Torah Portion

op;--

ANNIEM

KNITWEAR

Annie Girl

WOMEN'S & CHILDREN'S APPAREL

The Lord Is Our Rock
And Our Redeemer

He will endure throughout every
generation.
God supplies our existence and
identity and the secret of the Jewish
people: We survive! We are not like
any other nation in history: Nations
need land, language and a common
culture. We Jews, as our history has
he portion
proven, are independent
records the
of these factors. We need
dramatic
only our God; we are
moment
God's people.
when Moses had lead
No matter where we
the Israelites through
lived, what language or
the desert to the eastern
cultures we shared, we
shores of the Jordan
have always been Jews.
River.
No matter what we did,
He then recites a
or do, to blend into a
long poem ("song") as
host environment, we
the conclusion of his
always sought out the
farewell address. It is
identifiable, the strength
his legacy to the chil-
that is God.
dren
dren of Israel as they
God leads us and pro-
SY MAN ELLO
end a long journey.
tects us. As long as we
Editorial Assistant
In these prophetic
Jews know that God is
warnings, Moses,
our portion, we flourish
through the inspiration
and reflect his light inn.,
of God, exhorts the
the world civilization.
people to walk with the Lord. If
Though we know the faith of our
they do not, then these words
covenant with God is forever, we
would stand as testimony. God
must remember that we are the
would be just in inflicting disaster
tools of God's actions and as such
upon them as discipline for their
we must further His goal of increas-
disobedience.
ing loyalty and observance.
Moses reflects on the ways in
We can do this by becoming
which God had vindicated Israel
more faithful in assuming our obli-
and he contrasts God's loving-kind-
gations to our people, our syna-
ness with the faithlessness and the
gogue or temple, our Jewish way of
ingratitude of the children of Israel.
life as well as becoming more honest
Even though Israel, as a disobedient
in our relationships with others,
child, is deserving of punishment,
more sensitive to our moral and
God, the loving father, will inter-
spiritual well being.
vene.
"And I will make thy seed to multi-
The main image of Moses' words
ply ... and in thy seed shall all the
is that of God as a rock: "He will be
nations of the earth be blessed." ❑
the rock who will smash Israel's ene-
mies." We see the unchangeable idea
of God and the fickleness of the
children of Israel. God is a God of
faithfulness, of justice, of moral
power. Israel owes its existence as a
people to God. Whatever truths
Why did Moses instruct the
about God are conveyed by calling
children of Israel to learn this
Him the rock are dependent upon
"song" and teach it to their .
the image of a rock.
children? How many praise and
In ancient times, people took
worship songs do you know by
refuge among the caves of the rocks
heart? What other examples
for safety. They often wrote upon
from our history show God as a
the rocks if they wanted their writ-
rock for the children of Israel?
ing to endure. God as a rock is
totally reliable, a source of strength;

BELOW WHOLESALE

Wednesday, September 26th
thru
Saturday, October 6th

Shabbat Haazinu:
Deuteronomy 32:1-52;
II Samuel 22:1-51.

Hours: 10 am - 5 pm
Monday thru Friday
Saturdays: 10 am - 3 pm

T

TEMPORARY LOCATION
28855 Orchard Lake Road
in the old Marmel's store
between 12 & 13 Mile Roads

ALL SALES FINAL • CASH OR CHECKS ONLY

Telephone

248-596-1601

oin Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg for a course on
mystical concepts in Judaism

Sundays • 11 a.m.
at the Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center
5595 W. Maple Rd., W. Bloomfield
Classes begin October 14th

For more information about this class as well as other
classes on Jewish Mysticism & Basic Judaism
call the Torah Center 248-855-6170
visit us at bctc770@aol.com

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9/28
2001

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