Introducing...
Torah Portion
Authentic Judaism Follows Torah,
Pursues Truth In A Just Society
admired by even the non-Jews as
righteous, wise and divine.
Likewise, the "wisdom" and
"understanding" referred to in these
Torah verses have all too often been
obscured by superstition and an
anti-rationalism and anti-intellectu-
alism that only the thoroughly
indoctrinated would consider wis-
dom and understanding.
his week's portion contains
We must heed the Rambam
the following verse
(Maimonides 1135-1204) when he
(Deuteronomy 4:8):
writes (Guide for the Perplexed 11-25):
"And who is as great as
"It is necessary to reinterpret any bib-
this nation that has right-
lical verse that can be refut-
eous rules and judgments,
ed by proof [in its literal
like this whole Torah that I
sense]" and at (11-47):
put before you today."
`Analyze the matter
The Torah tells us that
with your reason and it will
even the non-Jewish nations
be clear to you what is said
will appreciate the wisdom
allegorically, figuratively or
and righteousness of the
in exaggeration and what is
Torah and thus realize its
literal, exactly according to
divinity. The reality, it
the original meaning of the
seems, though, is far from
words. And then all
the fulfillment of this
RABBI ELIEZER prophetic verses will be clear
prophecy.
COHEN
to you, and you will achieve
Not only do the non-
and retain a rational faith
Special to the
Jews not perceive the truth
according to what is accept-
Jewish News
and beauty of the Torah,
able to God because God
but the vast majority of
wants only the truth and He
Jews do not appreciate the divinity
hates falsehood.
and splendor of our Torah.
"And then your views and
Why nor?
thoughts will not be so confused as
It seems that the Torah itself gives
to believe opinions that are not true
the answer just six verses before the
even very far from the truth — and
one quoted (Deuteronomy 4:2): "Do
consider them Torah. The entire
not add to the word I commanded
Torah is perfectly true when under-
you and do not subtract from it —
stood properly."
to guard the commandments of the
To have true, authentic Judaism,
Lord your God that I command
we must observe the Torah carefully
you.
and exactly and create a just society
The Jewish people, in general,
within the context of true intellectu-
and even those who consider them-
al advancement and a striving for
selves Torah-observant, all too often
the truth.
"pick and choose" which observances
If we would but do this, we
to practice. Very rare are the individ-
would be living proof of all the wis-
uals who are committed to ordering
dom, righteousness and divinity of
their lives entirely according to the
the Torah and be admired by all
Torah.
people as God's chosen, just as the
On the other hand, so much that
Torah promises.
is assumed to be basic to Judaism is
actually "add-ons" accumulated over
the generations, that have no source
in the authentic halachic (Jewish
Law) process.
Why do so many people observe
And even those who observe
the rituals but not the interper-
Halachah do not always do so in a
sonal laws of Judaism? Why do
way that creates the just, loving and
so many "good" people not
holy community that should be the
observe the rituals? Why are so
result of the Torah observance (por-
many people superstitious? Why
trayed in Deuteronomy 4:5-8 of this
is it said that authentic Judaism
week's Torah portion) that would be
is "reality based"?
We're Open
7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m:
Shabbat Nachamu,
Vaetchannan:
Deuteronomy
3:23-7:11;
Isaiah 40:1-26
171.--,A057711111®
BANK
T
❑
Conversations
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of Congregation
Or Chadash.
BANKING CENTERS
10562 Belleville Road • Belleville • 734-699-6639
(Inside Wal-Mart)
3915 Telegraph Road • Bloomfield Hills • 248-988-8613
42200 Ford Road • Canton • 734-981-4942
1131 W. Warren • Detroit • 313-832-7971
28177 Orchard Lake Road • Farmington Hills • 248-324-0013
37655 Six Mile Road • Livonia • 734-953-6890
29101 John R Road • Madison Heights • 248-543-1817
(Inside Kmart)
31049 Dequindre Road • Madison Heights • 248-588-6777
1001 N. Main Street • Rochester • 248-652-9792
13427 15 Mile Road • Sterling Heights • 810-268-3230
7555 Telegraph Road • Taylor • 313-299-0186
(Inside Wal-Mart)
5151 Corporate Drive • Troy • 248-312-5400
2001 W. Maple Road • Troy • 248-435-0059
(Inside Wal-Mart)
2897 W. Maple Road • Troy • 248-288-6559
New Location:
44691 Mound Road • Sterling Heights • 810-803-1180
MEMBER
FDIC
w w w
The Hours above apply to most of our Banking Centers. At some locations, the times may vary.
Get A Piano for
Only $98°°
Act now and get the
Baby Grand Piano your
family has dreamt about...
in your home for
only s. 98' per month.
Featuring
Michigan's Largest Display
of Quality Pianos!
Call your nearest
PianoNation store today
to get the complete details.
Hurry, this offer is good
for a limited time.
Bechstein • Young Chang • Pearl Rives • Technics • Kurzweil • Prambepger • and many more!
Novi
Ann Arbor
27784 Novi Road
3999 Washtenaw Ave
(248) 596-1000
(734) 677-4444
I ' 1/
Hours: M-F 10-7 • Sat. 10 - 5 or go to www.pianonation.com
music reviews
OM Entertainment.
Catch the best
8/3
2001
53