Because A Lexus LS Is Worth More, It Costs Less. Go Figure. $429* Balak's Desired Curse Turns To Blessing For 24 Months DR. RICHARD C. HERTZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS T • • Lease A New Lexus For Less Than 1989. too*: 001:0101.****iii . tgor % LEXUS OF LANSING The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection For a personal showing: Call 1-800-539-8748 OR 1-800-LEXUS-4-U Exit 104 off 1-96 • 5709 S. Pennsylvania, Lansing • 517/394-8000 (CALL COLLECT) Vet4 tiefit Where We've Got The Sizeted LLI CO LU LU LU 16 Sisterhood • Men's Club • Chavura Youth Programs • Young At Heart Monthly Sit Down Kiddush Family Shabbat Dinners Adult Education Religious School with Facilities in Southfield and West Bloomfield Daily Morning and Evening Minyans STAND UP SIT DOWN STAND UP SIT DOWN STAND UP SIT DOWN with us for Shabbat services, and see what we STAND for! Centrally located ... Just a line drive via all major freeways. 21100 West 12 Mile Rd., Southfield - 352-8670 We welcome all members of the Jewish community to our traditional services. For further information, call 352-8670 his entire sedrah deals with an amazing folk tale in- serted into the Torah. It de- scribes how Balak, king of Moab, dealt with the Israelites. The scene is on the eastern shores of the Dead Sea as the Is- raelites were making their way north, entering upon the last stage of their journey to the promised land. King Balak was petrified at the sight of the oncoming Israelites who have already dealt with other neighboring tribes victori- ously and now were approaching the land of Moab. Curses among ancient and primitive peoples were thought to be decisive in dealing with an enemy. King Bal- ak, overcome with dread, decid- ed to turn to an Eastern seer named Baalam. King Balak had heard that this reknown heathen prophet Baalam was able to curse anyone who needed to be curses. Enemies said his curse was irresistable. Balak sent messengers to Baalam inviting him to come to Moab and cast a spell upon the approaching Israelites. Balaam was at first reluctant. The second time Baalam agreed to go with the men. He rose up early in the morning, saddled up to go with the princes of Moab. As he was riding along, the ass saw an an- gel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand, so the ass turned aside. Bantam beat the ass to turn back the right way; this happened three times. Then God opened the eyes of Baalam to see the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand. He bowed his head and fell on his face; he knew he had sinned. The angel said to Baalam, "Go with these men, but only the word that I shall speak unto thee shall thou speak." The great confrontation was dramatic. Balaam declared, "How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I de- nounce whom God had not de- nounced?" Balaam looked upon the Israel and said, "How goodly are thy tents 0 Jacob, they dwelling places, 0 Israel." Balak said, "I called you here to curse my ene- mies and behold all you've done is to bless them! Go back home!" And Baalam said to him, "I must say to you as I said to your mes- sengers, `If Balak would give me Dr. Richard C. Hertz is rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth El. a house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord. What the Lord speaketh, that is what I speak.' " Why was this story, with a folk theme all its own, inserted into the Torah? Bantam, who desires to subdue Israel with words, can- not even subdue his beast of bui-• den with a stick. Shabbat Balak: Numbers 22:2-25:9 Micah 5:6-6:8. This lampooning of Baalam shows in reality that he was a fool, a caricature of a seer, out- witted even by his dumb beast. Thus the image of Baalam the wicked is ready to be transformed into Baalamthe saint. Baalam's oracles have a bless- ing for Israel, predicting that Is- rael will be blessed with prosperity and victory and will crush Balak's nation. Baalam's blessing moves from the present to the future for its ultimate ful- filment but Balak has defied God by attempting to destroy Israel. There is even a parallel with Pharoah, who also tried to thwart God's design to bless Israel. 0 Emanu-El Elects Leaders Temple Emanu-El recently in- stalled its 1994/95 temple and af- filiate officers and trustees. Temple officers are president, Sharon Jaffe; vice presidents, Ju- dith Nolish, Joel Hearshen, Ger- ald Bayer, Dr. Alan Kessler; treasurer, Glen Liebowitz; secre- tary, Suzan Caplan; immediate past president, Beatruce Sacks. Trustees are Mary Paquette- Abt, Marilyn Kaczander-Cohen, Stephen Dillon, Janice Erdstein, Allan Gale, Robert Gershman, William Hartman, Dr. William Hoffman, Dennis Kayes, Barbara Nurenberg, Jennifer Patterson, Dr. Steven Rossmoore, Muriel Sherbow, Lloyd Strausz, Alice Subia, Andrea Teeple, Stuart Trager and Richard Zussman. Temple Emanu-El Brother- hood officers are president, Dou- .