Saturday,
March 22,11997
cLi Gc)441J44
Megillah Reading - 7:30 p.m.
Carnival Opens Pre K & K -
7:45p.m.
Carnival Opens -
8:15 p.m.
Cotton Candy, Popcorn,
Games, liamentashen,
Come In Costume & Join The Fun
SILVER COINS
GOLD COINS
TIFFANY
FRANKLIN MINT
STERUNG SILVER
SILVER DOLLARS
ANTIQUE SILVER
FLATWARE SETS
CANDLESTICKS
PAPER MONEY
POTEK PHILLIPE
VACHERON
TEA SERVICES
CARTIER
VAN CLEEF
POSTCARDS
PENDANTS
ROYAL DOULTON
ANTIQUE JEWELRY
POCKET WATCHES
COIN COLLECTIONS
ROE WATCHES
STICK PINS
BROACHES
HUMMELS
SILVER BARS
DIAMONDS
GEMSTONES
SCRAP GOLD
OBJECTS D'ART
BOWLS E TRAYS
COIN WATCHES
RINGS
PIAGET
10-24 KARAT GOLD
CHAINS
EARRINGS
We are interested in serving
you or your client in the
appraisal or liquidation of
your coins, jewelry, col-
lectibles or an entire estate.
PLEASE CALL OR STOP IN!
Presented By
Congregation Beth Abraham HMO Moses
5075 W. Maple Road
West Bloomfield, Ml 48322
Call 851-6880 for information.
DESIGNS IN DECORATOR )
LAMINATES, LTD.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COST A FORTUNE...ONLY LOOK LIKE IT!
FEATURING
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wall Units
Bedrooms
Dining Rooms
Credenzas
Tables
Offices
BOOKS
SPECIALTIES
•
•
•
•
•
Formica
Woods
Stones
Glass
Lucite
Bought and Sold
LIBRARY BOOKSTORE
LOIS HARON
851-6989
Allied Member ASID
545-4300
Open 7 Days
Eiboks Bought
In Your Home
M. Sempliner
LLJ
MU. ALAN'S
(/)
LU
CD
CC
F-
LU
D
LU
34
Your
7:4 T IONS • GIFTS
Fts • STA: C\
SALE
up to 50% off
In the Orchard Mall
West Bloomfield • (810) 7374888
Comfort
Shoe
Headquarters
RA JOHNSTON-MURPHY
MI ROCKPORT NE
The Last Word
Is Always Significant
Shabbat Pekudei: Exodus 38:21-40;
I Kings 7:51-8:21.
I
But to where? The answer is
his Shabbat, in synagogues
throughout the world, Jews found in the last words ofLeviti-
will stand as the last vers- cus — to Mount Sinai. Notice
es ofExodus are read. The Mount Sinai's central position —
reader will chant and the con- the third of the five endings. The
gregants will repeat: "Hazak, haz- Israelites told Pharaoh that they
ak, v'nithazayk — Be strong, be were leaving Egypt to serve their
strong, and let us strengthen one God and Mount Sinai is the place
another." Yes, hearing the last where they learned about that
words of Exodus is a dramatic service. Ever since, the Torah, re-
event in the yearly cycle of syn- vealed at Mount Sinai, has been
central to Judaism and to the
agogue life.
I'd like to take advantage of Jewish people. Sinai is, indeed,
that special moment to call the central.
But Sinai is not ultimate. In-
reader's attention to the last
deed there are many
words in each of the Five
scholars who believe that
Books of Moses. They are:
all the laws and judg-
Genesis — In Egypt, Ex-
ments revealed at Sinai
odus —in their journeys,
were meant to be ob-
Leviticus —Mount Sinai,
served in Canaan and
Numbers — Jericho,
only in that land. So the
Deuteronomy — Israel.
people linger at Sinai, but
Now, it matters little
whether we think these RABBI MOSHE then move on—to the ul-
timate goal of their jour-
words were placed exact-
TUTNA UER
ly where they are by God SPECIAL TO THE neys, to the land which is
to replace Egypt, to what
or by some human reac-
JEWISH NEWS
we today call Eretz Yis-
tor. The fact is that their
placement is not accidental, that rael. And so Numbers ends with
a message is to be found in the the Israelite people in the land of
last words of the Five Books of Moav, but near the city of Jeri-
Moses. So let's try to examine that cho, in the land of Canaan. Not
far away, on Mount Nebo, he is
message.
It is altogether fitting and prop- to die. His last request to come
er that the words "In Egypt" con- into and to see the good land is to
clude Genesis. Israelite history be denied by God. Yes, Moshe,
had begun with God's call to you may see the land. Climb the
Abraham, summoning him to mountain and look into it. But
come to the "Land that I will show you may not enter. Others will
you." Abraham responded, but enjoy the fruits of your labors.
It has taken four biblical books
no sooner had he arrived than he
left for Egypt, which seemed to to get us into and out of Egypt, to
have a reliable supply of food, our journeys in the Sinai wilder-
even in times of famine. No won- ness, to the mount in that wilder-
der then that his (and Sarah's) ness, and finally to Jericho. Little
grandchildren- and great-grand- wonder then that the last word of ti
children also left the promised the Torah is Yisrael — here not
the land but the people. It has
land for Egypt.
Theoretically, they went only taken an entire generation, but
until the famine had run its the people who encountered God
course; but, somehow, they be- at Sinai are now ready to enter
came comfortable in the Land of the land promised to them by God
Goshen and chose to stay there so many generations ago. Now
well after the famine subsided. there will be a new question: Will
So Genesis ends with Abraham's their behavior make them wor-
posterity dwelling comfortably in thy of the land or will they forfeit
their right to live there?
the land of Egypt.
Those of us who have studied
Now it is even clear why the
second book, Exodus, ends with Jewish history know that we
the Hebrew word b'masayhem — failed the test. We lost Eretz Yis-
in their journeys. No matter how rael. The process may have be-
attractive Egypt may look, it is gun even before we entered the
not home. Even if danger did not land. Two and one half tribes pre-
lurk there, it is still not the ferred to remain east of the Jor-
promised land. In every genera- dan. They found that land more
tion,. every Egypt must be aban- suitable to their economic inter-
ests.
doned.
Oh, yes, they said that their
The just people must set out on
males would join in the process
their journeys.
of securing the promised land, but
Moshe Tutnauer is interim rabbi
they preferred to keep their fam-
at Congregation Shaarey Zedek. ilies and their material wealth
....001.010111
4ftiovnewrof