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Cornelia's School of Dance

Kindness To The Stranger
Is Central Jewish Concern

Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap (child & adult)
Creative Movement, Pre ballet, Tap for 3-6 yr. olds

Professional, certified adult staff
Progressive Syllabus that trains students
from beginning through advanced levels
Positive, nurturing atmosphere
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Day & evening classes
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BALLET DIVISION
JAZZ & TAP DIVISION
RUSSIAN TECHNIQUE
CUTTING EDGE CHOREOGRAPHY
MASTER TEACHERS
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HOME OF THE MICHIGAN
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AUGUST 21ST
10-12 PM

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20 YEARS OF PROVEN SUCCESS
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and meet our talented faculty

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Cornelia's School of Dance

3080 Orchard Lake Road • Keego Harbor • 248-681-5376

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26215 Greenfield (at 10-1/2 Mile)
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30887 Orchard Lake Road (S. of 14 Mile)
Farmington Hills, MI 48334

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Phone: (248) 569 6699

Phone: (248) 932-5110

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tialISTISIISTIAUSIISIISIMUS IIISIISTIAIISUSIM 1191

66 Detroit Jewish News

needy are not merely part and parcel of
the Torah requirements for all Jews, but
a theme that is emphasized over and
over again in the Torah. In fact, the
Talmud (Baba Metzia 59 B) indicates
that no less than 36 (or even 46, accord-
ing to another opinion) times in the
his week's Torah portion con-
Torah are we commanded to treat with
tains (according to the
kindness, respect and solicitude the
medieval Sefer HaChinuch)
strangers amongst us. Even more so, it
almost one-eighth of the
seems from the prohibitions of marriage
commandments in the Torah, concern-
that the concern for the stranger — the c
ing a whole variety of topics.
different one — is considered to be part
Among this "catalogue" of mitzvot
of the very fiber of Jewish Peoplehood.
are prohibitions forbidding certain peo-
In fact, this is stated explicitly
ple from "entering the com-
by Maimonides (based on the
munity of God." According to
Talmud) in his comprehen-
the Talmud (Kidushin 73) and
sive work of Jewish Law, the
to subsequent Jewish law, this
Mishna Torah (Esuray Be'ah
prohibition precludes these
19:17): "Anyone who is inso-
people from marrying those
lent or cruel or hateful
who are genealogically Jewish.
towards his fellow man or
Among those excluded are
doesn't extend kindness to
male descendants from the
others is seriously suspected
nations of Amon and Moab.
of perhaps being a Gibeonite
The reasons given by the
RABBI ELIEZER (not descended from Jewish
Torah for denying these men
stock) because those who are
COHEN
the opportunity (even after
of the Jewish people — this
Special to the
proper conversion to Judaism)
Holy Nation — are modest,
Jewish News
to marry women born Jewish
compassionate and extend
is (Deut. 23:7): ". . . because
kindness to others."
they did not meet you with food and
The Torah, it seems to me, is not
water on the way as you left Egypt and
necessarily saying that these traits are
they hired Bilaam ben Be'or from P'sar
genetically or even culturally passed on
Aram Naharaim to curse you . . . do not
— it simply is indicating that the Jewish
seek their peace or welfare forever."
people are expected to have this pattern
Certainly one can understand that the
of behavior — this is what "a real Jew"
enmity demonstrated by the hiring of
is. And, thus, it is readily understandable
the Prophet Bilaam to curse the Jewish
that when a wife was sought for Isaac,
People could engender such a reaction,
the test, the sign that she was his perfect
but why should the lack of "hospitality,"
mate — the mother of the Jewish
of not offering food and drink, keep
People — would be her willingness to
these people from becoming part of "the
offer the stranger and his camels water
community of God''?
and aid (Genesis Ch. 24).
Curiously enough, a few verses later
It, then, is part of our very being
(Deut. 23: 8,9) the Torah tells us "do
as Jews — as members of the
not reject the Egyptian because you were
Sanctified People — to manifest
strangers in his land; the children born
these very qualities: love of all
to them in the third generation (after
mankind, kindness to the stranger
conversion) may enter the community
and an eagerness to help others. 0
of God." Apparently the fact that the
Egyptians offered a haven to the genera-
tion of Joseph and Jacob during the
famine (in spite of the subsequent mur-
der of Jewish infants and the imposition
What other nations have
of slavery) is a sufficient reason to accept
refused help and aid to the Jewish
Egyptians into the genealogical tapestry
People? Which nations have aided
of Jewish Peoplehood (again, of course,
the Jewish People? What other
after proper conversion to Judaism),
mitzvot in the Torah require that
while the contrasting refusal by Amon
we help "the other"? In Jewish his-
and Moab to offer aid requires a rejec-
tory and contemporary life, how
tion of the male descendants from these
have we seen these traits manifest-
nations.
ed? What opportunities can we
Offering help to the strangerr-and the
take advantage of to fulfill these
mitzvot?
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of

Shabbat Ki Teitzei:
Deuteronomy 21:10-
25:19; Isaiah 54:1-10

OUR REPUTATION PRECEDES US!

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Torah Portion;

Congregation Or Chadash.

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