`broaden Their Horizons
An Adult Day Program
We cater to Adults whose Horizons have been reduced.
First Diaspora Jew:
Joseph, Son Of Jacob
DR. RICHARD C. HERTZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
• meet and greet friends
• participate in purposeful recreational, educational and
cultural activities
• foster independence
• promote wellness
• improve quality of life
• provides respite for the caregiver
• enjoy nutritional Kosher food
The Club is located in the Blumberg Plaza, West Bloomfield/Jewish
Community Campus. (Next door to the Jewish Community Center)
Transportation is available.
For more information, please call Myrna Katz, the Adult Day
Program Director (810) 661-2999.
A new day is dawning at
the Club in the Plaza.
Group
Apartments for
the Elderly
A Jewish Family Service Program
Since 1979
• Luxurious apartments, with private bedrooms, for shared living.
• Supportive care provided by Geriatric Care Workers and Social
Workers.
If someone you know desires a family-like setting,
JEWISH
FAMILY
please call Jan Bayer at 559-1500.
SERVICE
Endowed by the Coville-Triest Family Foundations.
CAMP ARO
Windsurfing • Sailing
Canoeing • Riding
Kayaking • Tennis
Backpacking
Archery • Nature
Drama • Canoe Trips
Arts and Crafts
Since 1934 Arowhon has been known for intense teaching
of skills and "the best waterfront program in North America."
In the Algonquin Park wilderness boys and girls
aged 7-16 are simultaneously
nurtured and challenged.
Take advantage of the very favorable
Canadian $ exchange rate!
DETROIT INFORMATION SESSION:
Sunday, December 11, 1994 at 4:00 p.m.
Birmingham Community House, 380 South Bates Street in Birmingham
Info.: 72 Lyndhurst Ave. Toronto, Ontario M5R 2Z7 Tel (416) 975-9060
Fax: (416) 975-0130
vs,
I
his sedrah continues the
dramatic confrontation be-
tween Joseph and his
brothers, who have again
come down to Egypt in quest of
food and grain for the terrible
famine in Canaan.
When Joseph met his broth-
ers, he recognized them at once
through they did not know this
powerful leader was their
younger brother. Judah became
the spokesman for his brothers.
He sums up in a long speech all
the events that have happened.
He tells how his father, Jacob,
would die if the son, Benjamin,
were not released. He offers him-
self as a hostage slave in place of
Benjamin. Joseph learns for the
first time the manner of his sup-
posed death at the hands of his
brothers, that "he had been torn
to pieces by wild animals" and
their blood had stained his "coat
of many colors."
Joseph could not restrain him-
self any longer. No more thoughts
of revenge. Joseph now revealed
himself to his astonished broth-
ers. They were dumfounded. The
reunion was dramatic.
Again and again Joseph told
his brothers not to blame them-
selves, that it was God's purpose
to bring him to Egypt. Four
times Joseph insisted that it was
God who brought these miracu-
lous events to happen. The broth-
ers were speechless. The news of
Joseph's brothers reached
Pharaoph's palace.
The rest of the sedrah deals
with bringing Jacob and all his
retinue down to Egypt, to be giv-
en generous space in the rich
lands of Goshen for the cattle and
flocks where they survived and
flourished despite the famine.
The sedrah even discusses the
aggressive reforms by which
Joseph bought the lands of the
landowners for Pharaoh in return
for gaining 20 percent of the corn
brought forth.
This sedrah also reveals the
secularist complexion of the
Joseph saga. There are no mirac-
ulous or supernatural elements
in the story, only the conscious-
ness of God at work in the un-
folding of events. The point of
Joseph's generosity to his fami-
ly is strikingly dramatized in this
sedrah, showing the brothers that
he behaved like a brother when
they were in his power even
thought they had not behaved
like a brother when he was in
their power.
Dr. Richard C. Hertz is rabbi emer-
itus of Temple Beth El.
Joseph was the first Jew who
lived, so to speak, in the Diaspo-
ra. What kind of Jew was
Joseph? His love of family is
clearly shown in this sedrah. He
stands out as a noble, caring Jew.
The Holy Land was not the only
place a Jew could live. In later
centuries, a significant percent-
age of our Jewish creativity oc-
curred while Jews lived in other
lands. The Babylonian Talmud,
indeed most of Judaism, was cre-
Shabbat Vayigash:
Genesis 44:18-47:27
Ezekiel 37:15-28.
ated in other lands, after the de-
struction of the Temple in 70 CE.
The Diaspora became the place
where Jews and Judaism were to
thrive and survive. Joseph was
the first Diaspora Jew. He was
the central figure in one of the
classics of mankind, the bridge
between the partiarich's of Abra-
ham, Issac, and Jacob and the all-
important exodus from Egypt. ❑
Family Service
At Adat Shalom
Mat Shalom Synagogue will hold
a Family Shabbat Morning Ser-
vice Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. in the
Joseph D. Shiffman Chapel.
This service is designed espe-
cially for families with youngsters
under the age of 13 to enhance
Shabbat morning worship. It is
coordinated by Ronald Leff, di-
rector of education and youth,
and sponsored by Adat Shalom's
JEFF Committee. The commu-
nity is welcome.
Beth Achim
Family Dinner
The Cultural Commission of Con-
gregation Beth Achim will host a
Family Shabbat Dinner Dec. 16
at 6 p.m. at the synagogue.
During the dinner, Rabbi Her-
bert Yoskowitz will explain the
significance of Shabbat; Cantor
Max Shimansky will lead the
families of z'mirot.
There is a charge for dinner
and reservations are required by
Dec. 12. For information, contact
the synagogue office, 352-8670.