THANK YOU

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Torah Portion

Whatver We Accomplish
Enhances The Quality Of Life

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t-ifiner aafneve 11)"

measured,as much by what he
attempted as by what he finally
achieved. As one sage taught: "The
unfinished work of one man may be
infinitely greater and more beneficial
to humanity than the completed task
of another."
Reflecting on the life of Moses, our
teacher, helps us better understand
ourselves on Shabbat Shuvah during
the Days of Awe between Rosh
-Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We are
reminded that accomplishing every-
thing we undertake is not the true,
f there was ever a man in Our
Jewish measure of success.
history who deserved
Not only did Moses not
to reach his life's goal,
enter the Promised Land,
it was Moses!
but King David failed to
Throughout his life,
complete the Temple; Elijah
Moses was supported by one
could not bring about the
goal which gave him strength
reformation of the people;
and faith enough to carry on
Judah Macabee died with
— his response to God's call
his enemy still in control;
to lead the Israelites to safety
Herzl died with the Zionist
in the Promised Land.
movement split apart.
At the end of his days
The
Jewish way of marking
when his dream was about to
RABBI
success
follows the teaching
be realized, it was denied
NORMAN T.
of
Rabbi
Tarphon: "It is not
him. He would not be privi-
ROMAN
your
duty
to complete the
leged to cross the Jordan
Special to the
task, but neither are you free
River; he had to be satisfied
Jewish News
to desist from it." The
with only a view of the Holy
attempt and intention are
Land, his sacred destination.
the most important ingredients in our
He would die there; God would bury
actions and responsibility for them.
him on Mount Nebo and his succes-
Moses' life was not a failure. He
sor would lead the people.
lived to see the Promised Land, albeit
How deep his disappointment must
at a distance. His life and leadership
have been. Though he had been told
brought his people's goal much closer
previously that this was indeed his
to fulfillment. Most of us must be con-
fate, we can understand that he must
tent with only a far-off glimpse of the
have had a sense of being denied; we
promises we set for ourselves and our
can relate to his ultimate pleading.
families — only a very few will actually
The lessons of our tradition carry us
enter. But, as did Moses, if we end our
to a marvelous insight, especially for
lives with our intentions turned toward
this time of repentance and renewal:
the promise, we will be happy.
Moses may not have seen his greatest
goal achieved, yet he did not see his
life as unfulfilled. He had perfect con-
fidence that the work he began would
be continued and, one day, successfully
completed by those whom he inspired.
Do you feel that you are carrying
There is much to learn from the
on the goals and dreams of
story of Moses' final scenes of life. We
someone else? How would that
recognize, once again, the hard and
person feel about the job you are
often thankless task of the communal
doing? In his farewell song,
leader and the amount of criticism
Moses encouraged us to
which such a pioneer undoubtedly
"Remember the days of old, con-
faces. We acknowledge with irony and
sider the years of ages past; ask
pathos that it is truly the very, very
your father, he will inform you,
few who see their ultimate, highest
your elders they will tell you."
goals in life realized.
What are the most important
The perspective comes in what we
lessons which your parents and
must learn: Was Moses' life a failure
elders taught you? How are you
because he did not cross the Jordan
passing his wisdom on to the
with his people? No, his greatness is
next generation?

Shabbat Shuvah
(Ha azinu):
Deuteronomy 32:1 52;
Hosea 14:2-10;
Micah 7:18 20;
Joel 15-27.

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September 17, 2000

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to our sponsors and volunteers:

BBYO, Bill Berris, Community Living Centers, Go Balloonies, Mel Farr
Lincoln Mercury, Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit, JARC,
Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation, Northwest Child Rescue Women,
Panera Bread, synagogue and temple volunteers, and to our wonderful
Jewish community, you helped us succeed beyond our dreams!

I

And to our new partners:

West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation and
West Bloomfield Schools Community Education

We couldn't have done it without you!

We're the heart of the neighborhood...You are the
neighborhood with a heart. -JCC Special Needs Dept.

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