Torah Portion

NDOWS

Do We View Life
As Blessing Or Curse?

HunterDouglas

WINDOW F ASHIONS

Silhouettes Window Shadings r ix

Lu- minette Privacy Sheers®
Country Wood® Blinds
Everwood" Blinds
Duette® Honeycomb Shades
Vertical/Horizontal Blinds
Silhouettes® Window Shadings

Expert Installation •
A.S.I.0 Interior Designers •
Excellent Service •
In-home Consultation •

60-mpeallee Vole/rig

Sophisticated Room Designs for Adults & Children

Wallpaper • Fabric • Window Treatments • Bedding

5528 Drake at Walnut Lake Rd., W. Bloomfield • 248-661-3840 • http://www.windowsandwalls.com
Mon, Thurs 10-6 • Tues, Wed, Fri 10-5 • Sat 10-4

DavidM. Deutsch I
Master of Photography

, KNIGHT&
1741
IoNDEUTSCH

PHOTOGRAPHY

"Creating an image that touches the heart,
graces the soul and leaves a memory that will
last a lifetime."

(248) 352-7030

Professional Photographers of Atherica

THE WORLD'S GREAT STORYTELLERS_

eladaeJlviiia Alte ra/4
& retiee-, tixo.
SIVIPLE... CLASSY
A stone throw from the picturesque Links at

iDiriewooci Golf Course.
West of hacneriti, Norili of Pontiac. Trail.

248.624.8668 E

,,

appointment

Email: massfoto@aol.com

UNDER
ONE ROOF

Internationally
Acclaimed
Pianist

MEM NMI MO MIMI NMI MIMI SENN
Si= MIN EMIR NM ISM el ■ IONS OM

ence with her Arab neighbors? Or
do we have a larger vision that sees
the ultimate resolution of conflict
between Israel and the Arabs in a
spirit of justice and recognition and
mutual benefit?
Our vision is directed not only
outward, but also inward, to the
smaller circle of our relationships.
When we look at life, do we see only
ook!" Moses exclaims to
our own needs and concerns, or. does (.__/
the Jewish people, "Today I
our vision encompass the hopes and -`
give you a blessing and a
yearnings .of others? Do we regard
curse." (Deuteronomy
our fellow human beings as persons
created to advance our own personal
1 1:26)
What a singular way to begin a
welfare or as people with
discourse. What did Moses
hopes and aspirations,
intend that Israel see? What
hungers and dreams like
did he show them? We can-
our own? In judging our
not dismiss the word "look"
fellow man, do we criticize
simply as a poetic expres-
and curse, or do we
sion, a figure of speech,
empathize and bless?
because every word in the
The story is told of
Torah is purposeful, delib-
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of
erate and evocative of pro-
Berditchev, The great lover
of mankind, who was rid-
found wisdom.
The text suggests that
RABBI IRWIN ing in a wagon with his
when we look at the world
sexton. They passed anoth-
GRONER
er wagon whose axle was
about us — do we see a
Special to the
broken. The driver was
blessing or a curse? Is the
Jewish News
cup of our life half empty
standing in the mud trying
to fix it; he was wearing
or half full?
"What do you see" is a
his tallit and tefillin. The sexton was
fundamental question that tells us
furious. "Look at the scoundrel," he'
more about the viewer than about
said, "fixing his
wagon, greasing
the world. As we
his wheels while
arise each morn-
he is in the mid-
ing, are we
dle of prayer.
moved to words
"Oh, no," said c-\
of discontent or
the rabbi. "Look
praise? Do we
at that wonderful
feel that we have
Jew. Even while
been short-
greasing his
changed or over-
wagon wheels, he
paid? Is our
wears a tallit and
familiar stance
tefillin and says
the posture of
Shema Yisrael."
discontent, or are
Every life has
we grateful for
the blessings of health and security
within it reasons for heartache and
and love so regularly bestowed upon
sorrow, as well as reasons for celebra-
us that we may forget their value?
tion and gratitude. Whether we bless
How do we view Jewish life? Do
or curse is our choice. Li
we see the Jewish existence of our
time as marked only by decay, assim-
ilation and emptiness? Can we also
see sources of renewal in Jewish life,
Recall some events in your life
the quest for faith, the challenge of
revitalizing the Jewish spirit? Have
that seemed negative and try to
we surrendered to despair about the
find a positive slant to them.
survival of the Jewish people? Do we
Why do we seem to find it so
consider the State of Israel doomed
easy to criticize and so hard to
to suffer a continual state of belliger-
find the good in people? Cite
some examples of renewal of
Jewish faith in our community.
Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek. This arti-
appeared in 1988.
cle or
k...NtinitIMVMMMNFAMMSgdeMNMSINA

Shabbat Re'eh:
Deuteronomy 11:26-
16:17;
Isaiah 54:11-55:5.

L

Is the cup
of our life
half empty or
half full?

Conversations

ACCENTS
IN NEEDLEPOINT
Contemporary
Designs
626-3042

Piano Instruction

Classical 6- Popular

• Intermediate and advanced
students of all ages.

• Adult beginners

David Syme • 248-681-2417

8/6
1999

56 Detroit Jewish News

wvvw.symepiano. corn