YAD EZRA

feedlly the Iew/sh Haegry

In recognition of the 3,200 families
who contributed to Yad Ezra
this year,

we thank you.

Because of your support and
commitment to
helping those less fortunate,
Yad Ezra is able to provide
healthy kosher food packages
to 1,000 needy Jewish families
in our
community every month!

L U C
UNIGHT

DAVID M. DEUTSCH, MASTER OF

Orr

TWO for ONE
SPECIAL

CUSTOM PHOTO COPIES

Now you can keep a treasured
photo and give a copy as a gift.

Bring us your favorite old photographs
up to 8x10 and we will make a second
copy of the original for FREE!

Restoration Services Available
We can restore your cracked,
soiled, stained or damaged
photographs to their original
condition — maybe better!
Our heirloom restoration work
completed on our premises by
skilled artists.

Offer valid with this ad on orders
placed by February 1, 1997.

26571 W. TWELVE MILE AT NORTHWESTERN HWY.
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN 48034

(810) 352-7030

Closed Monday

A Life Of Goodness
Contains Own Reward

Shabbat Vayechi: Genesis 47:28-50:26;
I Kings 2:1-12.

RABBI IRWIN GRONER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

y should a person be
good? For what purpose
should he lead a right-
eous life?
Should this be done so that his
virtue be rewarded and so that
God will bless him with material
and spiritual benefits?
Or is virtue to be pursued be-
cause this is the only path that
leads to human fulfillment? Is au-
thentic religion our concern to
serve God and His teachings, or is
it our wish to have Him fulfill our
will?
As we consider events hi the life
of the patriarch Jacob, we recog-
nize how he answered this chal-
lenge in different ways at different
times. When- he was young, he
was forced to flee from his home
to escape the wrath of his broth-
er, and he became a wanderer and
fugitive. After having slept on
stones, he awoke in the morning
and offered this prayer, "If God
protects me on my journey and
gives me bread to eat and clothing
to wear and if I return safe to my
father's house, the Lord shall be
my God ... and all of that You give
me, I will set aside a tithe for you."
In effect, Jacob declared that he
will maintain faith in God only on
certain conditions. Before enter-
ing divine service, he seeks gilt-
edged security, a guarantee that
his faithfulness will be a profitable
invesLinent and yield satisfactory
results. If the promise is fulfilled,
Jacob will keep his end of the con-
tract and return to God 10 percent
of all that has been bestowed on
him; not a bad bargain.
We should be fair to Jacob be-
cause that prayer came from a
frightened and apprehensive lad,
who grew to be a man great in
spirit and understanding. At the
end of his life, after having en-
dured much, Jacob prays differ-
ently. He is not running away; he
is coming home. He is no longer
young and brash; he is aged and
weary. He has lived and loved and
suffered. He still has fear, but it is
not the fright of a headstrong
youth; it is the deep concern of a
wise man for the future.
He recalls his history; he pass-
es judgement on the events of his
life, and he declares, "I wait for
Thy deliverance, 0 Lord. I hope
for Thy redemption" No condition,
no terms, no bargaining or nego-
tiation. Jacob, profoundly grate-
ful for all the good he has

Irwin Groner is rabbi of

Congregation Shaarey Zedek.

Rabbi Irwin Groner

experienced, places himself in the
hands of the Almighty.
These two prayers of Jacob, so
different in form and substance,
enable us to consider the funda-
mental question of what is reli-
gion. Is it a transaction with God
which secures us against the ills
of life, or is it the good life to be
chosen on its account, even if un-
accompanied by any reward.
There is a church hymn which
declares, "Whatever, Lord, we
lend to Thee, we repaid a thou-
sand-fold will be." One cannot se-
cure such interest even at the best
banks or the most successful fi-
nancial institutions. The danger
in that sentiment is that religion
is sometimes viewed as a kind of
bond issue, guaranteeing the per-
son who subscribes to it the best
of both worlds, all of this one and
much of the next.
A contrasting view comes from
Ethics of the Fathers in which
Antigonus declares, "Be not as ser-
vants who serve their master
upon the condition of receiving a
reward. Don't expect," says
Antigonus, "divine favor, testi-
monial tributes, personal success
and surcease from all pain and
trouble if you attempt to lead a
righteous life." Because, as an-
other passage points out, "S'char
mitzvah, mitzvah." The reward of
one good deed is another good
deed. The satisfaction of having
fulfilled a mitzvah is the compen-
sation thereof. Virtue is its own
reward. Goodness is to be loved
for itself, even if it comes to us
empty handed.
This doctrine is not suitable for
children or the immature. Most
people expect rewards and bene-
fits for worthy conduct and meri-
torious deeds. It is only the mature
mind and spirit that can grasp
this truth: The value and reward
of virtue inheres in itself and not
in external privileges and prizes.

