Torah Portion

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Porn

Lots Of Little Pieces
Help Shape Our Lives

with a picture of the obligatory two
smiling kids playing with a complet-
ed pirate ship, a number of pirate
figurines, a fort, a small island and a
treasure chest. Inside the same box
we find plastic bags filled with lots
and lots of little pieces. How are my
little kinderlach expected to progress
everal weeks ago, in prepara-
from point A (lots and lots of little
tion for Chanukah, my wife
pieces) to point B (a completed
and I surveyed the playroom
pirate action adventure)?
and made a mental invento-
The answer is that the toy design-
ry of all the toys with missing pieces.
er had a plan. Everything necessary
Afterwards, we vowed not to
to construct the scene is prepackaged
repeat past mistakes. This year we
and simply awaiting our creative and
would not purchase any new toys.
energetic children. After hours of
Clothing — yes; books and software
experimentation, trial and error, fun
— yes; but no toys — especially
and a little frustration, rec-
those with lots of little
ognizable objects will take
*pieces.
shape. In the end, smiling
As the holiday approach-
children will play with their
es, our resolve has faltered.
pirate adventure ... for
How will our children feel
about 10 minutes, then it
when they go to school and
will slowly decay back into
listen to their friends brag-
lots and lots of little pieces.
ging about the gifts they
The Torah portion-of
received? Just picture the
Vayeshev is a lot like a Lego
scene:
set. It has lots of pieces —
Little Moshe to my son
RABBI S TEVEN many actors (and actresses),
kvi: "Hey Avi, last night
ETTI NGER
scene changes, and a wide
my parents gave me battle-
Speci al to
range of emotions. We
armor Hero-man with a
The Jew ish News know what is "on the box"
rocket launcher and a
because we know how the
mutant mountain playset
stories end. In the Joseph arc, a saga-
with a remote control door opener;
cious royal viceroy emerges from a
what did you get?"
favored and perhaps spoiled adoles-
Avi: "I got a new pair of Land's
cent. In the Judah arc, the seeds of
End pajamas."
the Messiah sprout from the desper-
. If the county prosecutor caught
ate, but righteous Tamar.
wind of our intentions, we might
It seems odd that the Torah chose
stand as the accused in the most
to relate these two stories in the same
high-profile case of child neglect
portion. Joseph's descent into slavery
since the Nanny case. Thus, we have
at the hands of his jealous brothers
since undergone an attitude adjust-
and his subsequent ascent to near
ment.
royalty was front page news. His is
Our search for suitable toys began
an epic narrative, full of coincidence
and ended with the circulars inserted
and happenstance, that seems vastly
into the Sunday morning paper,
different from the quite personal
which are packed with advertise-
episode involving Judah and Tamar.
ments for the trendiest toys. One of
We discover the real connection
us (she shall remain nameless)
between these two stories hundreds
noticed the Lego assortments. The
of years later in the Book of RUth,
"building system" is educational, can
itself a book of emotions, personali-
be given in an age-appropriate man-
ties, and coincidences. Near the end
ner, and has LOTS AND LOTS OF
of Ruth, we learn that Peretz, one of
LITTLE PIECES! Needless to say,
the twins resulting from the
we bought about a quarter of a mil-
Judah/Tamar union, was the direct
lion Lego pieces (or nearly that
lineal forefather of the future King
many).
David. David and his progeny were
What amazes me most about this
destined to rule and politically con-
toy is the gap between packaging and
solidate the promised land of Israel
product. A typical box is adorned
that Joshua, a descendent of Joseph,
first conquered for the Jewish people.
is
co-president
of
Steven Ettinger
With this information, we can clear-
Machon L'Torah, Jewish Learning
ly see the pattern for the actualiza-
Network of Michigan and an attorney
Joseph
tion of Divine promises
for Guardian Industries Corp.

Diamonds can Provide

Him With An
Obvious Advant 41 ge.

Shabbat Vayeshev:
Genesis 37:1-40:23;
Amos 2:6-3:8.

The Diamond Tennis Bracelet.

So versatile, you can wear
it on the court or on the town.
We will be happy to show
him our wide variety.

S

1/4 1 , 1 tiateitee

1 .

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FineJewelers A64.

Est. 1919

I; iv Wian, .Vince 1 91 9

30400 Telegraph Rd. Suite 134, Bingham Farms • 642-5575 }

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Sara Tugman
Bais Chabad Torah Center

Presents

"A LIFE APART"

$18
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WED., DECEMBER 31ST - 8:00 PM
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Student
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Dinner by Jewel Caterers only: $12.50
Children $6.00

A Film by

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Narrated by

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Featuring

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e
part

Hasidism
n America

12/19

1997

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