denial, a portion
which is read on Yom Kippur.
The chapters that follow
deal with the dominant
theme of holiness. While its
central idea is that the people
of Israel bear the collective
responsibility to seek and
achieve holiness, virtually all
sections of the Holiness Code
open with the injunction to
"speak to the people of
Israel."
The last part of the sedra
deals with marriage and the
family. Forbidden marriages
are identified. Forbidden sex-
ual activity is dealt with and
considered a transgression
against God's command-
ments. Such offenses would
undermine Israel's right to
the land of Canaan and even-
tually bring about exile.
These regulations were
meant to govern the conduct
of the entire people of Israel.
The laws and practices of
Dr. Hertz is rabbi emeritus of
Temple Beth El.
other Canaan-like cultures
are "the laws of other na-
tions," referring to the wor-
ship of other deities at-
tributed to pagan ways of life
with which the Israelites had
come in contact.
The whole point of the pro-
hibitions is that the violation
of the code of family life com-
mits an outrage that defiles
the land. Land and people are
interdependent. The exile of
a people from its land was the
ultimate punishment, for ex-
ile was a punishment abhor-
rent not only for Israel but for
other nations too. The sedra
clearly proclaims the goal of
establishing a holy communi-
ty of Israel to be dependent
upon a standard of proper sex-
ual behavior.
The truth is the Torah has
no word for sex or even sex-
Shabbat
Achare Mot:
Leviticus
16:1-18:30
Samuel I 20:18-42
uality. The Jewish attitude
toward what is contained in
this sedra shows a certain
discipline against unchaste-
ness. Moderation and self-
control are the essence of
holiness, for unchaste conduct
by an individual constitutes
an offense against God.
Perversions, such as sodomy,
pederasty, adultery or incest
were branded as capital
crimes. The rabbis in Pirke
Avot called for moderation in
sex. "Who is mighty? He who
subdues his lust." (Avot 4:1) El
"1""1 SYNAGOGUES
Rabbi Wine
Review, Talk
Rabbi Wine will present a
Campaign for Freedom 8:30
p.m. May 4 at the temple.
Campaign for Freedom is an
affirmation of personal liber-
ty at a time when freedom in
our country is under assault.
Rabbi Wine will review
Backlash by Susan Faludi.
Discussion will follow. There
is a charge.
Rabbi Wine will describe
the philosophy and the pro-
grams of the Birmingham
Temple and of Humanistic
Judaism at a gathering 7:30
p.m. May 6 in the temple
library. For reservations or in-
formation, call the temple of-
fice, 477-1410.