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