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VOTIE
SEPTIEMBIER I4t h

!

Jonathan Brateman is a man of sterling integrity
and character, whose sense of vision and devotion
will be an asset to all of the people of Southfield.

Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg

young Israel of Southfield

Vote September 14th for

JONATHAN BRATEMAN

For Southfield City Council

Paid for by Jonathan Brateman for Southfield City Council
Irving Brateman, Treasurer
To help the campaign, send your checks to:
22917 S. Bellwood Drive, Southfield, MI 48034 (personal checks only)

the Holy Temple. In Israel, it is cus-
tomary for schoolchildren to carry
decorated fruit baskets on Shavuot
— Hag HaBikkurim — as a reenact-
ment of the beautiful custom that
prevailed during the time of the
Temple in Jerusalem.
tom the very first words of
The other mitzvah is that which
the parsha, the reader is
entails the apportioning of one-
struck by the fact that all
tenth of the yield of the field and
the commands to b'nai
donating it to the Levite, Who,
Israel, the children of Israel, are
unlike the rest of the people, did not
given in the singular. This could be
receive a parcel of land; therefore,
explained as an indication that the
his needs are to be taken care of by
children of Israel are expected to
the people. As a matter of
enter the promised land as
fact, there are three kinds
one people, Am Yisrael,
of tithe. There is maaser
not the disparate tribes or
rishon, which is given to
the erev rav (riffraff) that
the Levite. Then, there is
they were when coming
the mitzvah of maaser she-
out of Egypt.
nie, which is to be eaten
The parsha begins with
by the owner and his fami-
the admonition to fulfill
ly in Jerusalem or
the mitzvot (command-
redeemed with the pro-
ments) of bikkurim (first
ceeds used for eating and
fruits) and maaser (tithe)
drinking in Jerusalem.
RACHEL
after they enter eretz
However, in the third and
Israel. The mitzvah of
CANAAN-KAPEN sixth years of the seven-
bikkurim involves the
Special to the
year cycle, there would be
donating of the first fruits
_Jewish News
no maaser shenie; instead
[of the harvest] from the
there is maaser ani, which
tree or from the field.
goes to the poor.
They must be only the best fruits
It also should be noted that
belonging to the seven species, she-
despite the fact that the Levite has
vat haminim, to the kohen. In read-
no land of his own and he himself is
ing the manner in which this mitz-
on the receiving end, he still is not
vah is to be performed, one gets the
exempt from giving to others. He
feeling the.emphasis is, nevertheless,
has to give to the kohen a tenth of
on the prayers, which are to accom-
his tenth.in the true meaning of
pany 'it. The prayers serve as a
sharing and of rzedaka.
reminder of past adversities the peo-
What is the relevance of these
ple of Israel sustained; they express
ancient agricultural laws to our lives
gratitude for God's continued deliv-
today? For one thing, besides their
erance.
obvious historical value, they remind
This mitzvah is also incumbent
us of one of Judaism's cornerstones,
upon the ger, the stranger, living
sharing our blessings, whether big or
among the people because of the
small, with the less fortunate among
words, "which the lord swore unto
us. This can be done today by con-
our fathers." It was deduced that
tributing to organizations dedicated
although ger is supposed to fulfill
to the feeding the hungry, such as
the mitzvah, he cannot say the
prayer. But Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi,
compiler of the Mishnah, said, and
the Rambam decreed, that since the
land was promised to Abraham and
In what ways can we be
Abraham was the father of the
mindful of the poor and less for-
aerim, the ger should do both. This
tunate in our midst? What are
b
remembrance of adversity in the
some of the Jewish institutions
midst of good times is remindful of
in our community that need our
the breaking of the glass at a wed-
support and how can we offer
ding in commemoration of the
this besides contributing funds?
destruction of the Beit HaMikdash,
Name some ways that we, during
holidays or celebrations, remem-
Rachel Canaan Kapen is an Israeli
ber hard times our people have
freelance writer living in West
suffered.
Bloomfiek who writes for Hebrew and
English publications.

Shabbat Iii Tavo:
Deuteronomy 26:1-
29:8; Isaiah 60:1-22.

ill

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8/27
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can keep your love alive

72 Detroit Jewish News

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