11_18110CIES boxes to "dress" up your home! Cver liC styles to choose from. Shop Sherwood... it's worth it. All Hits a lways 3C% off ( most mfrs.) 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.