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Water, Prosperity
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Shabbat Toledot:
Genesis 25:19-28:9;
Malachi 1:1-2:7.

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The Jewish Community Council is bringing the Jewish community to your
doorstep with a series of Town Hall Meetings geared toward your unique
needs and concerns as a Jewish member of your community. Each meeting
will take place in an area where a new pocket of Jewish growth is emerging.

Join Us For
A TOWN HALL MEETING

For: Royal Oak/Ferndale/Pleasant Ridge/
Berkley/Huntington Woods area residents

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, at 7:30 p.m.
Royal Oak Women's Club
404 S. Pleasant

(south of Eleven Mile Rd., east of Woodward, west of Main St.)

Hosted by: Congregation T'Chiyah

Sponsored by:

Jewish
Community
Councihra....ar.tra-

DETROIT
JEWESS NEWS

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"-+
"1- +
+ Watch for information about 1 ;
•
future Town Hall Meetings in:
TROY/ROCHESTER HILLS
PLYMOUTH/CANTON
'T
+
GROSSE POINTE

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For more information about the Town Hall Meetings
Call the Jewish Community Council (248) 642-5393

Hospitality Gifts
Party Favors
Custom Chocolates
Candy & Cookie Trays

WE
DELIVER!

11/20
1998

76 Detroit Jewish News

IV

Conversations

glorious

(248) 474-3312

dug years before. Not only does Isaac
clear out the rubble the Philistines had
dumped in his father's wells, but he
also, "gave them the same names that
his father had given them." By choos-
ing to call the wells by the names his
father chose, one might infer that
Isaac has reached a reconciliation of
DEBRA DARVICK
sorts with the father who recently held
Special to The Jewish News
a sacrificial knife to his son's throat.
According to scholar Ismar
ater. Without it there is
Schorsch, Isaac's actions "point to
no life. Period. Little
[his] loyalty to his father's legacy. Isaac
wonder that Torah is
does not merely reside where his
metaphorically seen as
father once lived nor drink from the
the wellspring of the Jewish people,
same water but, more importantly,
sustaining them through devastating
abides by the teachings he embodied.
droughts of anti-Semitism, Diaspora
The imagery of a son seeking to reap-
and despair.
propriate the wells that sustained his
Flowing from generation to genera-
father resonates with symbolic over-
tion, Torah quenches the thirst for
tones of healing of a grievous breach."
knowledge, offering guidance and sup-
In reestablishing his father's wells,
port for eons; where its presence slows
Isaac reaffirms his father's life journey
to a trickle so does the presence of
and takes it to be his own.
Jewish life.
Isaac's servants then discover a new
A seldom-examined passage in this
well and, immediately, herdsmen of
week's Torah portion, (Genesis 26:13-
Gerar challenge them for the rights to
22) connects this Image of water,
the water. Isaac moves on, a second
Torah and Isaac's rightful place in the
well is dug and the parry is once more
chain of events of the Jewish people. It
harassed over ownership of the water.
is often overshadowed by greater
Finally, he moves even further away,
events — coming as it does after
digs a third well and is left alone.
Akaidah and the death of Sarah and
Sometimes it takes human beings
before Isaac's bestowal of blessing on
three or even three times three tries to
second-born Jacob. But this third pas-
create a peaceful outcome with a diffi-
sage, which describes Isaac's search for
cult person or situation. We find our-
water in the wadis of Gerar is impor-
selves on the same path headed toward
tant to consider for a number of rea-
the same conflict until finally we learn
sons.
to take a different path. It is when we
There is a new famihe upon the
are on this new path that we can pros-
land and Isaac, who stayed in the land
per, materially or emotionally.
of the Philistines at God's command
One might say Torah is both well
as opposed to venturing into Egypt,
and water. Understanding Torah takes
has prospered. His holdings have
digging; living it sometimes takes the
grown — land, flocks, herds, house-
effort of moving boulders; and the
hold employees -- until Isaac is a very
reward is as sustaining as water. ❑
wealthy man. Abimelech, the king of
the Philistines, feels threatened. His
servants fill with earth the functioning
wells that Abraham had dug and com-
mand Isaac in verse 16, "Go away
What might have happened if
from us for you have become too big
Isaac did not reach some sort of
for us." The king's decree carries a
implied reconciliation with his
fagiiliar taint of jealousy that others
father? What is the importance
throughout history have held towards
of Isaac passing on his father's
prosperous Jews in their midst. How
heritage? Why do Jews believe
many times have aggressors stopped
this is so important?
up Jewish wells — of education, of
Israel and her neighbors dispute
livelihood, of prayer — just to get
even today over water rights.
Jews to depart.
How can the disputes be solved?
Isaac decamps to the wadis of Gerar
What are some constructive ways
and the first thing his servants do is to
to handle the sly barbs of jeal-
re-dig the very wells that Abraham
ousy that Jews experience, be it
in the classroom, playground or
Debra Darvick is a writer in
business place?
Birmingham whose most recent work
appeared in Hadassah magazine.

Murray

&

Marc

Classic

photography

248-350-2420

www.claggiephafographg.com

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