DESERVES page 23
FURNITURE OUTLET
Except outside death row. All
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hold vigils near prisons as exe-
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scenes proponents of capital pun-
ishment count down to the in-
stant of death. They cheer when
they expect the deed is done. Op-
posite them others stand vigil
against the death penalty. Both
groups assemble to celebrate
their moral positions, to make
known to the world the joy or sor-
row they feel when the state
takes a life.
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If we are honest, we see in cap-
ital punishment and the schaden-
freude that it brings perverse —
even primitive — satisfaction in
the restored balance. "Whoever
sheds the blood of man, by man
shall his blood be shed" (Genesis
9:6). It matches nicely, doesn't it,
to see one die who has wickedly
caused others to die? It is the ap-
parent sentiment of lex talionis,
the law of retribution, "an eye for
an eye" (Exodus 21:24). Howev-
er, the embarrassment we feel at
schadenfreude — that very em-
barrassment we feel at the deaths
of Haman's sons, or else we would
not have to explain it away — is
an internal protest against the
state dealing death, wrongly jus-
tified in a morally horrid misun-
derstanding of the Bible. Torah
tried to limit revenge, not to au-
thorize it.
Embarrassment at schaden-
freude counts as an eloquent ar-
gument against capital
punishment. A more mature emo-
tion at the death of a malefactor,
even for those who seek that
death, is regret and sorrow that
yet another life has ended that did
not need to end, had chance or jus-
tice or affairs run differently. Our
unease at rejoicing in death is a
measure of our discomfort with
capital punishment.
No wonder very few non-Or-
thodox synagogues read the
whole megillah, but prefer to omit
the morally difficult deaths of
Haman's sons. However, slurring
over the bothersome sections lets
us neglect the social and ethical
questions they raise. We find a
lesson in Purim, that not-so-non-
sensical holiday, which Jews need
to take seriously. Not only do the
evil suffer the consequences of
their evil, but consequences are
sometimes morally troubling to
those who think they have be-
come civilized.
Of course, the whole Scroll of
Esther is parody, free of tradi-
tional religious sentiment. God
does not appear once in the text.
Our rejoicing in the death of the
wicked is a joke upon ourselves,
an acknowledgment of our harsh-
er emotions and a one-hour li-
cense to their reign, license that
will not occur again throughout
the Jewish year. Death we regret,
even the death of the wicked. And
if we regret it, we must eliminate
it. 0
Emanu-El
Adult Academy
"Jerusalem: Yesterday, Today,
and Tomorrow' with Rabbi Lane
Steinger is a class to survey the
history, legends, traditions, and
Jewish values associated with the
holy city. It will meet Mondays,
March 11, 18, 25, and April 1 at
8 p.m. at the temple.
"What Do I Do When a Loved
One Dies?" with Rabbi Amy
Brodsky will explore the tradi-
tions associated with death and
mourning. It will meet Mondays,
March 11, 18 and 25 at 7 p.m.
ORT Hosts
Israel Mission
Women's American ORT will
host a 10-day mission to Israel for
young leaders (45 and under),
their families, from April 25 to
May 6.
For information, contact the
Michigan Region ORT office,
(810) 855-9820.
Rabbi Leads
Israel Tour
A two-week tour of Israel will be
led by Rabbi Herbert and Rachel
Yoskowitz. The group will leave
Detroit on Monday, July 1. They
will visit Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Rehovot,
Jerusalem, Masada, Tiberias,
Safed, Haifa, Acre, Rosh Hanikra,
and swim in the Dead Sea.
For information, contact the con-
gregation office, (810) 352-8670.
Cultural Arts
Travel Series
The Cultural Arts Division of the
city of Southfield's Parks and
Recreation Department on Fri-
day, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. in
Southfield City Council Cham-
bers will host the March World
Travel and Adventure Series in-
stallment "The Song of Ireland."
Tickets are $4 and include light
refreshments during intermis-
sion.