The Temple Emanu-El Family wishes to invite you to our
Prospective Membership
Picnic& Service
Let us introduce you to our Temple.
The Divine Source
Of Human Fortune
Come meet our professional staff, board
and Temple members on
Shabbat Ekev: Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25;
Isaiah 49:14-56:3.
Friday, August 16, 1996.
6:00 p.m.Picnic • 7:30 p.m. Service
Worship under the stars in our beautiful
Theodore Birnkrant Memorial Garden.
Food and beverages courtes y of
Temple Emanu-El.
Please R.S.V.P. by Monday, August 12
to Temple Emanu-El (810) 967-4020.
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Temple Emanu-El
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THE DETR OIT J EWIS H NE WS
14450 West Ten Mile Road
Oak Park, Michigan 48237
(810) 967-4020
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4316 N. Woodward Ave .
South of 14 Mile Road
(810) 549-5070
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RABBI MARIA J. FELDMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
T
he Book of Deuteronomy
The belief that human for-
contains Moses' review of tunes are determined by God
events from the Exodus underlies the proper nuance of
from Egypt to the Is- the well known phrase "man
raelites' imminent entry into the does not live on bread alone"
Promised Land. In Ekev, Moses found in this week's portion. De-
reminds the Israelites of the spite its common usage, the pas-
many tests of their loyalty en- sage is not intended to teach
dured along the journey:
that there is more to life than
"Remember the long way that bare necessities. Rather, it is the
the Lord your God has made you second clause of the phrase
travel in the wilderness these which conveys its meaning:
past 40 ears that God might "Man may live on anything that
test you by hardships to learn the Lord decrees." In other
what was in your hearts: words, we thrive or starve ac-
whether you would keep the cording to divine decree, not the
commandments or not. God fruit of our own labors. If man-
subjected you to the hardship of na is to be our daily portion, then
hunger and then gave you man- so be it.
na to eat... in order to teach you
that man does not live on bread
alone, but that man may live on
anything that the Lord decrees."
(Deuteronomy 8:2-3)
The rabbis wonder how the
miracle of manna is considered
to be a trial. According to Rashi,
the test was whether the Is-
raelites would heed God's com-
mand to gather only one day's
portion at a time, except for the
double portion permitted for
Shabbat. Nahmanides suggests
the vulnerability and uncer-
tainty inherent in their reliance
on God for their daily portion
constituted the test of the Is-
raelites' faith.
Sforno, however, offers an Marla Feldman
alternative view, proposing that
the true test was whether the
This notion flies in the face of
Israelites would continue to the American work ethic, which
do God's will even when satiat- suggests that hard work and
ed and prosperous. Or as the perseverance are the keys to
sages put it, "God tests the success. The assumption that
rich man by watching whether one need only "pull oneself up by
he will be openhanded to the the bootstrap" to succeed in-
poor."
forms much of our public policy
This idea is picked up later in and characterizes the current
the biblical text: "When you have welfare debate. The "haves"
eaten your fill and have built claim their prosperity as reward
fine houses to live in... and every- for their own efforts while the
thing you own has prospered, be- "have nots" are urged to work
ware lest your heart grow a little harder if they expect to
haughty and you forget the Lord make it.
your God who freed yOu from the
It was exactly this view of life
land of Egypt, the house of that Moses urged our ancestors
bondage... and you say to your- to reject. Good fortune is a gift
selves, 'My own power and the of God, to be received with hu-
might of my own hand have won mility and thankfulness. Afflu-
this wealth for me.' Remember ence is a test of faith and
that it is the Lord your God who character, which challenges the
gives you the power to get wealthy to believe in a higher
wealth..." (Deuteronomy 8:12-18) power than themselves.
This message is an important
one
for the American Jewish
Marla Feldman is the assistant
community. As a group, we are
director for domestic concerns
more successful and have
of the Jewish Community
amassed more wealth than at
Council of Metropolitan
any other time in our history.
Detroit.
.