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Jeep, 669-2010 Eagle walled lake, mi THE BETH ACHIM RELIGIOUS SCHOOL E'Leva4, Ott Jeiwa EZzaz,0,1 ONE PLUS DAY SUNDAY A • ; Two Locations: -Southfield -West Bloomfield/Walled Lake Our New Satellite MAPLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (On Maple btwn. Halstead & Haggerty) • THE DETRO w 18 K-Post Bar/Bat Mitzvah Free Kindergarten Bed 21100 West Twelve Mile Rd., Southfield (810) 352-8223,or (810) 352-8670 Shabbat Shoftim: Deuteronomy 16:18- 21:9; Isaiah 51:12-52:12. T his week's Torah portion whose power had limits, the au- Slwftim, meaning "judges," thority of the prophet is strength- deals with the responsibil- ened in Deuteronomy. The reason ities of public officials and Israel is to heed the prophets is introduces four main types of hu- that they are God's messengers man authorities: judges, kings, and spokesmen. The foreign priests and prophets. Canaanites conducted their af- Broad principles are indicated fairs in accordance with instruc- for the rights of each authority. tions of diviners and sorcerers, Deuteronomy seeks to prevent the but Israel used to conduct affairs development of any single strong with the instruction of the focus of prestige or power and prophets. The Israelite religion thus prevent anyone from believed that God and not gaining absolute author- the king was the true ity or prestige. sovereign and that hu- Fundamental rules of man kingship was a man- judicial propriety are dis- made institution; thus the cussed. The injunction, prophet becomes the "You shall not judge un- highest authority. fairly" is invoked with Laws pertaining to connection to cases in- asylum cities are also dis- volving the needy, who cussed. Three cities are are most vulnerable to ju- DR. RICHARD C. assigned to be asylums HERTZ dicial mistreatment. As a where slaves may be pro- general rule, do not judge SPECIAL TO tected from retaliation JEWISH NEWS anyone unfairly nor show THE until a trial can deter- partiality to favor the poor or dif- mine whether the killing was ac- ference to the rich. The statement cidental or deliberate. These cities about justice is included in this served to control the ancient prac- portion: "Justice, justice shall you tice of blood vengeance. These pursue;" justice alone should be cities of refuge were designated the mandate of the judges. to provide a realistic means of The sedrah goes on to discuss achieving the aim of protection so the worshiping of other gods that the innocent not be wrongly which violates the commandment executed. "You shall have no other gods ... The law ofLex Talionis, or the you shall not bow down to them law of punishment in kind, is dis- or serve them." cussed in this sedrah. Deuteron- The law about a king in vers- omy states clearly that the law of es 14-20 continues Deuteronomy's Lex Talionis is to be carried out policy of limiting the power and by a court, not by an individual prestige of human authorities. person. The penalty of a life for a The view of the monarchy seeks life, an eye for an eye,a tooth for to prevent the excesses that oth- a tooth is the classic formula. Tal- er nations have experienced, es- mudic exogecetic holds that the pecially Egypt. In Egypt, the king formula is not to be taken liter- was believed to be a god and he ally, but means that the assailant was the law. Israel's king, if it is required to indemnify the vic- ever has one, should not keep tim with a sum of money that cor- many horses in his personal en- responds to the severity of the tourage, for they represent royal injury. self-aggrandizement; nor should The sedrah concludes with the king have a large harem to some general laws about warfare: distract him from God's teaching. the treatment of defeated popu- The king is to be constitutional lations and property near be- monarch subject to the laws of sieged cities. They limit wanton God's teaching in the Torah. He destruction of life and property personally should study the and are the oldest known rules of Torah and review it constantly. war. ❑ Next come the laws concern- ing how the clergy are to be sup- Publicity ported and where they are to live. Another type of official dis- Deadlines cussed is the prophet; in The normal deadline for local news Deuteronomy, the prophet is the and publicity items is noon Thurs- most important authoritative day, eight days prior to issue date. leader. In contrast to the king, The deadline for birth announce- Richard C. Hertz is distinguished professor of Jewish studies at the University of Detroit-Mercy. ments is 10 a.m. Monday, four days prior to issue date; out-of-town obit-, uaries, 10 a.m. Tuesday, three days prior to issue date.