Congregation Shaarey Zedek u- mL _I- , i _ _FL ' 1 1 afip ' Presents ri A, L -1 AV7 , ,' , TIZ , ;W1 3)00 it--,_\ 1 I ' ILI \_\ 1 ILI \__I November 6 & 7, 1993 #" Rabbi Moshe Tutnauer Scholar in Residence A Distinguished Leader of the Conservative.Movement in Israel and Renowned Scholar and Orator SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES November 6 TOPIC: "JEWS OF SILENCE — SILENT NO LONGER" 8:45 A.M. Services A first hand report on Jewish Life and the establishment of the 11:45 A.M. Lecture Conservative movement in the former Soviet Union. SHABBAT LUNCHEON TOPIC: "THE SPIRITUAL AWAKENING OF THE TRADITIONAL JEW" November 6 New ways of encountering meaning and spirituality in the prayer 12:30 P.M. book. SUNDAY MORNING November 7 TOPIC: "JERUSALEM: RELIGION AND POLITICS IN THE HOLY CITY" 10:00 A.M. A perspective on the ideological and political conflicts in Israeli Complimentary Breakfast society. What is their impact on the peace process? THE GREAT WEEKEND IS SPONSORED BY THE BERRY FAMILY Under the General Auspices of the Cultural Commission of the Congregation Lori and Steven Weisberg are Co-Chairs of the Weekend, Dr. Alden M. Leib is Co-Chair of the Cultural Commission Breakfast is Co-Sponsored by the Men's Club Make Check Payable to: CSZ "GREAT WEEKEND LUNCHEON" Enclosed is my check for ($9.00 ea. adult - $5.00 ea. child thru 12 yrs.) for reservation(s) for Shabbat Luncheon on Saturday, Nov. 6, 1993. Please hold places for the Men's Club Breakfast on Sunday a.m. Nov. 7, 1993. (no charge) Name Phone Number The Public is Invited 3ewisit Singles, 50 or Over 2 Come to Singles Cxtension group's jootball jrolic 0 4 ' etti. Sunday - 21oventher 7, 1993 - 6:30 (Dinner and dancing to live music. (1-Vine, nibbles, vegetarian pizza, salad, (Dessert, coffee, tea, punch. Paid-uymembers L$10.00 2Von-members i$12.00 R eservations appreciated or pag at door. 4 'Temple Jsrael 5725 Walnut Lake !Road (West (Bloomfield 30 48 Checks payable to: Singles extension Broup Mail to: (Box 771 Southfield, LAU 48037 3 :or info call - 2art8 Chairperson Ethel rfraurig 682-7232 Edith Ellis 932-0025 'Barbara ginsburg 352-7261 Study And Practice Make Mitzvot Real RABBI AMY B. BIGMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS I his week's Torah por- tion begins with God appearing to Abraham as he sits "at the en- trance of (his) tent as the day grew hot. Looking up, he saw three men standing near him ..." (Genesis 18:1-2). Tra- dition understands the three men to be "angels" or mes- sengers of God, although Abraham did not know them as such. He simply saw three human beings standing be- fore him as he sat by his tent. The men appear to Abra- ham immediately following the circumcisions of Abra- ham, his son Ishmael, and all of the males in his household, as is related at the conclu- sion of last week's parasha. The Talmud tells us that God appeared to Abraham three days following his cir- cumcision in order to see how Abraham was recuperating (Baba Metzia 86b). God saw that Abraham was suffering, wrapping and unwrapping the bandages which covered the circumcision, and thus God quickly withdrew from Abraham's presence. Based upon the opening verse of this week's parasha and its com- mentary, we learn of the mitzvah of visiting the sick, bikkur cholim. This mitzvah is so important, the rabbis tell us, that even the Holy One Blessed be God performs it! Returning to the Torah text, we find that despite the physical pain resulting from the circumcision, Abraham literally runs from the en- trance of his tent to greet the strangers who appeared to him. He goes out of his way to welcome the strangers; Abraham's hospitality knows no bounds. Abraham asks the men to stay, offering water to be brought in which they can bathe their feet, inviting them to rest under the tree and offering "a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves." (Genesis 18:2-5). Although he promised the strangers only a "morsel" of bread, "Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, 'Quick, three measures of choice flour! Knead and make cakes.' Then Abraham ran to the herd, took a calf, tender and choice, and gave Amy Bigman is a rabbi at Temple Enianu-El. it to a servant-boy, who has- tened to prepare it." (Genesis 18:6-7). Abraham had prepared much more for the men than he had promised them. He also made sure that the food was of the highest quality available. By virtue of the ac- tions taken by him and his household on behalf of the strangers, the Talmud de- clares Abraham a righteous man. Not only did Abraham arrange for his wife and his servant to make preparations for his guests, but Abraham, despite the pain from his re- cent circumcision, actually ran to take care of the men himself. We then hear no more about God's visit with Abra- ham. Based upon this, we are taught that "hospitality to wayfarers is greater than welcoming God's presence." (Shabbat 127a). Abraham knew that it was more im- Shabbat Vayera: Genesis 18:1 - 22:24 II Kings 4:1-37. portant to attend to the peo- ple at his door than to "receive God." Like Abraham, we too learn that treating our fellow human beings with kindness, feeding those who are hun- gry, aiding those who are hurt or sick, are more impor- tant than "welcoming God's presence" through prayer or study. Ours is a religion of doing, not merely of prayer and faith. Judaism teaches that we must do mitzvot, such as the mitzvot of bikkur cholim and hachnasat orchirn ("hos- pitality to strangers") which are derived from this week's Torah portion. It is not enough for us to simply study the traditions without putting them into practice. It is not enough to merely pray to God; Judaism obligates us to actively participate in tikkun olain ("repairing the world"). One religious school text- book explains mitzvot and our responsibilities this way: "Ac- cepting the responsibility to be part of the Jewish people means being a fixer. It means