Torah Portion

14KNIGHT6I
LIODEUTSCH

PHOTOGPAP HY

Often Imitated - Never Duplicated

Ethical Paving Stones
On The Road To Holiness

and his father.
6. You shall not kill -- Do not stand
by the blood of your neighbor.
7. You shall not commit adultery --
The adulterer and the adulteress shall be
put to death.
8. You shall not steal --You shall not
steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness
against your neighbor -- Judge your
here is a profound connec-
neighbor fairly and do not go about as a
tion between the twopor-
tale bearer among your people.
tions that are read together in
10. You shall not covet -- Love
this Shabbat.
your neighbor as yourself.
In the last few verses of Acharei Mot,
Tradition distinguishes
God specifically warns the children of
between the mitzvot (life-
Israel not to engage or partici-
sanctifying acts) between
pate in any of the abhorrent
human beings and God, and
practices of the Egyptians.
those between human beings.
Every conceivable act of
Remembering the corruption
immorality and corruption is
and brutality of Egypt,
detailed; for despite the fact
Moses and the Israelites also
that Egypt was an advanced
recognized two distinct paths
civilization, the Egyptians' per-
to kedusha (holiness). One
sonal, unethical behavior was
way
is to avoid immoral acts.
well known.
The
double
reading of Acharei
So God spoke to Moses,
RA BBI
lists many,
Kedoshim
and
Mot
instructing him to say to the
NO MAN T.
with
familiar
examples
being
Israelites, "You shall not copy
RON, IAN
not
to
put
a
stumbling
block
the practices of the land of
Specia 1 to the
before the blind nor to insult
Egypt where you dwelt, or of
Jewish News
the deaf, not to defraud your
the land of Canaan, to which I
neighbor nor to withhold the
am taking you. . .You shall
wages
of
a
worker. The other path . is to
keep My charge not to engage in any of
act and live positively, such as honoring
the abhorrent practices that were carried
one's parents, observing the Sabbath and
on before you, and you shall not defile
festivals, helping strangers and remem-
yourselves through them! (Leviticus 18).
bering that we were all strangers, being
Significantly, the next parsha begins
just even when living in an unjust world.
with the counterpoint lesson, "Speak to
Indeed, a "play" on the Hebrew
the whole Israelite community, and say
words
that comprise the titles of our
(Leviticus
to them, You shall be holy!'"
double portion this week might lead us
19:2). The Midrash includes the com-
to acknowledge this message: Instead of
ment that this phrase "Kedoshim tiHyu"
Acharei Mot, referring to instruction
(you shall be holy!) was not directed to
after the death of Aaron's sons, we could
any one group, such as the Kohanim or
read the phrase as God's prayer, as it
the Leviim, nor to the elders or tribal
were, "different from death, be holy".
heads alone, but rather to all the people.
The highest ethical standards, espe-
Moses was encouraged to speak to
cially
in light of an immoral society,
the whole community at once in order
bring
us
to holiness.
to teach that each member of the people
should strive to be holy.
The rabbis saw the Holiness Code as
a restating of the Ten Commandments:
1. I am the Lord your God -- I, the
Is it easier to be fair and just when
Lord your God, am holy
no one else around you is righteous,
2. You shall have no other gods --Do
or
is it more difficult?
not turn to idols or make molten gods
The
command, "You shall be holy"
for yourselves".
was given to all the people. Should
You
shall
not
take
the
Name
of
the
3.
we expect our leaders to meet differ-
Lord your God in vain -- You shall not
ent or higher standards than for
swear falsely by My name.
ourselves?
4. Remember the Sabbath Day --
Hillel said, "In a place where there
Keep My Sabbath.
are no men, you must strive to be
5. Honor your father and your moth-
one." How do you understand this
er -- You shall each revere his mother
phrase, especially in light of the
conflict in Kosovo?
is rabbi at Temple

Shabbat Acharei-
Kedoshim:
Leviticus 16.1-20:27;
Amos 9:7-15.

-
Conversatio

Norman T. Roman
Kol Ami.

David M. Deutsch

Master of Photography

THE 42ND ANNUAL
`MOST PHOTOGENIC CHILD" CONTEST

Call Now for Your Appointment, May 2 - 15

DON'T BE LEFT OUT
$4500

MMORdaNN:V van

fee & one 8x10" portrait
(Special packages available)

Includes creation

(248) 352-7030

Professional Photographers of America

THE WORLD'S GREAT STORYTELLERS..

It's time to turn up the energy level!!!

Exciting ... Cs • Live ixi Dys • Interactive Dancers
Occasions
'Video zmukasts • Staging •
Spectacular Lighting

THE MOST EXCITING MU SICAL ENTERTAINMENT

111 4.

Bar/Bat Mitzvahs
Corporate Parties
Birthdays
Sweet Sixteens

5600 West Maple • Suite D-418 • West Bloomfield • (248) 626-9550

Michi an's Hottest Group

Mel Ball

and Colours

Voted #1 Best Band
by Crain's

Detroit Business

Specializing in Weddings and Corporate Events
Exclusively Represented by:
Mel Ball Entertainment Agency

Representing the Finest in Music & Entertainment

The Ultimate In
Quality Bands

248-851-1992

,

,
AOT YOUR

AVERAGE

GARDEN-VARIETY

GARDENING

S ORE.

Skyline & The Backstreet Horns

LOKDROSS

orkkinmefir

Royal Oak • ('48)398.9711

WWW.LORIOROSLCOM

',

V I "IN E GARDEN

Of

ROYAL

OAK

515 South Lafayette, Royal Oak
(248) 547-4420

N01- YOUR AVERAGE
GARDEN - VARIETY GARDENING STORE.

.4/23

1999

Detroit Jewish News

69