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n this week's sedrah, we have of any other view. This refusal to
one of the two sections of the acknowledge the constructive
Torah called tochono. The word points and positive accomplish-
tochono in Hebrew means a ments of each group, the refusal
warning or reproof and refers to to cooperate in any way and the
the descriptions of the terrible refusal to treat fellow Jews with
punishments that Moses prophe- the respect and love the Torah de-
sies will befall the Jewish people mands,112s had disastrous results.
Whereas the lack of Jewish ed-
if they refuse to abide by the
ucation and appreciation
Torah.
of the need to maintain
Many commentaries
the survival of the Jew-
have attempted to identi-
ish people are the real en-
fy the various depictions
emies that we should
of tochono with actual his-
cooperate to battle, we
torical events. There are
are now aligned against
a few verses in our sedrah
each other in a war of
that, in my mind, clearly
public relations, politics
describe our present state
and power. Each group
of affairs. These verses
has "stumbled against
speak of the conditions for
RABBI
his brother" and this di-
the Jews exiled from their
land, living within non- ELIEZER COHEN visiveness itself is now
SPECIAL
the real threat, not only
Jewish cultures. The
TO THE
to Jewish unity but to
Torah declares (Leviticus
JEWISH NEWS
meaningful survival it-
26:37-38): "And you will
self This polarization de-
stumble each person
against his brother as before the structive outside of Israel; inside
sword and there is no pursuer. the Jewish state, it threatens its
And you will be unable to stand very existence.
The question of continuity of the
before your enemies. And you will
be lost among the nations and the Jewish people and Jewish tradi-
land of your enemies will consume tion under new and unprecedent-
ed circumstances is a real
you."
These verses describe the con- challenge that can possibly be met
fusion and the fear of the Jews in by a variety of successful strate-
exile that drive them to behave in gies. But the response of negativ-
an unjustified and self-destructive ity, disrespect and divisiveness is
manner. I believe that these vers- not only unsuccessful but coun-
es illustrate the specter of the de- terproductive. The real beauty and
struction of the Jewish people glory of the Torah, tradition and
through assimilation due to the Jewish identity cannot and must
challenges of the emancipation not be manifest by intolerance, co-
ercion and hatred.
and enlightenment.
The last verses of the tochono
For the past two centuries, po-
litical and social freedom together (Leviticus 26:42-45) bring a hope-
with the possibility of participa- ful note in that God promises: "I
tion in the intellectual life of the will not reject nor despise them,
general community have created to destroy them utterly or to ab-
challenges to the continuation of rogate my covenant — I am the
Jewish tradition. These are met Lord their God. And I will re-
with a variety of responses. There member the covenant with their
were those who resisted the threat ancestors ..."
But will we or our descendants
of the enlightenment by a self-im-
posed ghettoization; there were be worthy? ❑
those who whole-heartedly recast
Judaism,to maintain identifica-
tion and nominal adherence to Ju-
daism; and there was a whole
range of other attempts between
these two.
What has become so problem-
atic is that each of these attempts
to maintain the survival of the
Jewish people overreacted to the
threat to the point of insisting that Adat Shalom Synagogue will hold
its perspective alone is the "true, its annual dedication of yahrtzeit
authentic Judaism." Each faction plaques, noon Sunday, June 1.
truly believes that theirs is the Families and friends are invited
only means of meaningful Jewish to Minchah services and the ded-
survival to the absolute exclusion ication ceremony.
Respond to the Adat Shalom of-
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of
fice, (248) 851-5100, to attend.
Congregation Or Chadash.
Dedication
Of Plaques