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Importance Of Hebron
Is Tied To Machpelah
Shabbat Chaye Sara: Genesis 23:1-25:18;
I Kings 1:1-31.
RABBI RICHARD C. HERTZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
H
CCMUILIMENTALY LIFT WIRAUIPING
c644 Orchard Lake Ld at Maple
West IFIccmlieldo• 81C 8:45-1C00
Mcnithur-Irri 1C-1 Tile-Wed-Sat 1 C-C
Sun 112-i
What do Tappers, Kidsports and a condo in Jackson Hole, WY
have in common?
WE HAVE THEM!
Congregation Beth Achim's
ebron is in the news, very
much so these days, be-
cause of a controversy of
the 400 Israeli settlers
needing protection by the Israeli
army. One of the reasons pas-
sionate Israelis want to go to He-
bron to live is that this has been,
since biblical times, a city sacred
to Jewish concerns, particularly
because the cave of Machpelah is
located in Hebron.
After the death of Saul, David
chose Hebron as his royal city
and was anointed there as king
over Judah. Eventually David
was anointed king over all Israel
in Hebron.
Our sedrah relates that Abra-
ham, wishing to bury Sarah, pur-
chased Machpelah from Ephron
the Hittite for 400 shekels.
"Goods and Services Auction"
Sunday, November 10, 1996
Our guest auctioneer is WOMC's
"Matinee Mindy" Markowitz.
Silent Auction from 7:00pm to 8:30pm;
Live Auction starts at 8:30pm.
$18/person admission includes wine,
snacks and sweet-table
C'
and incontestable. The negotia-
tions were carried out at the city
gate where the transaction was
given the widest possible public-
ity for the body of citizens. The
price was introduced by Ephron
with nonchalance as he said, "My
Lord, do hear me. A piece of land
worth 400 shekels of silver. What
is that between you and me? Go
and bury your dead."
Thus the land was transferred (--)-`
to an alien, with the under-
standing it was to be used as a
burial site, and the first Jewish
cemetery was formed.
Machpelah became a national
shrine throughout the biblical pe-
riod, especially after Sarah and
Abraham, Isaac and Rebecca, Ja-
cob and Leah were all buried
there.
In medieval times, Jews were 0
not allowed to enter the cave as
they were "infidels" in the time
when the cave had become part
of a mosque. This situation last-
ed for over 700 years until He-
bron was liberated by the Israel
Defense Forces in June 1967. Af-
ter that, Jews, Christians and
Muslims were given the freedom Cr
to enter the cave and worship.
In our own city, the Machpleah
Cemetery on Woodward takes its
name from this week's sedrah. LI
Call Congregation Beth Achim at (810) 352-8670 for more details.
LOOKING FOR A "HE m
MULTIPURPOSE SHUL AND COMA UNI
7
N THE
:ST BLOOMFIELD AREA?
w
B.H.
Check out our shul family
at a
Saturday Night Melava Malka
November 1 6th 8:30 p.m.
LLJ
=
LLI
featuring a Chinese Glatt Kosher Cuisine
and a slide presentation on
"The History of Jewish Detroit - Part 2"
LLJ
30
For more information call the
BAIS CHABAD TORAH CENTER
5595 W. Maple • West Bloomfield • (81 0) 855-61 70
Rabbi Hertz
The account of the purchase is
extraordinarily detailed. Not only
is this the first recorded death
and interment of the Jewish peo-
ple in Eretz Yisroel, it concerns
Sarah as the first matriarch and
Abraham's deep respect for the
dead. Machpelah is the first piece
of real estate in the Promised
Land.
Abraham had a problem with
the purchase, however. He was
an alien, and ancient civilizations
were reluctant to give up real es-
tate to aliens. He could not avail
himself of local burial facilities
without the permission of the lo-
cal inhabitants.
Abraham wanted to make sure
that his purchase would be final
Rabbi Hertz is distinguished
professor of Jewish studies at
U-D Mercy.
Or Chadash
Offers Classes
Congregation Or Chadash will
offer the following classes held in
private homes. There is no
charge; call the contact numbers
for locations, directions, times
and other details:
Sunday nights, a Talmud class
for women given by Rabbi Eliez- (---
er Cohen. Call Rabbi Cohen, 544
2687, for information. Monday
nights, a class in Jewish law (Ha-
lachah) given by Rabbi Eliezer
Cohen. Call Judy and Greg
Miller, 547-1318, for information.
Wednesday nights, a class in the
thought of Franz Rosenzweig giv-
en by Ed Codish. Call Ed Codish,
547-2814, for information. Thurs- o
day nights, a class on Jewish
prayer and the liturgy given by
Susann Codish. Call Rita Winer,
968-4415, for information.