High Holydays 5757/1996
Jewish Tradition Teaches That "Silence is Agreement"

Silence is appropriate, even useful, as we look inward at this sacred time of year. During the
High Holydays we reflect, gaining perspective and seeking forgiveness; washing away the
sins of the past and beginning anew. Throughout the rest of the year, we speak up, letting
others know what we stand for and what we won't stand for.

How can we reconcile this quiet period of self-examination with our Jewish tradition of
speaking out in pursuit of justice for the poor and the stranger?

Millions who live among us struggle under the crushing weight of poverty and hunger. Many
are children who have not yet gained control of their lives; many others are elderly and have
lost the ability to care for themselves. Others are simply too weak, too sick or too deeply
disillusioned to rise above their poverty — unless we help them.

How can we keep silent about their plight when Jewish tradition teaches us that "silence is
agreement"?

As you look inward during these High Holydays, MAZON asks that you reach outward to
those who are hungry by contributing the dollars you and your family save by not eating on
Yom Kippur — or by giving whatever amount you deem appropriate. Your one day of fast,
and your momentary silence, will speak volumes as you help MAZON feed those so
desperately in need; those whose fast will not end at sundown.

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MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
12401 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 303
Los Angeles, CA 90025-1015

lrtvbluntary
fast suffered by Tn . adrbungry people
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Enclosed is a check for,-$ •-
Name
Address
L City, State, Zip

YES, I/we choose to help.eam

S PECtoiz

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32

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Oak Park, MI 48237
(810) 967-3920

Return And Repentance
For A Better Life

Shabbat Ha'azinu:Deuteronomy 32:1-52; Hosea
14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-27.

RABBI ELIEZER COHEN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

his Shabbat is known tra- nation would not come to fruition
ditionally as Shabbat Shu- because they did not sanctify
va — the Sabbath of God.
The Talmud describes one who
Return — from the first
word of the Haftorah or, alter- sanctifies God in this way: "The
natively, Shabbat Tshuva — the name of heaven should become
Sabbath of Repentance as the beloved through him ... people
Shabbat that comes between should say of him 'Happy is his
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kip- father who taught him Torah;
happy is his teacher who
pur, during the 10 days
taught him Torah; woe
of repentance.
to those who do not learn
Both names essen-
Torah. He learned Torah
tially emphasize the
— see how pleasant are
same point; for in He-
his ways, how proper his
brew, the root of the
acts.' "
is
t'shuva,
word repent,
Sanctifying God's
the word to return, shu-
name is to bring credit to
va. We are bidden to re-
turn to God and to the RABBI E LIEZER God by our behavior as
His nation. To sanctify
proper way of life that COH EN
God is to demonstrate by
SPECIAL TO THE
we, in our ignorance and
JEWISH NEWS
the way we act, the great-
arrogance, our desire
ness, beauty and wisdom
and stubbornness, have
of
God's
Torah.
forsaken.
Moses and Aaron were barred
The sedrah Ha'azinu contains
the shira (poem or song) that from the land of Israel because
Moses places before the people they could have brought even
as a testimony to God's love for greater credit to God.
God, for some unknown rea-
the Jewish people and His ulti-
mate justice and righteousness son, has granted our generation
in dealing with them. Following the unparalleled opportunity to
the shim and a short exhortation, not only enter and live in the land
Moses is told to ascend the moun- of Israel, but to govern ourselves
tain from which to see the land as the Jewish people in the
of Israel, for he will only see the promised land. What a fantastic
land, not enter it ... "Because you opportunity to sanctify God's
trespassed against Me in the name, to demonstrate the great-
midst of the Jewish people at the ness of God's nation, the laws and
waters of Merivas-Kadesh in the the beauty and wisdom of the
wilderness of Tzin because you Jewish way of life.
From this perspective, the dis-
didn't sanctify Me in the midst of
the Jewish people." (Deuterono- play of mutual hatred, the lack
of respect and cooperation, the
my 33:49-52.)
This verse refers to the inci- polarization of factions within Is-
dent where the nation com- raeli society to the point of mur-
plained they had no water and der represent a tragedy of
Aaron brought forth water from enormous proportions.
We must all commit ourselves
the rock. The exact nature of the
sin is not clearly stated (and, in on this Sabbath of Return/Re-
fact, the commentaries provide pentance to work to tolerate and
numerous possibilities — there accept, to cooperate and, indeed,
are 10 quotes in the Orach Haim love our fellow Jew even when
alone besides his own). What is we disagree profoundly. For only
clear, though, is that Moses and then can we see the true fulfill-
Aaron were not permitted to en- ment of the last few verses of the
ter the promised land because Haftorah of return: "And you will
they had an opportunity to sanc-
tify God's name and they did not.
Publicity
Both Moses and Aaron had
Deadlines
dedicated over 40 years of their
lives to minister and serve God
The normal deadline for local
and Israel. They brought the na-
news and publicity items is noon
tion to the very brink of entering
Thursday, eight days prior to is-
the land promised to them only
sue date. The deadline for birth
to be told: "You may not go." The
announcements is 10 a.m. Mon-
hope and the dreams they had
day, four days prior to issue
for themselves and their beloved
date; out-of-town obituaries, 10
a.m. Tuesday, three days prior
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of
to issue date.

il

Congregation Or Chadash.

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