Torah Portion

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TEMPLE EMS-EL

is proud to honor our
1998/5758 Confirrnands

*Pon nit
Joanne Alvin
Matthew Cooper
Stacey Efros
Bryan Fenster
Jennifer Frenkel
Amy Horning
Matthew Jaffe
Matthew Kahn
Sarah Kruman
Jordan Magidson
Michael Medow
Michelle Millard
Marisa Monkman

Ari Natinsky
Ilya Nozhnik
Lauren On
Idan Phillips
David Rodgers
Emily Schwartz
Melissa Selman
Jonathan Steinberg
David Strauss
David Tessler
Alison Tschirhart
Todd Weiser
Rachel Zerwekh

Mazal Toy to our Confirmands and their families!

bah y and me

LAYETTE, INFANT AND CHILDREN'S

LAyErrEs Out SPECIALTY

Our experienced staff is always happy to serve you!

HouRs

Monday - Friday 10:00-5:30 • Saturday 10:00-5:00

(248) 855-3214

we accept VISA, MasterCard and American Express

6718-C Orchard Lake Road *West Bloomfield, Michigan (1/4 mile south of Maple Rd. in the West Bionfield Mom/

‘_2 Retirement
Community With
ou

X

PHOTOGRAPHY

• Transportation
• 24-hour Security
• Social and
Recreational
Programs
• And Much More...

the

ATHERWOOD

Certified Professional Photographer

Specializing
In

Weddings
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs

And Fine Celebrations

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

For information call

(248) 350-1777

5/22
1998

70

22800 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE

SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN

"Enter this covenant with me and all
will pay homage to you." Or,
"Establish this covenant with me, and
it's 5 million for every chapter you are
in, with royalties and options for syn-
dication."
There's an inherent lesson as to
why. We're not Jewish for the fame or
the fortune. It's not that fame and for-
tune are bad; it's just that we are into
n this week's combined sedrah,
it for something else. Namely to make
God provides a series of bless-
the world a better place, to steward
ings if we but follow God's ways
God's creation, to practice morality
and keep God's laws.
and ethics till the wounds of humani-
In essence, a contract is established:
ty are healed. These are the objectives
Meet the conditions and these are the
with their own inherent value and
dividends; default on the conditions
reward. To adulterate them with trap-
and these are the penalties. Very
pings, for which enjoyment is fleeting
direct, very precise. Never
if not illusory, would be
mind that among the penal-
self-defeating from the very
ties are consumption and
start. The term in Hebrew
fever and children and cattle
is lishma — for its own
devoured by wild beasts. As
sake. And in this case it
parents or as children raised
means for the sake of part-
by parents, hardly one has not
nering with God.
experienced or resorted to
God is teaching us some-
"compliance by extreme
thing important, something
threat." "One more word and
about centeredness, some-
you'll be grounded till you're
thing about maturity;
RABBI
DAVID
old and gray!"
something about real and
CASTIGLIONE
That aside, I would rather
lasting values, something
Special to
discuss with you the nature of
about what it means to be a
The
Jewish
News
the dividends. Hardly
light before nations.
extreme, they employ a differ-
Sometimes, though
ent strategy entirely. One would think
more times than not, we simply have
that as God's chosen people, our
to do what is right for its own sake.
reward would be grand and glorious.
Teaming up with God, and all it
Riches and jewels, everyone dressed in
demands, is innately blessed with suf-
silks and satins. Rule the world and
ficient reward. With peace, health,
when we are done, our place in God's
food on the table and love between
heaven would be guaranteed. If it
each other — what more could we
works with punishment, why not
possibly want?
reward, too? Play to our fears. Play to
I encourage you to reread this
our dreams.
week's sections and discover those
Yet here, with the dividends, we're
lessons anew — lishma. Then let them
hard put to find creative extravagance.
guide you through the week — an
Our reward for adherence is straight-
example to your children, an example
forward and simple, modest, even
to the world.
humble. The rains will come in their
season. The earth will yield up its
fruit. There will be peace in the land
and those who would strike us will
fail. Our offspring will be many. God
will stay true and God will dwell in
Teenagers who have completed
our midst.
Congregation Shir Tikvah's high school
Actually, God never offers the
program will lead a creative Sabbath ser-
things that, today, we would associate
vice
that they have written 7:45 p.m.
with success. For Abraham, the
Friday,
May 29, at the synagogue.
promise was God's loyalty with the
The
teenagers
leading the Atidah
descendants as numerous as the stars.
service will be Chris Cogswell of
For Moses, it was even less! We never
Huntington Woods, Shari and Jill
hear God say, "Make this covenant
Gross of Troy, Ken Kollin of Rochester
with me and you will sit with Me in
Hills, Brian Kloc of Huntington
heaven, forever, by My side." Or,
Woods, Justin Racklin of Southfield,
David Starr of Troy, and Adam
David Castiglione is a rabbi at
Witkow of Sterling Heights.
Temple Beth El.

Shabbat
Behar/Bechukotai:
Leviticus 25:1-27•34;
Jeremiah 6:19-17•14.

I

❑

MICHAEL A. JONAS

• Private Bedroom
Apartments
• Daily Noon and
Evening Meals
• Housekeeping and
Linen Service

The Benefits Awarded
To The Chosen People

BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN
(248) 647-5060

The Difference IS The Difference!"

Teenagers
Lead Service