Torah Portion

LUXURY HAS

SO EXHIL

1999 ES 300

OPEN
SATURDAY
10-4

36 MONTH
LEASE

*36 mo. lease based on approved credit. Totals
due at signing: ES300 - $3096; GS300 - $3206.
No security deposit. Plus tax, title & plate.

www.meadelexus.com

3

MIE.FICIE..

LEXUS

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28300 Northwestern Highway
Southfield

MIDWEST'S LARGEST EXCLUSIVE LEXUS DEALER

(248) 372.7100

A DIVISION OF THE MEADE GROUP
Serving the Metro Detroit Area for 27 Years

1.80048MEADE

HOURS: MON., THURS. 9 - 9 • TUES., WED., FRI. 9 - 6 • OPEN SATURDAYS 10.4

M-59 Hall Road at North Pointe Blvd.
across from Lakeside Mall, Utica

(810) 726.7900

1400486LAKE

HouSe

Congregation Shaarey Zedek

Southfield

eth Hayeled Nursery School
Monday, December 7

9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
* 27375 Bell Road •Southfield

❑ 01-1
CONGREGATION
SHAAREY ZEDEK

(248) 357-5544

1

y/

U4irtertnarment

12/4
1998

Call The Sales Department (248) 354-7123 Ext. 209

60 Detroit Jewish News

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complete recovery), cured of his lame-
ness and his anxiety about his meeting c.
with Esau. He is whole in that he has
developed an appreciation for his family
and possessions (even willing to part
with some as a gesture of goodwill
towards his brother). Our rabbis also
insist he is complete in his knowledge of
Torah: "for while he was in Laban's
house, he had not forgotten what he
had learned before."
Jacob's wrestling night is a mid-life
opportunity — his goal is to find
"shalom" — peace with his brother and
inner peace of self, as well. Prof
Hoffman summarizes:
"Having wrestled with his demons,
Jacob finds the courage to own up to his
past. With an inner serenity that we
have not seen before, he meets his
brother calmly, and then walks away —
for the first time ever, having given more
than he has taken.
On a large scale, we can learn from
Jacob's journey from solitude to whole-
ness. With proper motivation and dedi-
cation, we can heal our wounds, recon-
cile our disagreements, and perfect our
knowledge. But on the most immediate
scale, look at the ideal opportunity to
accomplish these goals: Shabbat. After
all, isn't the most meaningful greeting
for the seventh day: "Shabbat Shalom
— may the Sabbath bring you whole-
ness and fulfillment?"
Each of us has the Jacob-like, fast-
paced, busy week to contend with for
six days. We endure the hours of materi-
alism, pressure, competition, distraction
and feeling that we are alone in the
world. Then, as a most unique and holy
divine gift, Shabbat arrives with its
moments for "making peace": finding
perspective and reconciliation, forgive-
ness, hope and healing. I know many
people who approach Friday evening
and Saturday in exactly the frame of
mind alluded to by the commentators:
They arrive "shalem" by seeking healing
for their bodies and minds, by perform-
ing selfless acts of righteousness and
•
charity and by increasing their knowl-
edge of Torah through study and prayer.
Theirs is truly a "Shabbat Shalom." C.]

DETROIT
JEW LSE NEWS

JN

With whom did Jacob wrestle
(the Torah uses the term "ish"— a
man)? Which emotions dominat-
ed Jacob's mind as he prepared for
his meeting w ith his brother Esau?
How can we better prepare to
fight the "demons" in our pasts
and in our daily lives?