Torah Portion • The Measure Of Actions Must Be Consistent LOOK GOOD: •Professional Hair & Nail Supplies • Custom Cosmetics • Tanning & Skin Care *.‘ SMELL GREAT: FEEL SENSATIONAL: • Bath & Body Oils, Shower Gels • Powders & Cremes AND SAVE: • Selections and prices that all others strive to duplicate. WEST BL.00MFRE LO Et - -7 : OAK PAR 547 -9GG9 24695 Coolidge Hwy. at 10 Mile Rd. Plaza Orchard Lake Road in the West Bloomfield Plaza Consider the following: Isn't it funny that when the other fellow takes a long time to do something, he's slow; when I take a long time, I'm thorough. When the other fellow doesn't do it, he's too lazy; when I don't do it, I'm too busy. When the other fellow states his side of a question strongly, he is opinionated; when I state my side, I'm being firm. When the other fellow overlooks a few week's Torah portion rules of etiquette, he's rude; when I skip efers to business practices in a few of the rules, I'm original. a ncient Israel. ancient Recently I came upon a store in The text declares, "Thou . northern Michigan which carries the shalt not have in thy house diverse mea- following sign, "We buy junk sures, a great measure and a we sell antiques." small measure, a large weight We have another set of and a small weight. You double standards: the values should have a perfect weight we profess and the values we and a just weight that your live by. days may be long upon the We extol self-control and land, which God gives to we practice self-indulgence. you." We proclaim brotherhood This law addresses those and we are guilty of preju- engaged in commerce, dice. We teach young people admonishing them that their the sanctity of human life RABBI IRWIN weights were to be precise. Ila and reverence for moral GRO NER person possessed different ideals, but the media portray Spec ial to kinds of weights, he could the themes of brutality, The Jew isI9 News practice deception by purchas- depravity and decadence in ing his goods with a large living color. We proclaim weight and selling them with a small ourselves a non-violent people, bud we weight. Thus, he could purchase more insist that each person is allowed to than was rightfully his and sell less than own his own gun. the customer had paid for. You and I are not guilty of all these This commandment, which empha- things, but collectively we share the sizes the standards of business honesty, responsibility for these double standards has a larger meaning. It affirms the — a responsibility not to be discharged truth that our lives should be of one by blaming our political leaders or the standard. Life should not be composed party in power. of different measures and different judg- On the international scene, we ments that we apply to obtain condi- observe different scales by which tions and terms favorable to ourselves. countries are measured. As Jews, we One standard of justice and equity is to have long recognized that the county prevail for ourselves and others. of Israel has had to cope with the dou- One of the most serious charges that ble standards of international judg- can be levied against our age is that we ment. When Israel was threatened live by dual standards, individually, col- with destruction by its Arab neigh- lectively and nationally. How do we bors, no nation came to its defense. judge others and how do we judge our- When Israel, having successfully selves? . fought four wars for survival, contin- We judge others by their deeds and ues now its struggle to maintain secu- by their outward actions and our judg- rity in the presence of Arab hostility, ments are harsh. We judge ourselves by its actions are condemned. Justice for our thought, intentions, hopes and feel- ings. When we commit an error, we are kind to ourselves. We take into account all of the extenuating circumstances, all Can you think of any ways in of our difficulties, problems and bur- which we live by double stan- dens. When we weigh the faults of oth- danis? Do you believe that vie are ers, we do not refrain from using a dif- given contradictory messages by ferent measure and putting a thumb on our society? Why is the State of the scale. Israel especially aware of dual Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of standards by the United States? 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