I TORAH PORTION I What All Jews Have In Common SHLOMO RISKIN E Special to The Jewish News 1992 Summer Close-Out Sale! • $2000 REBATE ON 1992 CADILLACS • RATES AS LOW AS 2.7% • HUGE SELECTION OF 1992 CADILLACS • TOP DOLLAR FOR TRADE • FREE LOANER CAR PROGRAM , 819,,,S=628$: 1992 Seville STS. DETROIT'S #1 CADILLAC DEALER WE WILL NorwuNDERsoLDT. ;:;' , - .: . MENTION THIS AD WHEN YOU TAKE DELIVERY OFYOUR NEW CADILLAC AND RECE .00940 w.H....QK.6.: NEw SET OF AMERICAN TOURISTER LUGGAGE. SHOWROOM OPEN MON. & THURS. 9 AM•9 PM Dreisbach to. Sons 1-6% 10 MILE . 8 M1 6 MILE Z Illi.f... I 96 JUST W. OF TELEGRAPH Top Dollar$ for Your Collectibles A major Detroit area bank asked us to assist them with an estate collection. The top offer they had received was just $7,500. We liquidated the collection in less than two weeks for over $30,000! Because we work on a consignment basis, the more dollars we can get for our clients the better we do ourselves. If you are interested in receiving top dollar for your collectibles, call for a free consultation today. 4000 Prudential Town Center Southfield, Michigan 48075 (313)356-5252 IC Richard Charles Rare Coin Galleries Michigan's Only Fully-Accredited Coin Dealer 44 FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1992 7' , i 7111111111111111 W Ilibb.. MICHIGAN'S #1 CADILLAC SERVICE DEPT. m. 7 MILE 5 MILE 531-2600 GRAND RIVER S. '0 9 MILE i+EUN tV f• ■•■■ M 39 Ilibb... _ .1111111 fiat, Israel — The in- gathering of the exiles — especially from Russia and Ethiopia — but in actuality from throughout the globe — makes every sen- sitive Jew aware of the miraculous nature of the historical period in which we live. We are truly experienc- ing the confirmation of the prophetic visions expressed more than 4,000 years ago. But in addition there are specific Biblical verses which suddenly assume new mean- ing and significance — or reveal for the first time their truest meaning and messages. This week's portion, Balak, records an ancient prophecy delivered by a gentile proph- et, a prophecy which actually describes the nation of Israel. Balaam, the leading oracle of that generation, is being of- fered a lifetime guarantee of fame, fortune and honor if he would only agree to curse this people that Balak, the king of Moab, wants to eradicate. But to no avail. "How shall I curse whom God has not cursed, and how shall I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? For from the top of the rocks I see him and from the hills I be- hold him: It is a people that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations." (Numbers 23:9) We usually understand the language of the "top of rocks" and "from the hills" to mean that we must view Jewish history from a much higher and longer perspective. The Midrash Rabba, (Ch. 20, Par 16) quoted in Rashi, writes that the "top of the rocks," refers to the patriarchs, and the "hills" refers to the matriarchs. The Jewish people are rooted in their matriarchs and patri- archs, and that makes them strong like rocks and hills. Balak's response to Ba- laam's words is angry: "I took you to curse mine enemies, and behold you have blessed them altogether." (23:11) But in rereading the words of the gentile prophet it's hard to locate exactly where the blessing is. In fact, the verse can be seen as an overall perspective on Jewish history describing how the nation will suffer many persecutions; Balak could take some refuge in that thought. Describing a Rabbi Riskin is chief rabbi of Efi-at, Israel and founder and dean of Ohr Torah Institutions. lone and friendless nation is hardly a great compliment. The Midrash interpretation takes the expressed two as- pects of the landscape, the mountains and hills, and turns them into a metaphor for patriarchs and matri- archs. What the prophet per- ceives is that the Israelites are eternally rooted in their matriarchs and patriarchs. And because the Jews will never give up their traditions and will always remain true to their past — despite their many wanderings and way- farings, their persecutions and pogroms — Israel will re- Whoever has the same father and mother must be brothers and sisters. main as everlasting as the rocks and the hills. Indeed, they will return to the very rocks and hills which nur- tured their forbears, the rocks and hills of the land of their origin, the land of Israel. To be sure, the host coun- tries will leave their imprint Jews will contribute to, and accept contributions from, the many different cultures and civilizations in which they will find themselves. But we must always be mindful of the Divine promise to father Jacob: ". . . a nation and a con- gregation of nations shall come forth from you (Genesis 35:11)." We will be different because of the many different nations and experiences our exile to all four corners of the world have brought upon us; we will be a "congregation of na- tions." But we will also be the same, we will always remain one nation, because we have the same father and mother, because we are all rooted in the traditions, because we have all been born out of and are destined to return to the same rocks and hills, the same mountains and valleys, of the land of Israel. And this is perhaps the deepest significance of Ba- laam's prophecy: We shall al- ways remain a singular na- tion and shall never be reckoned as separate nations, despite the differences which characterize our various strains! It's amazing how, when, walk the streets of Efrat, only do I cross paths with already familiar, even cop: -4-1 monplace, mix of Americai 1 Australian, English, Iris. and South African Jews wh. have joined the already ex-