rIMMI MUM MInaIMMOrnllal0 MOWN Urn IIMIMMI MIMI MINIM IN MINIM MINIM V YOUR TICKET TO 20% SAVINGS August 23 through August 29, 1993 WHAT: I I I I For a $35.00 contribution to Women's American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training), you will re- celveyour PassreORP to Savings card, which entittesyou to up to a 20% discount on all non-sale merchandise at the stores listed below. You may use your Passp•ORr to Savings card In all the shops during designated dates only. There is no limit to the number of purchases. WHEN: Your Possp*ORr to Savings package complete with detals warding each merchant wit be moiled out the week of August 9th. If you do not receive your Pasep•ORT" by August 16, contact the ORT office at 855.9820. PasI•ORP cords wIl also be available for purchase at marry of the particiPalln9 merchants beginning August 16. Passp "ORT" I WHY: Your participation In Pasp•ORT' to Savings witi ad- vance the development of the ORT program, which Is the largest global non-governmental network of scientific, voca- tional and technological education In the world. To date, there are over 222,000 students In 800 schools In 52 countries around the world. HOW: Parsp•ORr' to Savings cards con be purchased by returning the attached mal-in form. Make checks payable to Women's American ORT. You can atm send Passp•ORr to Savings cards as a gift. CARDS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE AND ALL SALES ARE FINAL. I I I I I I I ALL METROPOLITAN LOCATIONS: FARMINGTON/ FARMINGTON HILLS: Eyeglass Factory MGM Bicycle & Fitness Equipment Winkleman's BERKLEY: Harrison Luggage I I SOUTHFIELD: All About Flowers Anders B's Bagglt Desserts by Sylvia Lee 4 Men GlorIous Gif is Mister Marvin's Klcke Palmer Optical Rachel's Needlepoint Roslyn's Intimate Apparel Sy Draft Tlny Doubles Tressa's Boutique Valentina Applegate LIVONIA: BIRMINGHAM: Azar's Oriental Rugs Carol Hooberman Gallery Lasio's Leathers Newton Furniture MACOMB TOWNSHIP: Crafty Lady NOVI: Gould's Leotards Et Cetera Lulu's lingerie Madelaine's Newton Furniture OAK PARK: Book Beat Metro Frame, Inc. DETROIT: Detroit Gallery of Contemporary Crafts The Poster Gallery Zemco Textiles WEST BLOOMFIELD: PONTIAC: Accents In Needlepoint Azade Bloomfield Esthetics Bricker-Tunis Furs Brody's House of Watchbands Mall Optical & Hearing Center Sun & Sport Eyewear I The Oral Tradition Is Not Easily Avoided CD Warehouse Chico's Cover Up Complaisant Danielle Peleg Gallery Divine Knits Fabulous Rags, Riches and Things Guys and Gals Ilona and Gallery Its The Gif is Karma Creations Knit, Knit, Knit LaBret Jewelers Lieberman Photography Mario Max Palmer Optical Sally s Design Boutique Salvatore's Hair Salon Silver Streak Suzy Ran's Science of Slimming Trends Under It All The Finishing Touch Framery One Inc. Mark Shopnick Jewelers Marmel Gifts & Toys, Inc. Posner Gallery Ron Daniel Salon Tamara's In-Town Spa BLOOMFIELD HILLS: I I ROYAL OAK RABBI MORTON F. YOLKUT SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS I WESTLAND: Wotchban Os Plus di t V di lb at 43 iiiki, It it t 4) ilik lb d t - ir At it r..............................................................., I ■ I am enclosing $ I I I I I I I I 1 1 for Passp"ORT to Savings card(s) @ $35.00 each. Name 1 I Phone Address City I I I Gift from: MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO : WOMEN'S AMERICAN ORT REMIT TO: 31275 NORTHWESTERN HVVY SUITE 114 • FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 GE LEN) O 4 • A 4 A 0 This is not just any Semetta, .. . It's our 25th Anniversary! 4 Nancy Gurwin production of Broadway Then & Now featuring "There's No Business Like Shul Business." Champagne and gourmet dessert bar reception. SAT., NOV. 13 Special Shabbat Service SUN., NOV. 14 Brunch honoring the Men's Club, Sisterhood and Young At Heart. SUNDAY MARCH 13 Music Fest SUNDAY MAY 22 Evening of Elegance For information call 0) LLJ F- 0 CC 1- L11 C.) LLJ F- 50 ZS 25th Anniversary Kick-off at 1:00 p.m. SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12 LLJ O SO . . . Celebrate Good Times with the Members of 352-8670 DONATE YOUR CAR TRUCK q), MOTOR BOAT 1c,, RV Q;, MOTORCYCLE ANY CONDITION • TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CALI. (3131352-52Y2 * A Jewish Association for Residential Can for persons with developmental disabilities 28388 Franklin Road • Southfield, Michigan 48034 Congregation Beth Achim 21100 W 12 Mile Rd. Southfield, Ml 48076 FREE Municipal Bonds Listing Receive Weekly Report A.GEdwarrls&Sons,Inc INTISTUENTS SAYT /4,57 MEMBER SJPC #AN-BM-8-EDA BOB MORIAN (3131) 336-9200 14300-365-9200 wo distinct traditions concerning the manner in which the Jewish people received the Torah at Nit. Sinai have been transmitted to us. The biblical tradition as recorded in this week's sedrah (as well as earlier in the Book of Exodus) describes in glow- ing terms the enthusiasm and fervor that marked the revelation. Elsewhere the text informs us that the Israelites proudly proclaimed: Naashe Ve'nishma — "We shall do and we shall hearken." In their passionate desire to receive the divine law they even put the Naaseh (practice) before the Nishma (understanding). The rabbinic tradition, on the other hand, describes our ancestors as quite reluctant to embrace and accept the Torah. In fact, the Talmud teaches that the Israelites refused to accept the Law un- til God forced it upon them by holding the mountain over them and threatening to crush them unless they ac- cepted. (T.B. Shabbat 88a). All of our traditional com- mentators are troubled by the obvious discrepancy between the two traditions. We are dealing here, after all, with a historical event which could have occurred only in one par- ticular manner. Why then this divergence of opinion? One answer to this question suggests that the biblical nar- rative refers to the written law which the Jewish people were more than willing to ac- cept. But the rabbinic tradi- tion alludes to the oral law — the Torah She'be'al Peh — which our ancestors received only after divine coercion. The question, however, still remains: Why should we draw a distinction between the oral and written law? According to our tradition, both possess equal validity and are equal- ly binding upon every Jew. Why then were the Israelites eager and willing to accept the written law but far less enthusiastic about receiving the oral tradition? The answer to this question is an important lesson in itself. Most people find a writ- ten law far less threatening than an oral law which re- quires continuous transmis- Morton Yolkut is rabbi of Congregation B'nai David. sion and implementation. A Torah She'bi'ktav is perfectly acceptable as long as it re- mains just that — a written law on parchment or paper. Every nation is proud to display exalted charters that glorify human and divine aspirations. Such written documents are admired and revered as long as they re- main Torah She'bi'ktav — written on parchment or etch- ed on tablets of stone, obligating no one. But when you demand that this Torah become a living Torah — a Torah She'be'al Peh — to be communicated from teacher to student, from parent to child. The 20th century has seen the evolution of a number of glorious written charters in- cluding Wilson's 14 Points, the Atlantic Charter, the Four Freedoms and the United Na- tions Charter. All of these Shabbat Vaetchanan: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 Isaiah 40:1-26. were eagerly accepted and ap- plauded as precursors of a new era of peace and brotherhood. But with all the marvelous promises contain- ed in the written documents, those sublime goals remain as elusive as ever. We forget that charters were not works of art to ra- main forever enshrined in na- tional museums. They must be translated into oral laws K which govern man's conduct and behavior. Torah, too, is meant for liv- ing people, those here and alive today. It is not to be relegated to ancestors, preserved in museums as revered relics of an almost forgotten past. The effec- tiveness of Torah lies not in the parchment on which it is written, but rather in the hearts and souls that it will transform and regenerate. Let us learn from our past mistakes. Let us accept, this time willingly, the oral tradi- tion, in order that the written tradition may guide and in- spire our lives, helping us to repair the world and establish God's kingdom on earth. ❑