FURNITURE OUTLET
Any Plan Of Action
Requires 'Thought First
$1499
5 pc. King
WATERFALL BEDROOM SET
Set Includes: 72" dresser or 72" armoire
$299
36 X 36 RADIUS TRIANGLE COCKTAIL
FACTORY DIRECT
LAMINATE FURNITURE
$389 36 X 18X30
• Bedroom Sets •Dining Tables
i
rtt nters
Cocktail, STables
• Home, 0
tc.
WATERFALL DESK
Customize to Fit Your Needs!
$439 60 X 18 X 30
CLASSIC CREDENZA
I
Visit Our Factory Showroom
or Call to Shop at Home
(810) 366-0220
Hours: Tues - Fri 10-5, Sat 11-4
4153 Pioneer Dr. • Commerce Twp
$329
45" Diameter
ROUND DINING TABLE
$279 36 X 36
SQUARE COCKTAIL
$1599
72" X 72"
TRIO WALL UNIT
• Prices Reflect Solid Colors
' • All prices are plus tax
$329 24 X 48
INSIDE WATERFALL
COCKTAIL TABLE
5 pc. QUEEN
OMEGA BEDROOM SET
Includes: 72 dresser or 72" armoire
Our BETH ACHIM Family would like to invite YOUR Family
to join us at two OPEN HOUSES to be held on
Sunday, August 10, 1997
West Bloomfield: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
or
Huntington Woods: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Also, please join us on Saturday, August 16, 1997 at our
RABBI'S KIDDUSH for prospective new members.
For more information, and High Holiday tickets
please call or fax us at
Office (248)-352-8670 Fax (248) 352-5752
38
Shabbat Matot-Mass'ei: Numbers 30:2-36:13;
Jeremiah 2:4-28, 3:4.
Congregation Beth Achim
21100 West Twelve Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan 48076
n the beginning of the first half ligence, with reasoning ability and
of this week's double portion, with speech, it is, therefore, in-
we come across the laws of cumbent upon us to recognize that
we have also been laden with the
nedarim — oaths.
In order to appreciate the responsibility to utilize all of these
Torah's attitude about oaths, we characteristics in positive ways.
first have to understand the mes- It is expected of us — by He who
sage of the phrase lo yachel d'uaro, endowed us — that we will think
k'chol hayotzay mipeev ya'aseh — before speaking, especially where
committing ourselves to
he shall not desecrate his
a specific plan of action or
word. According to what
type of behavior. Lo
emanates from his
mouth so shall he do
yacheyl d'varoh — once
the mental thought has
(Chapter 30:3).
It is an ancient teach-
been transmitted in the
ing of the sages that there
form of a statement, "he
are four levels in creation:
shall not desecrate his
domeym (silent, inani-
word."
mate), tzomey'ach (grow-
The sages of the Tal-
ing), chai (living) and
mud emphasized further
RABBI
m'daber (speaking).
AVIE SHAPIRO that even without the
The first of these,
specific oath formula, an
SPECIAL
domeym, refers to ele-
individual
is still held re-
TO THE
ments of nature such as
sponsible by a higher
JEWISH NEWS
the soil, rocks — any-
moral system for adher-
thing that just sits where
ing to whatever is spoken.
it is and doesn't do anything.
This lesson is reviewed again
Tzomey'ach refers to all vege- in Chapter 32. There we read of
tation — everything which grows the request presented to Moshe
from the ground, from the lowest Rabeinu by the two and a half
grass to the tallest tree and in- tribes (Reuven, Gad and half of
cluding whatever grows on the Menashe). They propose that be-
tree.
cause of their abundant herds
Chai applies to all living crea- they should be permitted to take
tures other than mankind: ani- possession of lush, fertile lands on
mals, fish, fowl and insects. They the eastern bank of the Jordan
are higher up on the ladder of cre- River and not be required to cross
ation than the first two but not westward with the other tribes.
quite on that fourth and highest
As we delve into this episode,
level. The most intelligent crea- we hear Moshe's irate rebuke,
ture in the chai category survives comparing the requesting group
in its existence via the instincts to the previous generation which,
with which God imbued it. It is in- after witnessing the array of mir-
capable of the intelligent reason- acles required to bring about the
ing, calculation, strategy and exodus, crossing the Red Sea and
long-term planning which is sole- receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai,
ly the realm of m'daber, the crown rebelled against the Almighty's
of creation: humankind.
plan to bring them to the
We make mention of this promised land (Chapters 13,14).
unique quality of ours in the
In response to Moshe's reaction,
fourth blessing of the daily week- the tribes offer to build shelters
day Amidah when we intone the for their families and livestock and
words, Atoh choneyn l'odom clays, then to lead the assault against
um'lameyd le'enosh binah ... (You the Canaanite tribes occupying
favor mankind with the knowl- the west-of-the-Jordan territories.
edge and teach [him] under- Additionally, they say that they
standing ...) It cannot be will not return to their position
overemphasized that this gift of east of the Jordan until all of the
intelligence—knowledge and un- other tribes have been assigned
derstanding, the ability to accu- their portions of the inheritance
mulate wisdom and store it in the west.
internally and then refer to it for
Nowhere in their answer to
later use—all °fulls is what sep- Moshe do we find the words "oath"
arates and distinguishes the or "promise." They have merely
m'daber from the mere chai.
spoken their minds, and their
Because mankind has been words should be sufficiently reli-
blessed by the creator with intel- able. In Moshe's acceptance of
their offer, he does not require an
oath or promise; rather, he says
Rabbi Avie Shapiro is director of
by way of requiring assurance
religious activities at
that they will "keep their word" is
Fleischman
(34:23) "... and that which came
Residence I Blumberg Plaza.