Torah Portion

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Call (248) 738-3568

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educational opportunities being offered in
the West Bloomfield School District.

Oakland County, 2000-2001 and the #2
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consecutive years.

Shabbat Acharei Mot:
Leviticus 16: 1-20:2 7;
Amos 9: 7-15 .

beauty when our friends' worlds
seem overgrown with weeds and
prickly thorns.

"Acharei mot — kedoshim tihyu,

after death — be holy," our tradition
teaches. The Jewish way is not to
avoid the painful realities of death,
but to respond with reverence, digni-
he Lord spoke to L loses,
ty and compassion (the same values
saying: "You shall not
that we must seek in sexual relations,
copy the practices of the
too).
land of Egypt where you
The customs of Egypt and Canaan
dwelt, or the land of Canaan to
were, apparently, to relegate the
which I am taking you; nor shall you
death and dying experience to the
follow their laws. My rules alone
pagan priest, to be, essen-
shall you observe, and faith-
tially, distant and removed
fully observe My laws: I the
from all opportunities of
Lord am your God"
expressing concern, support
(Leviticus 1 8: 1-4).
or grief to the mourners.
This week we actually
But our practice has always
read two portions from the
been different — to involve
Torah, Acharei Mot and
ourselves with the dying
Kedoshim. Several sections
and with the bereaved.
in each together form what
Our customs center
many refer to as "the
around the family and
Holiness Code. The rabbis
community, instead of the
RABBI
of our ancient literature
priest
of old and the rabbi
NORMAN T.
have, for centuries, drawn
of today. We demonstrate
ROMAN
sermonic lessons from the
our humanity and care, our
Special to the
translation of the portions'
respect and love through
Jewish News
names: "even after death —
acts of kindness at the time
be holy."
of death and throughout
Although the specific "death"
the grieving period that follows. We
referred to in the title is the tragedy
make ourselves "lilies among thorns."
that befell Aaron's sons, Nadav and
This would be an ideal time of
Abihu (a story we repeated in
year for individuals and families to
Leviticus 10), the tradition general-
discuss and commit themselves to
ized an important life lesson for us.
acts of kindness and support for each
As the portion concludes with a long
other during the inevitable tragic
list of prohibited sexual practices
moments of life. Our congregations
(the customs of Egypt and Canaan),
and community institutions offer
the Midrash expands its discussion to
training in the "mitzvah" of consol-
teach us about life and death, as well.
ing the bereaved: by leading or
The Jewish way, we are taught,
attending shiva minyan services, by
leads to kindness, compassion, self-
joining a chevra kadisha (volunteer
respect and dignity. In sexuality, as in
burial society), supporting the hos-
other life situations, we need be
pice movement, or merely "being
responsible and caring. And, in a
there" for those in need during the
very specific encounter upon which
death ritual.
Rabbi Hanan, for example, corn-
We can and we must be kind,
ments, we need be knowledgeable
responsive, and holy — after death,
and skilled, too.
and throughout life!
In Midrash Vayikra Raba, Rabbi
Hanan interprets God's warning
about the Israelites' turning n may
from the practices of the Egyptians
and Canaanites as applying to the
In your time of personal sadness,
practice of kindness or sympathy. We
which words from a friend or fam-
need to respond to each other's
ily member brought you the most
needs, and do what is right, rather
comfort? How has a selfless act
than care for our own comfort and
shown you how much someone
benefit. We need to be, in Hanan's
else cares for your comfort? Are
terms, "a lily among the thorns." We
you looking for the opportunity to
need to be a flowering source of
"be holy" for someone else's sake?

T

rf

West Bloomfield School District

Support Through Understanding
Helps Lend Dignity To Life

West Bloomfield School District is accepting
applications on a space available basis for
a limited number of openings in selected
grades for the 2001- 2002 school year begin-
ning August 27, 2001.

If applications exceed available spaces, a
lottery will be held as specified by state law
on May 16, 2001 at 3:45 p.m. at 5810
Commerce, West Bloomfield, 48324.

West Bloomfield School District — MAKE IT YOUR "CHOICE"

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Norman T. Roman is rabbi of Temple

Kol Ami.